FOR the second straight week, Carlton fell by four goals to a high-flying opposition.

However, for the second straight week, there were some signs which were clear causes for optimism at Ikon Park.

What were the stats that mattered from yesterday’s clash with Richmond?

Half-back Samo Stacks up

Each week, Sam Petrevski-Seton is proving his wares in his new role across half back.

Over the last month, the Halls Creek Cowboy has been stationed largely across the defensive 50: on Sunday, he came up against the likes of Daniel Rioli and Sydney Stack.

With 18 disposals and six tackles, the smooth-moving Petrevski-Seton adapted to the conditions and continued to show the form which has typified his breakout season.

Since making the shift against Sydney, 86 per cent of Petrevski-Seton’s disposals have come in the defensive half.

50 up for No.1 Jack

Across the Club’s 155-year-history, there are a lot of things synonymous with the Navy Blue.

One of those is the connection between the No.1 guernsey and the Silvagni family.

Yesterday at the MCG, another milestone was ticked off when the third-generation Jack Silvagni played his 50th game in the family’s number.

Silvagni - who played his first eight games in the No.2 guernsey - collected 15 disposals in the 28-point defeat to the Tigers.

Tiger talls thwarted

Coming into the game, the main conversation was how Carlton could curtail the influence of Richmond’s key forwards.

However, the performances of Liam Jones and Jacob Weitering against the combination of Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch were standout.

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An inspiring performance in trying circumstances. ⁠ Well played, Jonesy. ⁠ #BoundByBlue

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Jones - who will miss the rest of the year with a fractured larynx - was Carlton’s best, beaten in only two of 15 one-on-one contests while recording 15 one percenters.

He was well-supported by Weitering, who had 11 one percenters of his own while keeping the dangerous Lynch to two goals. It was the kind of defensive performance which summed up the Jones and Weitering partnership in 2019.

A step forward for Gov

It was a welcome return to action for Mitch McGovern, who featured for the Blues for the first time in over a month.

Having completed a rigorous training block at Ikon Park after a series of injuries, McGovern showed signs of his spark up forward in difficult conditions.

Carlton’s most dangerous forward on the day, McGovern kicked two goals after half-time — the second of which came following a strong tackle inside 50.

With 19 goals from his 14 games so far, the remaining two weeks of the season presents a big opportunity for the recruit to fire prior to attacking the 2020 pre-season.

Deja Kreuz

Another Blue who was an addition on the weekend was Matthew Kreuzer, who missed two weeks of football through hip soreness.

As his side looked to be on the verge of a goalless first half after some missed opportunities, it was the veteran who came up with the goods to give the Blues a chance at the main break.

It wasn’t the first time Carlton has called upon Kreuzer against Richmond: it was the third time in the last four games against the opponent where Kreuzer has opened the scoring for his side.

Pitted against Toby Nankervis, Kreuzer amassed 47 hitouts in the wet to go with his opening goal: his highest tally for the season.