THE CARLTON Reserves defeated Essendon in a resilient win away from home.

After being down at every change, the Blues showed plenty of grit to snatch the win in tough conditions in the last quarter, overcoming the Bombers 10.12 (72) to 8.6 (54).

The physical affair was a grind, with Ben Camporeale relishing the contest with 32 disposals and 10 clearances for the game. With eight individual goalkicker, it was Harry Lemmey and Francis Evans who kicked multiple goals, while Marc Pittonet (21 disposals, 41 hitouts) crucial.

In tough weather conditions at Windy Hill, Lewis Young had to stand up down back in the opening term, contributing a game-high eight disposals in the first quarter. Alongside him, Ethan Phillips’ three intercept marks were just as important.

Supporting in the ruck, it was Young who got busy at ground level, hitting the chest of Francis Evans inside 50 who kicked true to give the Blues their first of the game.

04:26

VFL R11 | All Carlton highlights v Essendon

Watch the best of the Carlton Reserves in their VFL Round 11 win over Essendon.

Pittonet continued to set the tone in the middle of the ground while Ben Camporeale got his hands on the footy early, capping off his eight-disposal quarter with a goal from a free kick.

As the Bombers struck back, Camporeale then found the chest of the in-form Harry Lemmey who found a quick response for the Reserves. But despite momentum being with the away side, the Blues trailed by two points at the break, lamenting missed opportunities in front of goal (3.5 at quarter time).

03:16

VFL R11 | Best of Ben Camporeale

Ben Camporeale had a strong performance in the VFL Round 11 clash with Essendon.

After a back and forth opening quarter, the beginning of the second was anything but, with no goal kicked until the 17-minute mark as tempers threatened to boil over between the two arch rivals.

Darcy Hogg started to find a lot the footy, offering plenty of run through the corridor and in the forward half to finish the half with 14 disposals, while Harry O’Farrell played a pivotal role down back after his recent AFL debut.

With the siren concluding a stop-start quarter, the Blues went into half time eight points down, with the Bombers kicking the solitary goal for the term.

Following the main break, the Blues came out steaming. A missed opportunity came the way of mid-season recruit Flynn Young, but he wasn’t to be denied the second time around, producing a classy snapping finish on his left to kick his first in Navy Blue and give the Reserves the ideal start.

00:36

VFL R11 | Flynn Young's first goal in Navy Blue

Mid-season recruit Flynn Young produced this classy major in his first game for the Carlton Reserves.

After maintaining some momentum, a crucial interception followed by a kick inside 50 from Luke Nelson found Lemmey out the back, who strolled into an open goal kicking his second.

After kicking back-to-back goals, some elite forward pressure from late inclusion Stirling Phipps-Parsons saw him rewarded with a free kick in the pocket: he was able to split the middle from the pocket to give the VFL Blues three in a row.

Despite a dominant showing for majority of the quarter, a late fightback from the Bombers saw them regain the lead by three points at the final interval.

Looking for the perfect start in the fourth, it was Harry Lemmey who laced out fellow tall Ashton Moir. With a set shot from close range, he kicked his first major and gave the Blues the lead early in the final term.

Carlton kept that hot start rolling, as captain Heath Ramshaw sent the ball inside 50, with Rob Monahan gathering at ground level after the contest from Lemmey to snap from close range – giving the Blues two in a minute.

00:51

VFL R11 | Moir, Monahan rise to the moment

Back-to-back goals from close mates Ashton Moir and Rob Monahan contributed to the Carlton Reserves win over Essendon.

Lucas Camporeale was then quick to take advantage from a free kick to find fellow small Hogg, who snapped on the run to all of a sudden give the Blues a game-high 17-point lead.

With plenty of time still to play, Essendon wrestled back some of Carlton’s momentum and kicked an answering goal, only for another pressing tackle from Frankie Evans giving him an opportunity from beyond the arc which he duly converted to ice the game.

The siren followed shortly after, officially giving the Blues their fourth win of the season after storming home.

The Carlton Reserves are set to face the Northern Bullants at 2:05pm next Sunday 15 June at Genis Steel Oval, Preston.

CARLTON RESERVES     3.5     3.7     6.9      10.12 (72)
ESSENDON VFL               4.1     5.3     7.6       8.6 (54)

GOALS
Carlton: Evans 2, Lemmey 2, B Camporeale, Hogg, Moir, Monahan, Phipps-Parsons, Young

BEST
Carlton: Pittonet, Lemmey, B.Camporeale, O’Farrell, Evans, Hogg