Details: MCG Sunday 2 May, 3.20pm (AEST)

Broadcast: Channel 7 from 3pm, Fox Footy, AFL app, Kayo

THE GAME IN FOCUS:

Carlton will be looking for a big response this weekend against its arch rival in Essendon. 

This will be the 250th time that Carlton and Essendon have played in VFL/AFL history, with Carlton topping the ledger with 124 wins to Essendon's 118 wins along with six draws.

Carlton has had a few disappointing results in the last fortnight that it will be looking to overturn beginning on Sunday at the home of football.

Carlton will have to minimise turnovers and have a water-tight structure behind the ball to stop the fast-flowing Essendon outfit which enjoyed a win on Anzac Day last weekend. 

LAST TIME WE MET: 

The last time the Blues faced the Bombers was in Round 4 in a crowd-less MCG. 

Carlton took home a one-point victory, where Liam Jones’ head saved the day when Essendon had the chance to steal the win just before the siren. 

Levi Casboult kicked three goals for the Blues while David Cuningham had a breakout performance with 28 disposals, six inside 50s and three Brownlow Medal votes. 

Sam Docherty topped the disposal count with 32 possessions, producing an assured showing in defence as the Blues hung on for their first one-point win over the Bombers since the 1999 preliminary final.

BLUE FOCUS:

Getting the ball straight from the centre clearance will be a must for the Blues. 

With the likes of Darcy Parish and Zach Merrett floating around the centre bounce, Sam Walsh, Ed Curnow and Patrick Cripps will be under the pump to get the ball into their forward half. 

While Carlton has been able to lock the ball in their forward 50 in recent weeks, they haven’t been able to reap full reward on the scoreboard. 

The forward line - led by Harry McKay - will need to capitalise in front of goal, as well as bringing the ball to ground to allow the small forwards to collect the crumbs. 

The defensive group will have to keep Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti under wraps after his five-goal performance last week, as well as negating the Bombers' tackling pressure inside their forward 50: the Bombers ranked sixth in the competition.  

GET EXCITED ABOUT:

The Blues are ranked third for clearances in the competition, with their ability to win the ball at the source shining through so far this season.

Patrick Cripps has the third most total centre clearances while Sam Walsh is third in the competition for effective disposals per game. 

In the absence of Zac Williams, the likes of David Cuningham and Lachie Fogarty could get some key midfield minutes to combat Essendon's on-ball brigade.

BLUE VIEW:

Jacob Weitering will play his 100th game for the Carlton Football Club this weekend. 

The 2020 John Nicholls Medalist has had another brilliant start to his 2021 campaign, making tracks for his first All-Australian selection. 

Weitering is currently ranked number one in the competition for total one percenters per game, highlighting the impact that Weitering has on Carlton’s performances week in and week out. 

With Liam Jones, Lachie Plowman and the returning Luke Parks surrounding Weitering in the back line, Weitering has solid support to enhance his already outstanding game. 

CARLTON enjoyed its 250th outing against the arch rival with a 16-point win at the MCG. 

It was a high-scoring, entertaining affair at the home of football, with the Blues overturning what was at one stage a 20-point deficit to storm home in front of 57,447 people. 

Sam Walsh continued his brilliant form with another best-on-ground showing, while Harry McKay produced four second-half goals to steer the Blues to their third win of the season.

Quarter one:

Essendon came out of the gates fast, able to move the ball quickly and create opportunities in its forward 50. A contested grab from Mitch McGovern saw the Blues slot their first of the day, while Adam Saad provided some classy rebounding against his former side as well as kicking his first goal for his new club at a critical time. Sam Walsh continued his exemplary form with an impressive snap on goal, while Luke Parks showed some aggressive play across half back as well as some of his revered aerial work. However, it was the Bombers who took the bragging rights in the opening term, putting their foot on the pedal with six goals in the opening term. It was tough to contain Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, who he kicked three first-quarter goals, finding space and gaps in Carlton’s defensive structure. 

