CARLTON has gone down by 28 points in the Gather Round opener against Adelaide.

In hostile territory and played at times in inclement weather, the Blues once again produced moments of great football but couldn’t sustain it for four quarters in the 12.14 (86) to 17.12 (114) defeat.

In what was Adam Cerra and Mitch McGovern’s 150th AFL games, Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps led from the front all night, but the Blues couldn’t contain the Crows’ attacking threats with an undermanned backline.

Carlton made a hot start with a seven-goal opening term in an incredibly open first term of football, with both the milestone men (Cerra one goal, McGovern two goals) hitting the scoreboard.

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AFL R5 | Bend it like Ben: Ainsworth pumped after snappy start

Ben Ainsworth produces a stunning pair in the first term to get his side fired up.

With a different midfield mix this week, the Blues’ on-ball brigade got to work as Patrick Cripps (12 disposals, six clearances) and Sam Walsh (15 disposals) led the charge.

Five of the Blues’ seven goals in the opening term came from clearances, but they were left to rue some costly moments late in the term, letting the Crows back into the game.

The home side continued that momentum in the second term, surging to a 24-point lead with five goals inside the opening eight minutes of the second term before the Blues could even register an inside 50.

Working hard on the wing as he has done all season, Matthew Carroll pushed forward for a pivotal settling goal, while Nic Newman held up well in defensive 50.

The Blues were up against it in the second term with the Crows dominating possession, having the top seven disposal winners on the ground in the second term.

Trailing by 24 points at the main break, Carlton’s comeback mission was made more difficult as the heavens well and truly opened up at Adelaide Oval, making the third quarter an old-fashioned slog.

Playing a forward-midfield role on his return to the side, Zac Williams converted from long range to generate some energy, while Lewis Young - against Crows gun Riley Thilthorpe for most of the night - and Nick Haynes were under heavy fire in driving rain.

But two goals either side of three-quarter time gave the Blues plenty to do, with a 36-point deficit to make up.

To their credit, the Blues continued to fight as they had done all night, and when Ollie Hollands backed up goals from Francis Evans and Harry McKay, the margin was back to 18 points.

In their search to try and win the game, the Blues committed numbers forward and were ultimately stung going the other way, falling by 28 points in Gather Round.

Cripps (29 disposals, 16 contested possessions), Walsh (28 disposals, eight tackles) and Marc Pittonet (10 clearances) led the charge from a clearance perspective, while Young fought hard all night on the last line of defence, recording 14 one percenters.

The Blues will look to respond next Friday night, hosting Collingwood at the MCG for the Peter Mac Cup.

ADELAIDE      6.3     12.6     14.8       17.12 (114)
CARLTON       7.4      8.6      9.8          12.14 (86)

GOALS
Carlton: Ainsworth 2, McGovern 2, Carroll, Cerra, Evans, Florent, E.Hollands, O.Hollands, McKay, Williams