CARLTON has let a massive chance slip at the MCG, falling by 23 points to Melbourne at the MCG.
Despite kicking the first seven goals of the game, Carlton had no answers as it faltered in the second half, with Melbourne finishing the contest the better of the two sides.
After a 43-point lead, and reinstating a 20-point lead early into the final term, the Blues eventually fell by 23 points, with the scoreboard reading 11.11 (77) to 15.10 (100).
Coming back from the bye, the Blues made the early running, bursting out of the blocks with a six-goal opening term.
Generating seven forward-half intercepts inside the first eight minutes, with Jagga Smith opening his AFL account from a set shot.
The Blues’ next five goals for the term came from clearances, with Marc Pittonet negating Max Gawn’s influence in the ruck and the Blues getting maximum return.
Patrick Cripps led the way early with six disposals, five clearances and a goal, while Talor Byrne’s debut goal reaction was the pick of the bunch in the opening term.
The play lived in Carlton’s forward half with 22-5 inside 50s, and when Mitch McGovern kicked back-to-back goals in his milestone game, the Blues had a big quarter-time lead.
Momentum started to shift in the second term with just a goal apiece for either side, with Melbourne kicking its first goal at the 25-minute mark of the second quarter.
In the second half, every time the Blues looked to settle, the Dees responded, gaining all the momentum heading into the last term with a six-goal third term.
The Blues opened up a 20-point gap after consecutive goals from Elijah Hollands and Matthew Carroll, but the Blues were then no match for the Dees in the final 15 minutes, who piled on seven straight majors to prevail by 23 points.
CARLTON 6.2 7.4 9.8 11.11 (77)
MELBOURNE 0.1 1.6 7.8 15.10 (100)
GOALS
Carlton: McGovern 3, Ainsworth, Byrne, Cripps, E.Hollands, McKay, Smith
