WEST Coast has held off a desperate Carlton at Patersons Stadium on Thursday night, returning to the top of the ladder and further harming the Blues' finals chances with a 10-point win.

After falling behind early, Carlton mounted a brave third-quarter fightback and entered the fourth quarter with a three-point lead against a wasteful West Coast outfit that managed just 3.14 across the second and third quarters.

Carlton had all the momentum, but the Eagles went up a gear in the final term and booted four consecutive goals - including two from young forward Jack Darling - on the way to a 10.19 (79) to 10.9 (69) victory.

The club's ninth win of the season was its 17th in succession at Patersons Stadium and came in the club's 600th match.

Carlton captain Chris Judd had another nightmare game against the club he captained to the 2006 premiership, held to 12 disposals by Scott Selwood, who continued his magnificent record against the Brownlow medallist and won a game-high 33 possessions himself.

With his team 10 points behind early in the fourth quarter, a frustrated Judd, who was booed by the Eagles crowd, gave away a free kick to Dean Cox and then a controversial 50m penalty, with Cox's goal all but sealing the result.  
   
West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis was superb in the greasy conditions, winning 14 contested possessions and nine clearances and feeding the ball to the Eagles' runners all night.

Nic Naitanui (31 hit-outs) dominated Robbie Warnock in the ruck and was also prolific around the ground, winning a career-high 25 disposals (19 contested). 

"I don't mind it in the wet," Naitanui said post-match. "You follow up and get down there at ground level a bit quicker with the wet conditions. I don't mind it when it rains."

Darren Glass continued his vintage form and held the Eagles' backline together by winning a number of crucial contests, but key defender Will Schofield appears certain to miss at least one match with a hamstring strain.   

The Eagles also lost Sam Butler before the game with hamstring tightness, with the half-back replaced by midfielder Tom Swift. 

Carlton midfielder Andrew Carrazzo, who had been sidelined since round four with a shoulder injury, returned and was his team's best with 28 disposals and six inside 50s.  

Carrazzo had his right shoulder heavily strapped and was initially used as a defensive forward on Shannon Hurn. But the Blues lacked run without him in the midfield and he was moved on-ball in the second half to quell the influence of Daniel Kerr.

"I thought it was just a brilliant performance and it's just a credit to him," coach Brett Ratten said.

"That's why as a coach you love picking Andy, because you know what's your going to get at every contest and what the game means to him."

Experienced half-back Heath Scotland also returned after missing one match with a calf injury and had 26 disposals, but it was not enough to deliver Carlton the four premiership points it craved.

The Blues' finals chances continue to fade as they head into a mid-season bye in ninth place with a 6-6 record, but Ratten said the team had not given up hope.

The coach said he was proud of his players' effort coming off a third consecutive six-day break, but season-defining challenges against Hawthorn and Collingwood await after the bye.

WEST COAST    3.3    5.12    6.17    10.19 (79)
CARLTON           2.3    4.4      8.8      10.9 (69)
 
GOALS
West Coast: Darling 3, Cox 2, Lynch, Kerr, Schofield, Hams, Brennan
Carlton: Kreuzer 2, Henderson 2, Walker, Garlett, Armfield, Tuohy, Simpson, Collins
 
BEST
West Coast: Naitanui, S.Selwood, Priddis, Glass, Darling, Kerr
Carlton: Carrazzo, Scotland, Duigan, Kreuzer, Robinson, Gibbs
 
INJURIES
West Coast: Butler (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Swift, Schofield (hamstring)
Carlton: Hampson (back) replaced in selected side by Joseph
 
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Tom Swift replaced Quinten Lynch in the third quarter
Carlton: Andrew Collins replaced Chris Yarran in the final quarter
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Margetts, Rosebury, Farmer
 
Official crowd: 34,224 at Patersons Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.