AND breathe.
Carlton has kept its winning run going in gripping fashion, prevailing by five points over Essendon at the MCG.
Needing to come from behind after trailing by as much as 23 points in the second term, the Blues surged home in the second half to prevail 10.12 (72) to 10.7 (67).
Emotions were sure to run high in the now-traditional King’s Birthday Eve clash, with the capacity crowd of 76,745 at the MCG belying the ladder positions of the two sides at the midway point of the season.
It was clear from the outset that the Bombers were well and truly up for the contest, with the Blues needing to absorb their pressure and numerous inside 50s for the home side.
Talor Byrne kicked Carlton’s opening goal of the contest in response to Essendon’s opener, but it was Ben McKay who got the first laugh between the two brothers, kicking his first goal to give the Bombers an early lead.
Carlton was undeniably scrappy in the early going of the contest, playing into Essendon’s pressure as the Blues were unable to capitalise when they had ball in hand.
That trend continued to start the second term, with Essendon’s midfield getting on top and its forwards reaping the rewards, opening up a three-goal lead.
The Blues’ McKay loomed large at the other end and played a lone hand in the second term from a goalkicking perspective, kicking both of his side’s goals from set shots to keep the Blues within striking distance.
Regrettably for the Blues, their other opportunities weren’t seized, only mustering two goals from seven scoring shots for the quarter while the Bombers went at 100 per cent in front of goal to open up a half-time lead.
When the teams come out for the second half, the Bombers had the top six ball-winners on the ground for the quarter, but the Blues were much more clinical going forward than they had been in the first half.
Tempers threatened to boil over as spotfires bobbed up everywhere between the two arch rivals.
After McKay kicked his third with the most Stephen Kernahan of finishes, George Hewett and Brodie Kemp repeated the dosage to have the Blues level at the last change, with the Blues’ defensive setup holding up much stronger in the third term - they conceded only two scoring shots from 12 forward entries.
At the other end, the Blues converted 11 inside 50s into six scoring shots - although inefficiency in front of goal prevented the Blues from taking the lead into three-quarter time.
After trailing for much of the night, Carlton hit the front early in the last term, with an outstanding defensive effort from Mitch McGovern setting up Ben Ainsworth for his first.
Harry Dean continued to defend brilliantly, keeping danger man Nate Caddy to just six disposals and holding up on the last line once again.
When Kemp, Byrne and then Will Hayward converted to open up a three-goal gap, the Blues looked home - but two late goals to the Bombers made for a nervy final centre clearance.
Carlton held on for the second straight week, making it four consecutive wins against the arch rival - and four straight victories in the last month of football.
The Blues will have the bye next weekend before heading to Sydney to take on GWS in Round 15.
ESSENDON 2.3 6.3 7.4 10.7 (67)
CARLTON 1.2 3.7 6.10 10.12 (72)
GOALS
Carlton: McKay 3, Byrne 2, Kemp 2, Ainsworth, Hayward, Hewett
