CARLTON survived a comeback from the Saints to claim a hard-fought five-point victory, recording their third consecutive win.

In a vastly changed lineup, the Blues welcomed eight inclusions, with Cody Walker making his VFL debut while Talor Byrne, Ben Camporeale, Cooper Lord, Ashton Moir, Hudson O’Keeffe, Flynn Young and Lewis Young all featuring.

After a hot start, the Blues were challenged and had to come from behind in the third quarter to record a 14.14 (98) win to 13.15 (93) in a tense finish.

Carlton burst out of the blocks with strong work at the coalface. Despite the Saints striking first through Max King, the Blues responded swiftly through Hudson O’Keeffe, who was the Blues’ captain on the day.

Blake Acres got busy early, pouncing on a loose ball in the goal square before adding a second soon after, courtesy of strong build-up play involving Cooper Lord and Lachie Fogarty. Flynn Young joined the party with a classy finish, while Fogarty nailed a set shot from distance to keep the momentum rolling.

Late goals to Ison and Ashton Moir capped off a dominant term, with the Blues controlling the clearances and taking a 28-point lead into quarter time, 7.1 (43) to 2.3 (15).

The game flipped in the second term as the Saints took control, piling on four unanswered goals to cut the margin to just three points by half time. Carlton struggled to maintain its first-quarter intensity as St Kilda’s pressure and ball movement began to take over, putting the Blues’ backline under pressure.

The Saints carried their momentum into the second half, kicking the opening two goals to take the lead on the back of six straight goals.

Carlton responded through George Hewett after strong work from debutant Cody Walker, before Wade Derksen put the Blues back in front with a goal on the run.

The lead changed hands again before Jack Ison capitalised on ground-level pressure to restore Carlton’s advantage. Hewett added another to stretch the margin before the Saints trimmed it back slightly, with the Blues holding a 12-point lead at the final change.

A tense final term saw both sides generate opportunities but struggle to convert early.

Darcy Hogg’s intercept and composed finish gave the Blues breathing room, but the Saints refused to go away, responding with consecutive goals to close within a kick.

Jack Ison’s quick snap steadied things momentarily while Walker continued to impress, setting up Logan Prout for a crucial late goal that again extended the lead.

But another wave of Saints pressure brought the margin back to five points deep into time-on, with the Blues needing to step up late.

The majority of the last five minutes of play was in Carlton’s forward 50, with the home side able to lock it inside the forward half thanks to intercepts from Talor Byrne and Dane Harvey.

George Hewett (31 disposals, two goals) was strong in the contest, while Walker (25 disposals) provided running support all over the ground.

Billy Wilson (26 disposals) and Jordan Boyd (23) were again prolific, while Ison continued his impressive return in front of goal with three majors.

CARLTON RESERVES         7.1     7.5     11.10       14.14 (98)
ST KILDA VFL                     2.3      6.9      9.10        13.15 (93)

GOALS
Carlton: Ison 3, Acres 2, Hewett 2, Derksen, Fogarty, Hogg, Moir, O’Keeffe, Prout, F. Young

BESTS
Carlton: Hewett, Fogarty, O’Keeffe, Acres, Walker, Harvey