AFL round 6: Carlton emphatically trump Western Bulldogs in goalfest

Carlton have resurrected the AFL premiership after becoming the first club in more than four weeks to register 100 points in a match.

Carlton have resurrected the AFL premiership after becoming the first club in more than four weeks to register 100 points in a match.

After a disappointing weekend of AFL, Carlton have resurrected the competition with a thrilling victory over the Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium.

The Blues have become the first club since round two to reach 100 points in a match, winning their Sunday’s fixture 16.7 (103) to 7.9 (51), biggest victory margin since 2014.

The Bulldogs had not conceded more than 39 points in the previous three rounds, but Carlton quickly raced to 32 points during the first quarter.

From their 41 inside 50s, Carlton managed 23 scoring shots in wet conditions on a surface which had already hosted three AFL matches in the past 48 hours.

After Sunday afternoon’s lacklustre encounter at the Gabba, a classic Carlton masterclass is exactly what footy needed.

“Well done Blues, standing ovation for the Blues,” Brisbane Lions legend Jonathon Brown said on Fox Footy.

“Footy needed this after what we say in the previous match.

“In really tough conditions, wet conditions, the Blues made it look easy, and put on a show to finish the round.”

Carlton registered their third win of the season on Sunday.

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Hawthorn great Daniel Harford also praised Carlton for their entertaining performance on the Gold Coast.

“Carlton’s pressure has been enormous since the very first bounce, it’s definitely their pressure around the contest,” Harford said on 3AW.

“The way that Carlton are hunting tonight is something we probably haven’t seen at this level. Whether or not they can do it for four quarters is the challenge.

“I love when Carlton play this brand of footy. This is what we saw when David Teague first took over midway through last year. It was a really free, flowing, style.

“When they get the ball they are bold … tonight they are prepared to take the game on.”

Carlton’s best is superb to watch

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) July 12, 2020

Woohoo goalfest!#AFLBluesDogs #OwnTheFuture go baggers!

— Steve Bastoni (@stevebastoni) July 12, 2020

Good one, blues. Footy needed that. 100 pt scores had become extinct and it was good to watch. #AFLBluesDogs

— ron reed (@reedrw) July 12, 2020

WHAT A WIN CARLTON!!! And we are in the TOP 8 BABY!!!! Go the BAGGERS!!!!!!!! @CarltonFC #AFLBluesDogs

— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) July 12, 2020

Carlton saving footy. Who would’ve thunk it #AFLBluesDogs

— Darren Levin (@darren_levin) July 12, 2020

Superstar small forward Eddie Betts scored a match-high four goals, and also contributed 14 disposals, three marks and a behind. The 33-year-old had not kicked four majors for Calrton since Round 6 in 2013.

“We knew we had to come out, put on the pressure and start well, which we did,” Betts told Fox Footy after the final siren.

“We’re still jelling, and we’re only going to get better.”

Speaking to ABC Grandstand, teammate Jack Martin proclaimed: “(Betts) is a little wizard. Whenever he goes near the ball he makes something happen.”

Eddie Betts back in a @CarltonFC jumper just seems so right in a year that has seemed so wrong. Great to see him with a smile on his face again. Four more goals tonight; nine for the season. #AFLBluesDogs

— Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) July 12, 2020

Harry McKay also scored three goals for Carlton, while Michael Gibbons, Jack Martin and Mitch McGovern managed two majors each.

Meanwhile, Lachie Hunter ended the game with 27 disposals, while rookie Laitham Vandermeer also impressed for the Bulldogs, scoring a team-high two goals, along with 14 disposals and two behinds.

After registering their third victory of the season, Carlton jumps to eight spot on the AFL ladderfor the first time since 2013, and will next week take on Port Adelaide at the Gabba in Brisbane.