THE CARLTON Reserves defeated the Northern Bullants away from home at Genis Steel Oval yesterday.

Looking to go one better after their gutsy win last week against Essendon, the Blues had a dominant 86-point win over the Bullants away from home

In windy conditions, the Reserves led from start to finish in the 4.12 (36) to 18.14 (122) win.

Throughout the day, the smalls in the back half got busy. AFL-listed Jordan Boyd found plenty of the footy with 30 disposals and nine marks, so too young draftee Billy Wilson (27 disposal, 10 marks). 

With six players kicking multiple goals, it was both Harry Lemmey (four goals) and Francis Evans (three) who hit the scoreboard, while Marc Pittonet was best on ground in the ruck with 20 disposals, 10 clearances and 40 hitouts.

It was a hot start to the game from both sides in tough conditions. Kickstarting the Blues, it was Flynn Young capitalising on the fast transition who kicked the opener in Preston from a forward stoppage.

Continuing his dominance from recent weeks, Marc Pittonet got into his work early with a clearance from centre bounce. Some good contest work from key forward Harry Lemmey gave him his first shot on goal – he converted to give Carlton two inside the first few minutes.

With the home side responding promptly, Ashton Moir (seven clearances) - who spent the majority of his day in the midfield - found the chest of debutant Nash King. Playing on inside 50, he snared his first goal with his first kick in the Navy Blue.

Archie Stevens and Cooper Vickery combined through the middle to end with Francis Evans marking and converting from the pocket, giving the Blues four goals despite kicking into the wind in the first term to open up a 16-point lead.

With their tails up following a promising quarter, it was a fast to the second term. Dane Harvey converted from long range in the opening minutes while Pittonet and Moir got busy, with stand-in captain Luke Nelson benefiting from their work out of the middle with a close-range goal.

Looking increasingly threatening with all the play inside their forward half, it was Archie Stevens who was able to convert with a set shot from a holding-the-ball tackle, before Darcy Hogg capped off his impressive start with a goal on the run just before the siren, as five unanswered goals opened up a 53-point lead at the half time.

After the main break, the home side came out showing plenty of fight. The experienced Ethan Phillips (nine marks) was a rock in defence with his intercept ability, while Jordan Boyd found his groove and demonstrated some composure as the Bullants looked too pressed.

In a period that demanded repeated defensive efforts for the Reserves, Billy Wilson (27 disposals) showed his skill throughout, while Evans – on the back of good work from Ben Camporeale – kept his composure to convert from just inside 50 to maintain a commanding lead.

Looking to put the game away, the Blues got just the start they were after. Another Camporeale clearance on the wing found the run of Cooper Vickery, who hit up Lemmey for his second of the day.

An outstanding series of repeat efforts from Evans saw him win a free kick, going back and converting from the boundary for his third of the day, as the Blues piled on the goals with the breeze at their backs.

Young’s intercept and goal on the run from outside 50 made him the sixth Blue to register multiple goals, and as the Blues’ centre-bounce dominance continued, it was Lemmey who got the reward, taking his dally to four goals as Carlton piled on seven final-quarter goals in the 86-point win.

The Carlton Reserves will take on North Melbourne next Saturday 21 June from 4:05pm at IKON Park.

CARLTON RESERVES       4.2     9.9     11.11      18.14 (122)
NORTHERN BULLANTS    1.4     1.4     3.11       4.12 (36)

GOALS
Carlton: Lemmey 4, Evans 3, Harvey 2, Hogg 2, Phipps-Parsons 2, Young 2, King, Nelson, Stevens

BEST
Carlton: Pittonet, Phillips, Evans, B Camporeale, Wilson, Boyd