The Blues had suffered five successive losses – their longest drought since 2008, and the first time coach Mick Malthouse had lost five in a row since Collingwood lost the last eight games of 2005 – and a sixth would have made them level on four wins with the cellar-dweller Saints. In a game of wildly fluctuating fortunes, this one appeared in the bag for the Blues early, but then six defeats in a row seemed a possibility when the Saints staged a surprise revival. However, the Blues once again bolted away to enjoy their biggest win over the Saints in 28 years.

Blues veteran Andrew Carrazzo, so durable for much of his career as a hard-edged tagger, appears set for more time on the sidelines after being substituted out of the game in the second term with a quad injury. Initially it was feared the he had sustained another calf ailment, the likes of which derailed his 2013 season, and which would have raised serious questions about his playing future. But Dr Peter Larkins, on 3AW, confirmed the quad problem, which is serious enough. Carrazzo, 30, is contracted for another season.

Just six minutes into the second term, Carlton had burst to a 44-point lead – in the process consigning St Kilda to 10 successive first-quarter deficits for the first time in 25 years. Despite their predicament, the Saints admirably refused to go defensive – in fact, they continued to go on the attack, and clawed back to within 15 points by half-time. That margin would have been just 10 points had opportunist Darren Minchington nailed a regulation set shot just on the siren. Carlton restored order with six goals in the first 17 minutes of the third term, when they had the opening 11 inside 50s.

Carlton's early domination was largely due to the fine work of ex-Swan Andrejs Everitt and talented youngster Troy Menzel. Six minutes into the second quarter, between them they had kicked four goals and taken 16 marks – Everitt nine (three contested), Menzel seven (one contested). Everitt was everywhere early with a game-high 11 disposals (10 kicks) in the first term and would be one of the best players afield, while Menzel's class and clever movement was telling early. Menzel later hurt a shoulder and spent a considerable time receiving treated in the rooms, and aggravated it when he returned to the field.

5. 'Roo' rues poor delivery
St Kilda's delivery to skipper Riewoldt early was laughable, and it certainly provided some amusement on the airwaves. The Saints missed a leading Riewoldt four times in the first term – a couple by such distances that it was as though his opponent, Michael Jamison, was wearing a Saints guernsey. But Riewoldt overcame several more such errors from teammates to will his team back into the contest in the second term.