Match

Carlton vs Melbourne

Commentary / 19 Jul 2025

Pre Game

00:00
The Demons scored 44 points in the final term last round - the second-most for the year outside the 50 they piled on against Sydney in Round 11.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:36
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
01:10
After being goalless in four consecutive games for just the second time in his career, Charlie Curnow boots the first goal of the game in under one minute.
02:30
Clayton Oliver generates the first clearance of the game in his 200th AFL match. Only Patrick Cripps and Josh P. Kennedy have generated more at the same stage of their careers.
05:02
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
06:52
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
07:51
All three goals have come from turnovers early in this match. The Blues and Demons rank 11th and 10th in scoring differential from that source.
08:54
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Ashton Moir)
10:56
Jake Melksham entered this match leading the AFL for total scoreboard impact points since Round 16. He is averaging a career-high 1.9 goals and 1.5 score assists across the year - his most assists since 2018.
12:38
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
17:04
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
17:16
The Demons were losing the territory battle early and at one stage in the opening term and trailed the inside 50s 7-1, but they have now almost evened that up at 8-6. Both of their last two goals have come from clearances.
21:45
Carlton's pressure factor of 181 is right on its season average, whereas Melbourne's figure of 189 is well above its season average of 175 - ranked 17th in the league.
23:05
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Will White)
26:16
Matthew Carroll has repelled plenty of attacks in this opening term with a game-high four intercept possessions. He gave away four free kicks in the defensive 50 last round - the most by any player this season.
29:37
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Adam Cerra)
29:51
Demons Interchange - Harry Sharp off due to the blood rule.
30:31
100% of Carlton's score has come from turnovers - its highest percentage in any opening term this season. It has had eight of the last 10 inside 50s.
32:06
Melbourne trails at quarter-time for the 12th time this season. It has a 2-9 win-loss record in these games which includes defeating North Melbourne last round.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
02:54
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Ashton Moir)
04:03
Carlton has all the play in its forward half of the ground in the last 10 minutes of the game, leading this stat 86% to just 14%.
09:21
The Demons need to tidy up their kicking, having 17 direct turnovers by foot compared to just six for the Blues. They have retained 42% of their kicks into the forward 50, though, compared to 29% for the Blues.
12:18
Charlie Curnow's mobility is testing the Demons. He already has 11 disposals to his name - his equal-most in any first half this season with the 11 he had against the Giants in Round 11. He booted 2.3 in that match.
13:46
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
16:03
The Demons have had the last five inside 50s for the game, but don't have much to show for it, scoring 0.1. They trail the inside 50s 28-21.
17:38
Both teams had a pressure factor of 170 in the opening term, but Carlton has ramped that up to 198 in the second term to the Demons' 179.
19:57
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Jesse Motlop)
20:49
The clearance battle is an even one across the game, with Carlton leading the way 17-15, but in the second term, it has a 10-3 advantage. The Blues have been outscored 13-2 from clearances.
22:53
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)
23:57
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Caleb Windsor)
25:23
With just 21 points on the scoreboard, the Demons currently only one have lower score in the first half this season, which was in Round 5 against the Bombers (17).
26:11
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Ashton Moir)
26:19
Blues Interchange - Tom De Koning off due to an injury.
27:44
Kysaiah Pickett has been one of the few sparks in the attack for the Demons tonight, booting two goals from seven kicks. They have won just three of the nine games he has kicked multiple goals in this year.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:29
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jacob van Rooyen)
01:49
Max Gawn was involved in Melbourne's opening score of the second term. His impact was poor in the ruck in the second term, having eight hitouts, of which none were to advantage. Also, six of his hitouts were sharked by Carlton.
05:21
Blues Interchange - Jesse Motlop off due to an injury.
05:30
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
05:49
Thd Demons are underway in the third term - booting the first two goals of the quarter. The game is on their terms, leading disposals 27-9, marks 13-2 and inside 50s 4-0.
07:32
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
08:14
The signs are ominous for Carlton. It has already conceded three goals and six inside 50s. The Blues have won the third term just three times all year - ranked equal-last with the Eagles.
12:02
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
12:30
The momentum swing has been huge in this quarter. Kysaiah Pickett adds his fourth goal of the game and his second major from beyond 40 metres out. His other two goals have come between 15-40 metres.
14:04
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Francis Evans)
16:42
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
17:25
The Demons marginally lead the time in forward half number across the game, but in the third term, it has the game played where they want it, leading this stat 62% to 38%.
19:49
Blues Interchange - Francis Evans off due to the blood rule.
20:26
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Ashton Moir)
20:50
Demons Interchange - Steven May off due to the blood rule.
21:15
The Blues have settled to kick the last two goals of the game. It has faced immense pressure from Melbourne as it has a pressure factor of 185 in this term, compared to a poor 127 for Carlton.
22:47
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
24:25
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
24:58
The Blues have kicked to 12 offensive one-on-one contests tonight for just one win. Melbourne has two wins to its name from five contests.
26:14
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Flynn Young)
29:48
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
31:26
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
32:27
Melbourne's only win when training at three-quarter time this season was against reigning premiers Brisbane in Round 10. It has lost all 10 other games when behind.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:51
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
01:10
Centre bounce clearances haven't been a major score source for either team tonight, with Melbourne leading this stat 12-6. It trails the clearances 10-9 in the middle.
02:21
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Flynn Young)
05:03
The forward half intercept numbers have been close all night, with Carlton leading this stat 26-23. In terms of scoring from that source, the Blues are on top 25-15.
08:15
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Sam Docherty)
08:41
Carlton's dominance in the final term is rewarded with its second goal from a forward 50 chain for the night. It trails disposals 24-21 in this term, but leads the inside 50s 6-1.
09:39
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Matthew Carroll)
10:01
Blues Interchange - Sam Docherty off due to an injury.
11:16
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
14:55
The Blues lead on the scoreboard by 16 points, but their kick retention once inside 50 is something that they would like to be higher. They have retained 28.2% of their kicks inside 50, compared to 47.5% for the Demons.
16:50
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
18:05
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jacob van Rooyen)
19:44
Clayton Oliver has had 25-plus disposals in 10 of 11 career games against the Blues. He has an equal team-high 24 tonight as he heads to the bench for his final rest.
20:43
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
20:57
No player has been involved in as many scoring chains as Kysaiah Pickett with 11 tonight. The Demons have won both games he has kicked five in this season.
22:38
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Matthew Jefferson)
23:22
Seven of the last 12 games between these sides have been decided by less than 10 points. The Demons have booted the last two goals to get within two points.
27:35
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
27:47
Charlie Curnow had kicked 6.8 from outside the 50-metre arc heading into tonight, but he gives the Blues some breathing space with minutes to play with a long bomb.
29:30
Demons Interchange - Steven May off due to an injury.
33:55
The Demons leaked 50-plus points from turnovers for the eighth time this season. They have a 1-7 win-loss rate in these games. 31 of those points were conceded from Carlton's forward half intercepts.