CARLTON warmed up for an AFL season-defining month with a commanding 94-point victory over Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Giants were at least competitive in much of the first, second and fourth quarters, but cannon fodder in the third, as the Blues won 22.16 (148) to 8.6 (54) to improve their win-loss record to 6-4.
Five talking points: Carlton v Greater Western Sydney
Once again, it was the Blues' speedy flotilla of small forwards who did most of the damage, with Jeff Garlett, (four), Chris Yarran (three), Dennis Armfield (two) and second-gamer Troy Menzel (two) combining for half of their side's tally of 22 goals.
At the other end, Andrew Walker and Michael Jamison anchored a rock-solid Blues defence, while Matthew Kreuzer relished the opportunity to ruck all day in the absence of the injured Robbie Warnock.
Click here to vote for the three best Carlton players from this game.
After a slow start to the Mick Malthouse era, the Blues have won six of their past seven games as they become better attuned to the requirements of their new coach.
"I had to find out what the playing group were equipped to do and what they enjoy because football is about enjoyment as well - and what can they achieve or tell me about the best way they play," said Malthouse.
"It's give and take on both sides and what we've done over the last few weeks is start to cut off bits and pieces that I had and bits and pieces that perhaps I didn't like.
"What's happened is we've got a game structure which meets the criteria and, so long as we don't stray from it now, we can be a good football side."
But it all gets much harder in a hurry for the Blues, who face a month of tough games against Essendon, Hawthorn, Sydney and Collingwood either side of the bye.
The winless Giants tackle mission impossible at home against Geelong next week, having lost each of their past four matches by margins between 83 and 135 points.
Malthouse was not that impressed with his forward line, despite a return of 22 goals but lauded Walker's 34 possession game.
"What he brings to the side is versatility and he generally uses the ball pretty well both sides of the body," he said.
Coach Kevin Sheedy felt GWS should have been much closer than 22 points at quarter-time on Saturday had Stephen Coniglio not butchered a golden opportunity, allowing Lachie Henderson to score at the other end as the siren sounded.
His young side struggled most in the third term when they were outscored 6.4 to three points.
"We're going to get inconsistent performances at times," said Sheedy.
"I thought we played well in a lot of different patches in the game, but to sustain it for 100 to 120 minutes has been very awkward.
"I've got to not like it, but to cope with it".
Click here to vote for the three best Greater Western Sydney players from this game.
GWS were best served by co-captain Callan Ward and fellow onballers Toby Greene and Dylan Shiel.
With former Port Adelaide premiership ruckman Dean Brogan (back) a late withdrawal, the Giants featured one of their most-inexperienced line-ups, averaging just 28 games per player.
Carlton had an even more-important late absentee, with dual Brownlow medallist Chris Judd pulling out with a sore hamstring.
Marc Murphy and Devon Smith fight for the ball. The Carlton captain had a rare quiet game as his team ran out easy winners against the Giants. Picture: AFL Media
CARLTON 6.4 12.6 18.12 22.16 (148)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 3.0 6.2 6.5 8.6 (54)
GOALS
Carlton: Garlett 4, Waite 3, Yarran 3, Armfield 2, Menzel 2, Henderson 2, Armfield 2, Gibbs, Curnow, Casboult, Kreuzer
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 2, Coniglio 2, Hampton, Whitfield, Palmer, Ward
BEST
Carlton: Walker, Garlett, Yarran, Kreuzer, Gibbs, Armfield
Greater Western Sydney: Ward, Whitfield, Adams, Greene
INJURIES
Carlton: Chris Judd (hamstring) replaced in the selected side by Troy Menzel
Greater Western Sydney: O'hAilpin (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Michael Jamison replaced by Tom Bell at three-quarter time
Greater Western Sydney: Setanta O'hAilpin replaced by Jacob Townsend at half time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Burgess, Pannell
Official crowd: 25,008 at Etihad Stadium
