Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes faces a stint on the sidelines after injuring his left shoulder during the first quarter of his team's big loss. The midfielder was crunched into the ground in a tackle by former teammate Brock McLean and helped from the field in pain. After an inspection by the doctor, he was subbed off and then taken in a waiting ambulance straight to hospital.
2. Blues' win follows familiar pattern
The result extended Carlton's streak of wins over Melbourne to seven, its longest winning run against the Demons since 1980-83. And both the 61-point margin, and the Demons' low tally of eight goals, followed a familiar pattern. The Blues' previous six wins had come at an average margin of 52 points, with Melbourne kicking only six, seven, six and nine goals in the previous four clashes.
3. Waite gets safely through return
Carlton big man Jarrad Waite made his long-awaited return from a calf injury, giving the Blues a strong target up forward. The 30-year-old took a game-high ten marks and booted two goals – a tally that could have been greater if not for some poor kicking from set shots during the third quarter. Importantly, the injury-prone veteran made it through the game unscathed, and will improve further as he regains match fitness.
4. Walker earns Mick's wrath
In the modern age of endless rotations it is rare to see a player 'dragged', but Carlton's Andrew Walker earned the dubious honour during the second quarter. The half-back felled Demon Luke Tapscott at the top of the goalsquare just as play was about to restart after a Melbourne goal. Tapscott received a free kick and goaled from point blank range. Walker was summoned immediately to the bench, where he donned the headphones, through which a furious Blues coach Mick Malthouse vented his frustration.
5. Gibbs' new territory
Having played 139 of a possible 141 games since making his debut in round one, 2007, Bryce Gibbs found himself in an unfamiliar situation, being interviewed on stage by Carlton president Stephen Kernahan at the club's pre-game function, rather than warming up with his teammates in the MCG changerooms. The 24-year-old tore his hamstring against Adelaide last week, the first soft tissue injury of his career. He told Kernahan he was confident of a making a return against Port Adelaide in round eight.
