THE CARLTON Reserves have fallen by 38 points to Williamstown at IKON Park.
Unable to quell Williamstown’s spread of attacking opportunities, the Blues had their opportunities and made their run at various points but ultimately fell 12.7 (79) to 17.15 (117).
Marc Pittonet fought all evening with 18 disposals and 40 hitouts, while Hudson O’Keeffe, Liam McMahon and Harry Lemmey all kicked multiple goals.
Orazio Fantasia also got through his scheduled game time in his first game for the season, kicking a classy goal in the third term in a showcase of his trademark zip.
The Blues made a bright start, with Luke Nelson capitalising on the team keeping the ball alive to snap one over his shoulder from close range.
Williamstown started to get on top and dominate forward territory on the back of their bigger bodies around the ball, albeit with missed opportunities going inside 50, before Kristian Ferronato finished off a brilliant team goal to lift spirits heading into quarter time.
The second term started in a similar vein to the way the first term finished, as the Seagulls pinned the ball inside 50 and started to get scoreboard return, kicking the first four goals of the term to open up a buffer.
As would become the theme of the game, the Blues fought back hard, with Marc Pittonet and Harry Lemmey producing accurate set shots before a running goal from impressive youngster Darcy Hogg bringing the Blues back within 20 at the main break.
In a low-possession game for the Blues, developing half-backs Billy Wilson (13 disposals) and Harry Charleson (12 disposals) were getting their hands on the football in the opening two quarters, but the Seagulls were getting on top of a youthful Blues back six.
The third quarter began with consecutive Williamstown goals, before Fantasia - injected into the game at quarter time on scheduled minutes - provided one of the highlights of the night for the Blues. Gaining possession at ground level, the forward turned his opponent inside out and finished on his right foot for a sensational solo goal that sparked the Blues into life.
The quality of the Blues’ goals didn’t stop there, with Lemmey and McMahon both producing brilliant set shots, Moir slotting one from the boundary on his right foot and O’Keeffe snapping truly from the boundary line to keep the margin hovering at 16 points for the majority of the term.
However, in the shadows of three-quarter time, Williamstown forward Brodie McLaughlin produced a major - one of 7.5 for the game - to keep the Blues at bay again.
Rejuvenated by that finish to the third term, the Seagulls took the game away from a youthful Blues line-up in the final term, extending the margin out to a game-high 45 points before the Blues rallied late as McMahon and O’Keeffe continued to impose themselves in the final term.
Francis Evans threw his weight around with 13 tackles, while in his second game since his return, Alex Cincotta - playing largely in the midfield - finished with 19 disposals and nine tackles in a typically combative display.
Carlton has the mid-season bye alongside its AFL side next week, with its next game coming against Essendon at Windy Hill in the first of a King’s Birthday Eve double header.
CARLTON RESERVES 2.2 5.5 10.5 12.7 (79)
WILLIAMSTOWN 2.5 8.7 13.9 17.15 (117)
GOALS
Carlton: Lemmey 2, McMahon 2, O’Keeffe 2, Fantasia, Ferronato, Hogg, Moir, Nelson, Pittonet
BEST
Carlton: O'Keeffe, Ramshaw, Pittonet, Ferronato, Wilson, Cincotta
