Carlton have extended their winning streak to seven with a rousing 54-73 come-from-behind victory against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
After trailing at every break, the Blues ran over the top of the Saints in the fourth quarter with four goals to zero in the last term.
While the margin was eventually 19 points, the game was still teetering late in the last quarter until former Saint Blake Acres put the nail in the coffin.
His running goal from outside 50 in the 23rd minute of the final term summed up Carlton’s last quarter and commentator Brett Phillips called the moment on AFL Nation.
“He weaved his way through,” Phillips said.
“Acres kept going, he has inked up beautifully and weaved through like a bull.
“For a bit of icing! That is it for the Saints! That is the play of the day, magnificent from Acres!
“That right there is the big moment. The winning streak for Carlton is going to continue!”
After kicking just three goals in the first half, the Blues began to find an avenue to goal in the third and fourth quarters but it wasn’t from their traditional source as Coleman Medal leader Charlie Curnow held to just one major.
With Curnow having a quiet outing, Carlton were forced to keep St Kilda to a low score and the likes of Jacob Weitering (10 marks), Nic Newman (35 disposals) and Sam Docherty (26 disposals) were all huge in helping resist their opposition’s attack.
As well as their strong defensive performance, the Blues were able to dominate at the source with a 44-24 clearance win, an astounding stat given they were without the likes of Matt Kennedy, Adam Cerra and Sam Walsh.
Carlton great Mark Maclure credited coach Michael Voss for the victory.
“It’s very pleasing, he (Voss) would be proud of himself,” Maclure said on AFL Nation.
“He’s changed the way they play, they couldn’t move the ball from back to forward but they can now.
“They moved it from back to forward today against one of the best defensive sides in the competition today.
“He looks like a relieved man, they’re very proud, the Blues.”
The win takes Carlton to an 11-1-8 record and in fifth position, while St Kilda lingers half a game behind them in seventh.
For the Saints, they’ll be pleased with their defence as Callum Wilkie claimed his one-on-one matchup against Curnow, while Mason Wood (36 disposals) and Brad Crouch (one goal, 31 disposals) can hold their heads high.
In the end, their on-ball unit just couldn’t get the job done when the game was on the line.
The Blues will hope to pick up their eighth straight win and place one foot in finals when they face Melbourne next Saturday at the MCG while St Kilda will be desperate to bounce back against Richmond on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.
FULL SCORE
St Kilda: 3.1, 7.2, 8.3, 8.6. (54)
Carlton: 2.4, 3.4, 6.7, 10.13. (73)
GOALS
St Kilda: King 2, Butler 2, Higgins, Crouch, Marshall, Phillipou
Carlton: Motlop 2, Acres 2, Owies, De Koning, Cuningham, Curnow, Dow, Martin
BEST
St Kilda: Mason Wood, Brad Crouch, Rowan Marshall, Callum Wilkie
Carlton: Nic Newman, Sam Docherty, Zac Fisher, Jacob Weitering, George Hewett
INJURIES
St Kilda: N/A
Carlton: N/A
CROWD 42,656 at Marvel Stadium.