Pre Game
59:30
Welcome to MCG for the Carlton v Melbourne Round 16 clash.
59:33
Outs for Blues: C.Marchbank, L.Sumner, N.Graham
59:34
Ins for Blues: S.Petrevski-Seton, J.Lamb, H.Macreadie
59:35
Outs for Demons: T.Bugg, D.Tyson, J.Viney, M.White
59:36
Ins for Demons: J.Smith, J.Garlett, J.Hogan, D.Kent
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
The Liam Jones renaissance will be on display today at the MCG. Since returning to the senior team in round 12, Jones is ranked No.1 in the AFL for both intercept marks and spoils (and has won more one-on-one contests than any other player).
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:09
Matthew Kreuzer missing the first shot at goal after a free kick. Carlton has scored 52 percent of its goals from a set shot this season, which is the highest percentage in the competition.
01:55
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Matthew Wright)
02:05
Two early free kicks gifting Carlton two shots at goal to start the game before a Melbourne player has even touched the ball.
05:57
Both teams have been quickly into their preferred method of ball movement. Melbourne has recorded twice as many handballs as kicks, while the Blues lead in marks taken (10-3) with patient ball use.
07:45
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
08:44
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Jack Silvagni)
09:00
The second goal for the Blues came from a chain started at a defensive half stoppage. Carlton is ranked second last this season for differential in scores from stoppages.
11:06
Blues Interchange - Levi Casboult off due to an injury.
12:41
Kreuzer and Cripps have made a good start at the stoppages for the Blues who lead the clearances 6-3 (Cripps has three of these). Kreuzer averages 14.4 disposals against the Demons, which is his second best number against all teams.
16:11
Melbourne has recorded only 11 effective kicks, while the Blues are already up to 32.
16:39
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
16:45
A great start here for the Blues with Charlie Curnow making it two goals from two forward half intercepts . Curnow collected career-highs of 22 disposals, 20 effective disposals and 11 marks against the Crows last week.
20:59
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
21:25
A sloppy start here by the Demons with Garlett missing a set shot he would normally convert. Since 2014, Melbourne has generated a goal from only 19 percent of inside 50 entries against Carlton, which is the worst percentage recorded by a side.
21:51
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Josh Wagner)
22:16
The Demons finally get on the board with the Wagner kicking the first goal of his career. Clayton Oliver was involved in that score, and has already recorded 13 disposals in a prominent start for Melbourne.
25:32
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
26:24
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
27:16
Both teams are struggling to retain possession with their kicks inside 50. The Demons have lost possession with 41 percent of their kicks into the forward 50 this season, which is the third-worst percentage in the competition.
28:16
A goal saving intercept mark from Sam Frost who has made a good start today and having a career best season. Frost has won 33 groundball gets in the defensive 50 this season, which is the third most in the competition.
30:28
The Blues have now scored 2.1.(13) from chains starting the defensive half. This season Carlton average just 26 points per game from this source, but has looked more dangerous today on the counter attack.
31:17
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
31:27
Matthew Kreuzer had a team-high six contested possessions, three clearances, nine disposals and the late goal in an influential opening quarter. His opponent Max Gawn had just the one disposal in the first quarter.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:55
Tom McDonald gives the Demons the first goal of the second quarter with an accurate snap following a free kick. Three of the five goals in this game have come from free kicks.
02:52
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Dean Kent)
07:23
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Josh Wagner)
07:33
A second goal for Wagner, and another goal coming courtesy of a free kick. Both teams have taken just the two forward 50 marks with the defences holding sway.
08:37
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Bryce Gibbs)
09:57
Three goals in a row to the Demons with Alex Neal-Bullen crumbing a long bomb from Pedersen. Neal-Bullen is having a breakout season for Melbourne, averaging 18 disposals, six score involvements and five tackles.
14:57
All of the goals to Melbourne have come from forward half chains. The Demons average 51 points per game from such chains (ranked fifth).
15:20
Blues Interchange - Patrick Cripps and is possibly out for the game.
16:24
Charlie Curnow ends the run of goals to the Demons with his second goal of the game from his third forward 50 mark. Carlton had five of the last six forward 50 entries leading into that goal.
18:36
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Levi Casboult)
18:54
A strong mark and goal from Casboult gives the Blues their third goal from a stoppage. This season the Blues average 22.3 points per game from stoppages, and they already have 21 points today from this source.
20:35
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
21:44
Charlie Curnow has now taken four contested marks. Melbourne has taken two such marks.
22:46
Carlton lead the clearances (11-4) and contested possessions (34-24) this quarter, with this contributing to a 11-5 advantage for inside 50s.
23:17
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Jack Silvagni)
25:12
Carlton has already scored 3.2.(20) from 13 forward half intercepts. This season the Blues average just 27 points from 21 such intercepts.
28:20
An important mark and goal from Jesse Hogan makes it a return of 5.1.(31) from just seven inside 50s this quarter for the Demons.
