WHAT AN away day.

In front of a big travelling Navy Blue contingent, Carlton has emerged from western Sydney with a fifth straight win.

Overcoming some early jitters, the Blues produced some composed four-quarter football to outlast the Giants by 23 points.

In doing so, it was the Blues’ third win at ENGIE Stadium, continuing their brilliant run of recent form.

It was an even opening term by the two sides, with both sides having their chances but unable to capitalise on the scoreboard, with the Giants taking a narrow ascendancy.

Ben Ainsworth continued his positive 2026 form with a brilliant snap in the opening minutes, but that proved to be the only major for the Blues in the opening term from seven scoring shots.

Jagga Smith was the bright spark for the Blues, with his 10 disposals the most of anyone on the ground in the opening term, but the Blues were left to rue not only inefficiency in front of goal, but also their final kick inside 50.

Carlton tidied up its entries in the second term and made the home side pay, on the back of a classic captain’s quarter from Patrick Cripps.

Cripps had 15 disposals, seven contested possessions and four clearances in the second term alone, willing the Blues forward regularly as they took the game by the scruff of the neck.

He wasn’t alone, with Francis Evans producing a five-minute cameo that generated two brilliant goals in a term that yielded five majors.

Nick Haynes stood up constantly on the last line against his former side, while Lachie Cowan picked up from where he left off pre-bye, producing a number of telling moments against Toby Greene, Jake Stringer and Jesse Hogan.

When the Blues produced the first two goals of the third term, they had opened up a 24-point lead, with the returning Matthew Cottrell getting more and more involved.

Just as the game threatened to open up on Carlton’s terms, GWS pressed again, kicking four consecutive goals to level the scores.

That was despite the best efforts of Haynes and Harry Dean, with the latter producing another excellent defensive performance, this time on Aaron Cadman.

When the Blues needed another big moment, one of their big names provided, with Sam Walsh reinstating the Blues’ advantage on the scoreboard following a goal on the three-quarter time siren.

Leading by one straight kick, Carlton needed to put in a big shift to come away with a fifth straight victory.

They did exactly that.

Keeping the Giants goalless, Will Hayward, Matthew Cottrell and Harry McKay produced majors of their own to open up an equal game-high lead.

Nic Newman led the Blues brilliantly in managing the clock, and when the siren sounded, the Blues had a 23-point lead for their third ever win on the Giants’ home deck.

Carlton’s midfield contingent was brilliant, with Walsh (34 disposals), Cripps (33), Hewett (30) and Smith (26) leading the way, while Evans produced three goals.

The Blues return home next weekend to host the Eagles at Marvel Stadium.

GWS GIANTS    2.5     5.6      9.7     9.11 (65)
CARLTON           1.6    6.11    9.13   12.16 (88)

GOALS
Carlton: Evans 3, Hayward 2, Cottrell 2, Ainsworth, Hewett, Kemp, Walsh, McKay