CARLTON fell to North Melbourne by 11 points on Saturday afternoon at the MCG. 

Despite a spirited final-quarter surge that kept the Roos scoreless, the Blues couldn’t claw back the 46-point margin they faced at the final change.

Mitch McGovern was a bright spot, kicking four goals – his best return since Round 22, 2017 – while George Hewett continued his consistent form with 31 disposals and 18 contested possessions.

The opening quarter was a scrappy affair, with both teams struggling to convert their chances in front of goal. After three early misses, it was Mitch McGovern who broke the deadlock for the Blues, snapping truly to register the first major of the afternoon. Jaxon Binns was lively on the wing with six disposals, while Nick Haynes stood tall in defence, collecting four intercepts.

Orazio Fantasia added Carlton’s second with a long-range running goal from 48 metres, but despite generating 19 inside 50s, the Blues couldn’t make their dominance count. A brief injury scare saw Jacob Weitering limp off with a sore ankle, though he returned to take his place at the start of the second term.

North Melbourne took complete control in the second quarter, piling on six unanswered goals while keeping Carlton goalless for the term. The Roos dominated territory with sharp ball movement, keeping the ball locked in their forward half and dictating the tempo.

Marc Pittonet held his own in the ruck battle against Tristan Xerri, but Carlton’s typical strength around stoppage was missing, as the North midfield got on top. By half time, the top six ball-winners on the ground were all wearing Royal Blue, highlighting the Blues’ struggle to gain possession.

North Melbourne picked up right where they left off after the main break, kicking the first two goals of the third term to extend their lead.It took until the 18-minute mark for Carlton to break through, with Orazio Fantasia snapping another classy running goal, quickly followed by Mitch McGovern’s second to provide a spark.

But the momentum was short-lived. North answered with two more majors, applying relentless tackle pressure to disrupt Carlton’s ball movement. With seven forward-50 clearances for the term, the Roos kept the game firmly in their attacking half. Jesse Motlop was brought into the game as a tactical sub, bringing energy and speed to the forward 50. Ollie Hollands was also a livewire all day, using his run and carry to try and light a spark for the Blues.

Carlton mounted a strong final-quarter fightback, with goals to Blake Acres, Lachie Fogarty, Mitch McGovern and Motlop, while holding North Melbourne scoreless in the term. Jacob Weitering was strong down back, pushing through his earlier injury scare to finish with a game-high 11 intercept possessions, along with 10 contested possessions and six score involvements.

But despite the late surge, the damage had been done, with the Blues ultimately falling short by 11 points at the MCG.

CARLTON                            2.6     2.7      5.8     10.13 (73)   
NORTH MELBOURNE          1.3    7.5    13.6      13.6 (84)   

GOALS
Carlton: McGovern 4, Fantasia 2, Williams, Motlop, Fogarty, Acres