IT WAS A disappointing trip West, as a fast-starting Carlton failed to close out the match, falling by 27 points to Fremantle on Sunday evening. 

Despite leading by 24 points at half time, the Blues kicked one goal in the third term compared to the Dockers' four. 

George Hewett and Patrick Cripps (36 disposals each) did their best - evident by Carlton’s midfield dominance - but Fremantle’s transition in the second half held them in good stead. 

The Blues’ first term couldn’t have gone any better, opening up the game with a fast goal from Ashton Moir. Lachie Cowan and Nick Haynes were instrumental across half back, with Fremantle failing to register a deep inside 50 until the 22-minute mark of the quarter. Goals to Motlop, Acres and two to Evans gave the Blues a healthy 18-point lead at the first break. 

Dominating the clearances, Carlton were elite at getting it out of the middle, winning six centre clearances to Fremantle’s one. Marc Pittonet (23 hitouts) and Tom De Koning (27 hitouts) were instrumental in the ruck, winning the battle against rotating rucks Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson. The Dockers answered with a quick goal to open the second term, but the midfield work of the Blues kept them moving forward, leading to a Lachie Fogarty goal. Flynn Young was doing well to impact with his pressure, as did Lewis Young, who provided a rundown tackle that stopped an almost-certain goal. Emotions were running high as defender Harry O’Farrell kicked his first AFL goal, but was shortly escorted off the field with a knee strain, resulting in Corey Durdin coming into the game. Hewett was the shining light for the away side in the first half, collecting 25 disposals and 12 contested possessions up to the main break. 

Fremantle took control after the main break, slicing through the lines with fast, clean ball movement. While Cowan worked hard to apply pressure in defence, the Blues’ overall intensity waned as the Dockers slammed home four goals for the quarter. Carlton found it difficult to penetrate deep inside the forward 50, with Fremantle’s defence shutting down any clean transition. The visitors’ sole goal for the quarter came courtesy of a strong contested mark from Harry McKay.

Taking an eight-point lead into the final term, Fremantle shook off Carlton’s pressure and piled on another seven goals to seal the game. Under relentless pressure, the Blues’ defence battled hard: Haynes and Jacob Weitering stood tall, while Young and Cowan managed key intercepts. Despite their efforts to slow the momentum, Carlton couldn’t win enough possession, and missed chances in front of goal proved costly. Ollie Hollands' tireless running stood out, and a goal from substitute Durdin gave the Blues a faint glimmer of hope. A knock to the face saw Adam Saad leave the field, and two late goals from the Dockers iced a 27-point win.

Hewett and Cripps finished with nine and seven clearances respectively, while Haynes and Young both totalled nine intercepts each. 

FREMANTLE ​​2.0   4.1   8.2   15.4 (94)

CARLTON   ​​5.0   8.1   9.4   10.7 (67)

GOALS
Evans 2, Williams, O'Farrell, Motlop, Moir, McKay, Fogarty, Durdin, Acres