BACK in business. 

Carlton produced its seventh win of the season at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, eclipsing Gold Coast by 29 points in a back-and-forth contest under the roof. 

Overturning last week's loss to Sydney, Patrick Cripps was at his bullocking best with 31 disposals and 13 clearances, while Charlie Curnow matched Zac Williams' career-high tally of four goals as the Blues stormed home with a 15.12 (102) to 11.7 (73) victory.

Quarter one

For the fourth straight week, the Blues came out in the first time well and truly up for the fight. Winning the first five clearances of the game against an outstanding clearance side in their own right, Carlton was putting Gold Coast to the sword, with two defenders-turned-forwards reaping the rewards. Playing the half-forward role for the second straight week, Zac Williams - wearing the guernsey designed by his cousin - opened the Blues’ account, while Alex Cincotta was also stationed inside 50 and got his hands on the ball in the early going. It was no surprise that Patrick Cripps (10 disposals, five clearances) was leading from the front in the first term, but he wasn’t alone, with the Blues spreading the load brilliantly in the first term with 44 more disposals in the opening term than the Suns. Matt Owies finished the brilliant work of 2022 draftees Lachie Cowan and Ollie Hollands. Mitch McGovern was excellent in the back half (four intercepts), while Williams’ second soon had the Blues 21 points in front: however a pair of late goals to the Suns meant it was a nine-point lead the home side at the first change.

Quarter two

The Blues continued their statistical dominance around the ground, finishing the first half leading in all the key categories: disposals (+67), marks (+20), contested possessions (+18), clearances (+9) and inside 50s (+9). However, the Blues weren’t able to muster high quality shots on goal throughout the second quarter and found some opportunities go begging, with only Harry McKay able to register a major in the second term while the Suns took their half chances. After McKay’s goal, the Blues were only able to record four behinds, with the majority of those coming from long range or tight angles. The midfield group continued to stand up at the contest, with Cripps, Sam Walsh and George Hewett combining for 52 disposals and 16 clearances between them — Cripps had 10 alone to half time. Jacob Weitering largely nullified Ben King outside of his first-term goal, while Williams continued to pose a threat higher up the ground. But the Blues found it difficult to get past Gold Coast’s Mac Andrew, who ensured the Suns only trailed by seven points at the main break, despite Carlton having seven more scoring shots.

Quarter three

Carlton needed a bit of a spark to start the third term, with Gold Coast starting to trouble the home side going forward. So often the man for occasion in third quarters this year, it was once again Charlie Curnow who fired things up. Well-held to half time, the third-quarter specialist wasn’t going to be denied, hauling in three contested marks and kicking two goals when the Blues needed. After a first half which saw eight goals split between the two sides, the game well and truly opened up, with the Suns kicking four goals, but the Blues answering with six of their own. Blake Acres was crucial in giving the Blues some drive, recording seven disposals and kicking a goal in the third quarter alone, while Tom De Koning continued his big battle with Jarrod Witts, recording three clearances for the term. It was a tense end to the quarter, with the game delicately poised, but Matthew Kennedy stood up with a left-footed snap in the dying seconds to give the Blues a handy gap at the final change.

Quarter four

In front of what was comfortably a record crowd between these two sides, the biggest roar of the afternoon came from the boot of the inspirational Carlton skipper. Inside the opening minute, Cripps - who had been an inside bull all day - recorded his first of the afternoon, in the process giving the Blues a game-high lead. The Blues didn’t stop from there, with new forward Williams kicking a career-high fourth goal — Curnow soon matched that tally as the Blues ran away with the game. De Koning continued his strong clearance performance, taking his tally to 10 for the contest, while Walsh didn’t stop running with 32 disposals for the game. Carlton dominated possession all day, eclipsing the 400-disposal mark while having 140 more than their opposition, sharing the load brilliantly with the six major ballwinners of the day and nine individual goalkickers as they secured their seventh win of the campaign.

CARLTON            3.4     4.9     10.11       15.12 (102)
GOLD COAST      2.1     4.2     8.6          11.7 (73)

GOALS
Carlton: Curnow 4, Williams 4, Acres, Cripps, Hewett, E.Hollands, Kennedy, McKay, Owies

BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Williams, De Koning, Acres, Walsh, Newman, McGovern