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Writer's pictureIsabel Quinlan

Demons Demolish Blues in Triple-Figure Thrashing

Updated: Jun 1, 2018


Jack Viney burns past the Blues. Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac

Carlton has come crashing back down to earth following their emphatic win against Essendon last week, with an utter 109-point humiliation at the hands of Melbourne at the MCG.


Despite skipper Marc Murphy returning to the side after injury, Carlton struggled to convert majors and effectively move the ball, allowing the Demons to run rampant with a 15-goal second half.


Murphy looks set for another spell on the sidelines, after re-injuring his left foot which had seen him out of the side since Carlton's round four clash with North Melbourne.


The Demons had no shortage of contributors, finishing with 12 individual goalkickers, as Jake Melksham led the way with five majors, while Alex Neal-Bullen and Tom McDonald finished with four apiece.


As Carlton's deplorable season continues, Patrick Cripps' 31-disposal game stood out as one of the only highlights for the Blues, who left the field shattered at the shocking follow-up to their win just eight days prior.


It was a slow start for both sides at the MCG, with neither side scoring a major early in the term.


But after 10 minutes of play, it was Melksham who kicked off proceedings for the match to give Melbourne the lead early.


Their opposition's major seemed to kick Carlton into gear, who lifted their defensive pressure against the Demons and responded with a quick goal of their own to Jed Lamb who converted from the goal square.


Similar to last week, the Blues were effective in transitioning the ball through the centre into their forward half, but careless mistakes allowed Melbourne to capitalise on the scoreboard.


But thanks to the efforts of Harry McKay, who kicked a controversial goal after the siren, Carlton managed to end the term just three points down.


Refusing to let the Blues have so much as a sniff, Melbourne punished the Carlton on the scoreboard with two consecutive goals to returning skipper Jack Viney and Christian Petracca.


The efforts of Nathan Jones and Petracca - who ended the term with 11 disposals each - were vital in penetrating the ball from the defensive half into the forward 50 for the Dees.


Yet Tom McDonald stood head and shoulders above anyone else on the ground, with four goals - three of which were kicked in the second term - to go alongside his nine possessions, as the Blues struggled to come up with a response to silence the big forward.


Although the Blues lifted their pressure late, they struggled to transition the ball effectively into their inside 50 and capitalise on the scoreboard, with the absence of the Curnow brothers beginning to show on the field.


Carlton let their chances go begging converting an underwhelming 2.1 for the term, compared to Melbourne’s 6.0 - several of which the result of turnovers - resulting in a 31-point deficit at half-time.

Set on burying Carlton, Melbourne opened up the second half with an influx of goals to Melksham and Bayley Fritsch, which paved the way to their eight-goal third term which was met with little resistance.


Carlton seemed to be crumbling under the pressure, struggling to move the ball smoothly in the midfield and having extreme difficulty converting against the surging Dees.


Adamant on securing the victory and a healthy percentage boost, Melbourne refused to allow the Blues to get any sort of possession, getting numbers around the ball and laying on another three goals through Neal-Bullen and Max Gawn.


Despite the efforts of Lamb breathing some life into the young Carlton side with a quick goal of his own, the Demons responded with their 18th of the match, putting them 66 points in front heading into the final term.


As Melbourne continued to dominate and control the ball entering the final term, the Demons managed to restrict Carlton to just two points for the term.


With Mitch Hannan converting the first major of the term, the goals kept on flowing as they piled on another six to crack the ton and sink their opposition in what was their equal-sixth highest defeat.


The Demons kept Carlton under control, outplaying them in their defensive structure and pressure, with Melksham, Gawn and McDonald proving to be integral part in moving the ball into the forward 50.


With absolutely close to no positives to take out of their embarrassing defeat, Carlton will be itching to redeem themselves in next week's clash against Geelong on Saturday night, while Melbourne will be up in the Northern Territory against Adelaide on Sunday.


CARLTON 3.1 5.3 7.6 7.8 (50)

MELBOURNE 3.4 10.4 18.6 25.9 (159)


GOALS

Carlton: Lamb 2, McKay 2, Murphy, Fisher, Cripps

Melbourne: Melksham 5, McDonald 4, Neal-Bullen 4, Gawn 2, Hannan 2, Fritsch 2, Jones, Harmes, Petracca, Viney, Hogan, Oliver

BEST

Carlton: Lamb, Cripps, Graham, Murphy, Simpson, McKay

Melbourne: T. McDonald, Neal-Bullen, Melksham, Jones, Brayshaw


INJURIES

Carlton: Murphy (foot)

Melbourne: Nil

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