Quarter two: 

The second quarter picked up where it left off, with Essendon having two scoring opportunities in quick succession. Paddy Dow’s clearance work was a bright spot for the Blues, before an incidental collision saw the youngster subbed out due to an eye injury (replaced by Sam Petrevski-Seton). A goal from Cuningham stopped the Bombers' scoring run after the hosts had kicked out to a 20-point lead. Jack Newnes was strong in transition while Michael Gibbons and Harry McKay moved up the ground to lend a hand. Matt Owies slotted his first career goal and a massive sprint from Saad resulted in Betts’ second goal of the day.  It was a slog in the centre with neither side able to get the ball squared away in their half, but an outside 50 goal from Curnow saw the Blues within two points at half time. 

Quarter three: 

Carlton's ascendancy in the third term came on the back of the good work from Ed Curnow, who put the clamps on Bombers star Zach Merrett who was influential in the first half. Curnow contributed 11 disposals in the third quarter while restricting Merrett to just three. McKay kicked things off for the Blues, slotting the first goal of the quarter and his first of the day after an impressive contested mark, while Owies' second and third career goals came in quick succession. Liam Jones' defensive efforts kept the Blues out of trouble, while Lachie Fogarty received some reward for effort with a running goal. Carlton's response to Essendon taking back the lead was immediate as things got heated in a pulsating third quarter. McKay was a focal point in attack as the Blues locked the ball in their forward half, with the intercept work of Jones and Weitering on full display. The Blues took an 11-point lead into the final change.

Quarter four:

The contest got physical quickly as both sides played some desperate footy. Jake Stringer put the pressure on with an early goal as turnovers were costly for Carlton in the middle. Petrevski-Seton’s work-rate was efficient, while Walsh continued to be involved in nearly every play. Newnes had some important disposals, creating opportunities while goals from Fogarty and McKay gave Carlton some breathing space. The Bombers were up for the fight, but Carlton’s defence was resolute as its opponents surged forward. Two consecutive goals to McKay (four for the day) opened up a handy buffer, before a true captain’s goal from Patrick Cripps all but iced the contest. Some late Essendon goals only serves as consolation as the Blues came home with a 16-point win.

Three things from the game: 
1. It was a day that young trio Matthew Owies, Luke Parks and Liam Stocker won't forget anytime soon. Owies produced a cameo three-goal performance in his first game at the MCG, while Parks' physicality was on full display during his opening hitout at the home of football. Then, there was Stocker, who enjoyed his first AFL win nearly two years after making his debut.

2. Adam Saad was up for the challenge against his old side. Playing arguably his best game for the Blues so far, Saad’s class, speed and efficiency was on show at the MCG despite the hostile crowd. All of Saad's disposals were met with boos from the opposition crowd, which meant there was plenty of noise: he finished with 21 disposals, a goal and three goal assists.

3. It was the result the Blues were looking for. After lapses proved costly in games against Port Adelaide and Brisbane, it looked like Carlton supporters at the MCG would be in for a long day as Essendon piled on six first-quarter goals in an entertaining term. The Blues' ability to get the game played on their terms and in their half was crucial, with a five-goal stretch either side of half time crucial in the 16-point triumph. 

Moment of the match

Followers of Carlton's VFL side know that Matt Owies is no stranger to kicking goals, having beeen one of Carlton’s leading goal-kickers in the competition in previous seasons. However, he hadn't kicked a goal in his solitary game last season, but they all came in a rush on Sunday. After hitting the scoreboard in the second term at a crucial term, Owies stood up in the third term to take his tally to three for the day. Slotting his first career goal was definitely a highlight for Owies and the crowd, but then he followed it up with two more and provided plenty of forward pressure, making it a day to remember for the young forward. 

ESSENDON         6.4     8.7     12.8       16.11 (107) 
CARLTON            4.2     8.5     14.7       19.9 (123)

GOALS
Carlton: McKay 4, Betts 3, Owies 3, Cuningham 2, Fogarty 2, Cripps, Curnow, McGovern, Saad, Walsh

BEST
Carlton: Walsh, Curnow, Saad, Weitering, Cuningham, McKay