31:25
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)
32:03
Blues Interchange - Simon White and is possibly out for the game.
32:25
Sam Frost has a game-high nine intercept possessions (no other Demon has more than three), and also has a game-high 357 metres gained.
33:39
A late goal to Tom McDonald from another free kick (the fourth such goal to the Demons) has reduced the deficit to just one point. Melbourne had the last six inside 50s to end the quarter and scored 2.1.(13) during this period.
33:46
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
33:56
Carlton was the better team in the first half when the ball was in dispute, winning the clearances (26-15) and contested possessions (77-71), but saw clearance talisman Patrick Cripps hobble from the ground midway through the second quarter.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:58
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)
01:06
The third quarter starts in the same manner as the second quarter with a Tom McDonald goal. This goal was the Demons first score from a centre bounce clearance, and they average 13 points per game from such a source (ranked third).
03:51
Carlton lead the centre bounce clearances (8-5), but has only generated three inside 50s and no scores from these opportunities.
05:59
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Levi Casboult)
07:28
Sam Petrevski-Seton has impressed again today for the Blues, and currently has a game-high seven tackles, ten disposals and three score involvements.
08:28
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
09:09
Some excellent forward half pressure by the Demons, and a clever assist from Petracca, gifts a goal to Jeff Garlett. The Demons now have the last four goals.
11:27
After having the last six inside 50s to end the second quarter, the Demons lead this count 9-3 in the third quarter.
12:13
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Matthew Wright)
12:22
A goal against the flow to the Blues kicked by Matthew Wright, was their fourth goal of the game from a forward half intercept. Wright has kicked more goals than any other Blue since crossing from Adelaide.
15:09
Back-to-back goals to the Blues following an accurate set shot from Marc Murphy. Carlton has scored 6.2.(38) from its set shots today and Melbourne has scored 5.2.(32) from set shots at goal.
16:46
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
18:02
Despite conceding the clearances 21-32, Melbourne lead in scores from stoppages 37-28. Carlton has scored only 1.1.(7) from its five forward 50 clearances.
19:42
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Bryce Gibbs)
22:25
Carlton currently lead 16-4 in contested marks with Casboult and Curnow having taken four each.
22:27
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Dale Thomas)
26:19
Four goals now to Tom McDonald following a rare contested mark for the Demons. Melbourne has now scored 7.1.(43) from stoppages, and has six of the last eight goals in the game.
29:34
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
29:44
An efficient quarter by the Demons against the injury depleted Blues. Melbourne managed to shade Carlton at clearances (8-7), and inside 50s (14-12), but also benefited from the Blues missing chances. Carlton scored 2.3.(15) from nine shots at goal.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:36
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Sam Petrevski-Seton)
01:46
A brilliant boundary goal from Petrevski-Seton starts the final quarter scoring. Carlton has now scored 5.2.(32) from 20 forward half intercepts, eclipsing their season average.
03:45
Docherty and Simpson are again providing excellent rebound for the Blues. They have more than 50 disposals combined and are ranked No.1 and 2 for metres gained.
05:23
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Jack Silvagni)
06:28
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Marc Murphy)
07:45
Three quick consecutive goals to start the final quarter for the Blues, and Jack Silvagni has an equal career-high three goals.
09:30
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
09:36
An important answering goal to Jeff Garlett following another forward half intercept. Melbourne has now scored 5.0.(30) from free kicks, and the Blues have scored 3.1.(19) with both teams guilty of handing easy goals to their opposition.
11:58
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
12:07
Five inside 50s in a row to the Demons now who are trapping the ball in their forward half with excellent pressure. Melbourne lead forward 50 tackles (10-6) and forward half tackles (36-27).
16:15
Neville Jetta taking an important intercept mark (his third) in a one-on-one contest for the Demons. Jetta has won a team-high 76 intercepts possessions this season, including 22 intercept marks (the second most at Melbourne).
18:39
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Sam Docherty)
18:54
Melbourne average 34 points per game from defensive half chains, but today has scored just 1.1.(7) from such chains with the Blues doing well to disrupt the Demon ball movement.
20:29
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Levi Casboult)
20:57
Another pair of strong contested marks from Levi Casboult sees the Blues now lead 20-7 in such marks. They also lead forward 50 marks 12-7.
22:07
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)
22:27
An excellent finish from Jake Melksham puts the Demons back in front of a gallant Carlton who is being well served by its star players. The top five players for disposals are all wearing navy blue.
27:23
Carlton has won the contested possessions (49-37) and tackles (24-16) in the final quarter, but have not been able to add to the three early goals.
29:17
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jordan Lewis)
29:20
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
29:30
Melbourne hang on for a crucial victory against a very spirited Carlton team. The Demons were beaten in contested possessions (167-141), clearances (40-32) and inside 50s (48-45), but won through their forward half efficiency and accuracy.