A POWERFUL display from Carlton's forward line has inspired the Blues to end their five-game losing streak with an 85-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
Lachie Henderson, Levi Casboult and Simon White booted four goals each as the Blues piled on their biggest score for the season to win 24.7 (151) to 10.6 (66) on Sunday afternoon.
It was their second win over the Saints this year after a 32-point victory in round eight.
With Jarrad Waite spending a second straight week at VFL level, the three big men made life difficult for Luke Delaney, James Gwilt and Sean Dempster, with 23 marks between them.
Chris Yarran showed his versatility to slot three goals and prove a handful for young defender Cam Shenton.
Coach Mick Malthouse said afterwards he was pleased with the contribution to the win of the defensive elements of the Blues' game.
"If you kick 20-odd goals and only seven points, you're going OK," Malthouse said.
"I've never really thought too much about that; it's more about our manner of defending the ball.
"Score-lines look after themselves if you defend well enough."
A tight quad sustained by Andrew Carrazzo and a shoulder 'stinger' for Troy Menzel were setbacks for the Blues, although the latter played out the game.
A suspected quad injury to Andrew Carrazzo and a shoulder complaint for Troy Menzel were setbacks for the Blues, although the latter played out the game.
But while the Blues' forwards thrived, St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt had a trying day up the other end, with the Saints' woeful delivery into their forward line a major problem throughout the afternoon.
It didn't help that prime midfielders Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna were missing – Hayes with a groin and Montagna held to no possessions by Ed Curnow in the opening term.
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said afterwards Montagna had been 'outworked' by a range of opponents and had not carried an injury into the game.
He was scathing of the Saints' lack of work-rate and the number of players who weren't willing to fight.
"It wasn't a long meeting tonight after the game but it was about exactly that - what we saw tonight was not a reflection of the fact we had an inexperienced group, it was the reflection of a group that didn't have a crack for long enough," Richardson said.
"It's as simple as that.
"Those questions have been asked a couple of times this year but today was really disappointing."
The Blues dominated at the stoppages with Carrazzo winning four clearances in the first quarter while Andrejs Everitt helped spread the Saints wide and took seven marks.
Everitt was terrific in a range of roles, including running with Montagna in the second half.
The decision to start Riewoldt on the wing after quarter time helped change momentum, with Trent Dennis-Lane and Rhys Stanley left in attack.
The margin of 26 points had become 44 when Menzel kicked the Blues' third goal of the term six minutes in, but the Saints booted five of the next six to make the half-time margin 15 points despite Montagna still struggling to shake Curnow.
He lined up in different positions, moved to all sides of the square and tried unsuccessfully to pick up Marc Murphy in a bid to get into the game.
The Carrazzo injury came late in the quarter came after the Saints had already made their move with Riewoldt combining with David Armitage, Jack Billings and Shane Savage in turning the tide.
But after the break, Curnow moved on to Jack Steven and continued his good form by keeping the reigning Saints' best and fairest winner to six second-half touches.
All the good work done by the rebuilding Saints came undone as the kicking sloppiness returned and the Blues piled on 14 second-half goals to three.
The second halves of Marc Murphy and Brock McLean were significant while Andrew Walker racked up 28 touches and took 10 marks for the game.
Jack Steven lays a strong tackle on Ed Curnow. Picture: AFL Media
CARLTON 6.2 10.2 17.6 24.7 (151)
ST KILDA 2.0 7.5 9.5 10.6 (66)
ST KILDA 2.0 7.5 9.5 10.6 (66)
GOALS
Carlton: Henderson 4, Casboult 4, White 4, Yarran 3, Menzel 2, Everitt 2, Docherty 2, Judd, Bell, Warnock
St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Stanley 2, Savage 2, Schneider, Minchington, Billings
BEST
Carlton: Everitt, Curnow, Henderson, Murphy, White, Walker, Casboult, McLean
St Kilda: Armitage, Riewoldt, Weller, Schneider, Billings, Savage
INJURIES
Carlton: Carrazzo (quad), Menzel (left shoulder)
St Kilda: TBC
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Bell replaced Carrazzo in the second quarter.
St Kilda: Dunell replaced Dennis-Lane at three-quarter time.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Burgess, Schmitt, Armstrong
Official crowd: 29,997 at Etihad Stadium
