Carlton vs. Melbourne: The moments which proved the Blues aren’t done yet
With its season over a staring a Demons comeback in the face, Carlton could have laid down and given up. Instead, the Blues stood up – Glenn McFarlane finds the moments that prove it.
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This game was never going to be seen as a coach-saver, but it was precisely what Michael Voss and the army of Carlton fans needed to warm their hearts on a cold, bleak night at the MCG.
After a winless month of football and a miserable season that has put everyone at Ikon Park on notice – including the coach – the Blues turned on one of their better performances of the season to secure their first win since round 14.
Tom De Koning TOOK FLIGHT ✈ï¸#AFLBluesDeespic.twitter.com/gg4qWU46b8
— AFL (@AFL) July 19, 2025
It was also the club’s fourth straight win – all of them by under 10 points – against Melbourne, who couldn’t get over the line, despite an extraordinary five-goal haul from Kozzie Pickett that threatened to steal the point off the Blues.
There hasn’t been a lot to cheer about for Carlton this season, but this match gave the fans some hope that, despite winning only seven games so far, there are still some things to be gained out of the back end of another frustrating year.
It was on for young and old for the Blues, with some fresh faced kids and some experienced campaigners throwing everything into the contest.
There were some big inspirational moments, too, which swayed the game in Carlton’s direction, even when the Demons scored two late goals to cut the margin to only two points with just over five minutes to play.
There was Charlie Curnow’s booming 50m goal at the 27-minute mark of the final term, his third for the game. He kicked the first and the last major of the game, and both were a welcome relief for him and for the Blues.
He hadn’t kicked a goal in his previous four games – 19 quarters in all – but he bounced back hard on Saturday night.
There was Tom De Koning’s towering mark late in the game as he soared over a pack to steal the ball back Carlton’s way in a telling moment. It wasn’t his night, especially, but it was his moment and there were cheers, not Bronx cheers.
There was Jacob Weitering’s desperate saving mark late and Sam Docherty’s extraordinary tackle on Jake Bowey and subsequent goal that lifted his team when they needed it.
But just as impressive, it was the Carlton lesser lights who made an impression when they needed to.
Francis Evans didn’t deviate in the third term when a steam train called Steven May crashed into him, which could have MRO implications. He was taken from the field, but his inspirational moment resonated with his team.
Ashton Moir kicked four goals on the night, including one from the Evans free kick he couldn’t take; Flynn Young kicked a booming goal in the third term, and then Matt Carroll nailed his first goal in the final term to lift his team again.
Melbourne just couldn’t get going and relied too heavily on Pickett, and they couldn’t get it done for Clayton Oliver in his 200th game.
This game belonged to the Blues and while the pressure will remain on the coach and the club as a whole, it was a night to get excited about after an awful season.
Originally published as Carlton vs. Melbourne: The moments which proved the Blues aren’t done yet
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