CARLTON was unable to fight back against St Kilda, suffering a 13-point loss at IKON Park.

Against a rampaging Saints outfit looking for their sixth win in a row, the Blues’ fight didn’t waver but they were unable to capitalise on a night where they fell 5.6 (36) to 7.7 (49).

In their first home defeat of the season, the Blues left themselves with plenty to do when they trailed by three goals early in the second half, but played the majority of the final two terms in their half of the ground.

However the Saints were able to hold the Blues off, despite the best efforts of a returning Maddy Guerin (24 disposals, five clearances), Dayna Finn (22 disposals, 10 marks) and Sophie McKay (18 disposals, two goals).

00:51

AFLW R10 | Poppy pops through opener with clinical finish

Poppy Scholz shows her class with a perfect set shot to get Carlton underway

On the back of last week’s outstanding individual performance, Poppy Scholz started in attack and was quick to pick up where she left off, producing a goal from a set shot to get the Blues on the board.

However in a quarter where the Blues fumbled more than they would’ve liked, they were unable to impact any further on the scoreboard as a late goal gave the Saints an early buffer at the first change.

Starting in imperious fashion, Harriet Cordner registered 10 disposals in the first term while Darcy Vescio had eight themselves, as the Carlton backline was under siege early.

Goals to Georgia Patrikios and Sophie McKay cancelled each other before a stalemate ensued in the second term, only to be broken by St Kilda’s Hannah Stuart leading into the main break.

When J’Noemi Anderson goaled at the start of the third quarter, the Blues were in trouble - but they responded in kind.

Getting their dynamic ball movement going and playing a front half game, back-to-back majors through Keeley Skepper and Erone Fitzpatrick all of a sudden had the Blues within a kick. Not for the first time this season, Finn and Fitzpatrick well and truly rose to the occasion for Carlton, getting the home side right back in the contest.

00:42

AFLW R10 | Blues back in business as Fitzpatrick fires home

Blues right back in business as Fitzpatrick fires home another

However, the Blues were unable to get the go-ahead goal and the Saints’ speed troubled them on the counter attack, eventually kicking three goals either side of three-quarter time to open up a game-high lead.

Carlton didn’t stop fighting, with Sophie McKay kicking her second on the night - and 10th of the season - as the ball lived in the Blues’ forward half for the majority of the final term.

But it wasn’t to be for the Blues, registering consecutive defeats for the first time in 2025 while also falling for the first time at home this campaign.

Sitting in eighth position and with its destiny still in its own hands, Carlton returns to IKON Park for the final time this home-and-away season when hosting GWS next Sunday at 3:05pm.

CARLTON      1.0     2.0     4.3       5.6 (36)
ST KILDA       1.2     3.5     5.7       7.7 (49)

GOALS
Carlton: S.McKay 2, Fitzpatrick, Scholz, Skepper