A BLUE blitz.

An incredible second half from Carlton has seen it return to winning form and bring GWS’ unbeaten run to a halt with a 19-point victory.

After trailing by as much as 22 points in the third, the Blues were - quite simply - brutal in all forms of the contest, surging to a 17.15 (117) to 15.8 (98) victory over the Giants.

Patrick Cripps continued his exceptional personal start to the season with a best-on-ground performance, while he had plenty of help from the likes of Sam Walsh, Tom De Koning and Marc Pittonet in the win.

Quarter one

Carlton’s intent from the opening bounce was clear, hitting bodies hard as it looked to build on an improved showing around the ball last week. On opening ruck duties, Marc Pittonet set the physical tone from the outset, winning the opening three clearances of the game as he and Patrick Cripps tried to get the ball going. Cripps was brilliant in the opening stanza against Tom Green, collecting 10 disposals and eight contested in a dominant term. In front of goal, the Blues got some spark from Matthew Owies and then Matthew Cottrell, who ended the term with six disposals, one goal and one goal assist. With Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay well held early, the Blues needed to generate a score on the board through other sources, with Elijah Hollands (from an Ollie assist), Tom De Koning and Corey Durdin all bobbing up. Carlton was doing the job from clearances, but a late flurry from the Giants saw a goal in the closing stages to bring the margin back within a kick.

Quarter two

The warning signs from the end of the first term proved true in the second, with the Giants well and truly getting their running game going. The Blues remained on top in the contest stakes, but were unable to convert opportunities going forward, whereas the Giants managed to take theirs in abundance. A run of five consecutive goals to start the second term had the Blues in strife on the scoreboard, trailing by as much as 22 points, prompting Michael Voss to swing Charlie Curnow behind the ball to stop the run. The Blues needed composure to wrestle momentum back, with George Hewett and Matthew Kennedy working overtime with 11 disposals each. In his first game for the year against big opposition, Lachie Cowan showed he belonged at the level with an assured, physical performance, while it was his fellow draft class member who got the Blues rolling again on the scoreboard. When Ollie Hollands' major was followed up by De Koning’s second of the day, the Blues were suddenly within nine points at the main break.

Quarter three

The Blues made a forced substitution at half time, with Jack Carroll brought into the game for Zac Williams (knock to his Achilles). There was a clear renewed sense of vigour about the Blues in the second half, lifting their pressure after the Giants were able to chip their way through their defence too often in the first half. Back-to-back goals from Josh Kelly had the Blues on the ropes — but then, everything changed. Carlton’s clearance game got to its brutal best, with Pittonet (eight third-quarter disposals), Cripps (12) and Walsh (11) motoring along to put the Giants under all sorts of pressure. With Williams off the ground, Boyd took the lockdown role on Toby Greene and performed it expertly, while after being goalless at the half-time, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay combined for the next five goals to give the Blues an incredible lead. Come the end of the term, Carlton led by 15 points with Marvel Stadium rocking in front of 40,000-plus in the house under the roof.

Quarter four

With the memories of last week well and truly front in mind, the Blues well and truly knew they had their work cut out for them against a potent Giants attack. It called for a crucial moment, and it was Corey Durdin who delivered — the small forward went back with the flight to take a courageous mark and convert his second to keep the good times rolling. Carlton’s talls were the story, with De Koning (three goals), McKay (three goals), Curnow (three goals) and Pittonet (seven clearances) dominating the airwaves, while Cripps, Walsh and Hewett continued their brilliant form at ground level. Boyd continued his brilliant two terms against Greene, while Ollie Hollands' 11-disposal second half belied his years. There was no more popular final goalkicker than Matthew Kennedy in game No.100, signing off an outstanding Navy Blue win under the roof.

CARLTON            5.1     7.7     14.10      17.15 (117)
GWS GIANTS     4.1     9.4     12.7      15.8 (98)

GOALS

Carlton: Curnow 3, De Koning 3, McKay 3, Durdin 2, E.Hollands 2, Cottrell, O.Hollands, Kennedy, Owies

BESTS

Carlton: Cripps, Walsh, De Koning, Hewett, McKay, Pittonet, Cottrell, Newman