A WEEK is a long time in football.

Carlton has produced an emotional win after a tumultuous seven days, triumphing by 12 points over the Western Bulldogs.

Trailing at each change, the Blues were irrepressible in the final term, slamming on five unanswered goals in the 10.14 (74) to 9.8 (62) win.

On a night where Patrick Cripps led brilliantly and Matthew Carroll, Ollie Florent and Lachie Cowan stepped up, it wasn’t a night defined by skill - but rather, fight.

The Blues were up for the contest from the outset, getting the early territory but unable to capitalise on the scoreboard.

Harry McKay looked dangerous early and kicked the Blues’ first goal of the game, but the Blues missed some golden opportunities from there on in, hitting the post twice.

To make matters worse for the Blues, the Dogs made the team pay at the other end, with only an incredible Matthew Carroll goal from long range seeing the Blues hit the scoreboard in a meaningful way to close out the term.

That trend continued over the next two quarters, despite the Blues dominating a number of statistical categories - including time in forward half.

But frustratingly for the home side and the fans in attendance, the Blues seemed unable to get the go-ahead goal, with the Dogs always managing to respond to keep the Blues at arm’s length.

Cripps started to motor in the middle two terms while Cowan and Florent played on the front foot all night, willing to drive the Blues forward and attack the contest.

It was an at-times ugly wrestle, but at the final change, the Blues found themselves within touching distance - although they’d need to come from behind to return to winning form.

They did exactly that in emphatic fashion.

The Blues lifted again, and the Marvel Stadium crowd came with them, dominating out of the middle and locking the play in their forward half in a dominant 20 minutes.

McKay gave the Blues the lead for the first time since the opening term, before Brodie Kemp put in a late submission for a Socceroos call-up with a volley that had Marvel Stadium bouncing.

When a Ben Ainsworth snap was followed up by debutant Jack Ison kicking a rousing first goal, the Blues were home, ready to celebrate a first win since Round 1.

Cripps was superb with 29 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, while Florent’s drive from half-back was ever present with 28 disposals.

The Blues would’ve been buoyed by the games of Carroll (three goals) and Cowan (20 disposals), while in critical moments, McKay stepped up and led a rampant forward line which pressured all night.

Carlton will look to go again when it takes on Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval next Saturday night.

CARLTON                             2.5     3.6     5.11       10.14 (74)
WESTERN BULLDOGS         4.1     5.4     7.7         9.8 (62)

GOALS

Carlton: Carroll 3, Cripps 2, McKay 2, Ainsworth, Ison, Kemp