ESSENDON is off to its best start to a season since it won the premiership in 2000 after the Bombers upset Carlton by 30 points at the MCG on Saturday.
The Blues were red-hot favourites to record their fourth victory of the season after demolishing Collingwood last week, but it was Essendon who remained undefeated after the final siren sounded on its 15.19 (109) to 11.13 (79) win.
Five talking points: Carlton v Essendon
James Hird was glowing in his praise of the performance he labelled his team's best of the season to date.
"I think the boys were terrific," Hird said.
"We went in with a very strong game-plan that we wanted to execute and the boys took it up to Carlton.
"You don't know all the time whether the confidence levels are there to execute a game-plan like the one we went in with today but you've got to be so proud of your players.
"I don't think anyone in Australia gave us a chance of winning today."
Carlton suffered early blows with injuries to Andrew Carrazzo and Jeremy Laidler, but the Dons' work-rate and ferocity at the contest was superior for much of the contest.
Carrazzo was subbed out of the game after suffering a shoulder injury in the first minute and Laidler received treatment on the same knee he dislocated in the NAB Cup and appeared to struggle throughout.
The Bombers weren't without their own injury concerns with Michael Hurley subbed out with a hamstring complaint early in the second half that Hird said would likely keep him out of Wednesday's Anzac Day match.
Bombers Brent Stanton and Jobe Watson were outstanding at the stoppages from the outset and finished with 36 and 31 possessions respectively.
Stewart Crameri was a dangerous presence in attack for Essendon, but the full-forward robbed himself of a bigger goal haul with wasteful kicking seeing him finish with 5.6.
The Blues had few clear winners on the day, but Marc Murphy was one of their few consistent contributors with 29 disposals and a goal, while Eddie Betts finished with four goals after being largely unsighted in the first half.
Despite their injury woes, Carlton led by four points at quarter-time, but looked listless in the face of the Bombers' second-quarter blitz, which saw them kick five unanswered goals for the term to lead by 28 points at the main break.
The Blues finally started to play the type of the football that saw the club installed as premiership favourites during the week early after the restart, but spurned several gilt-edged opportunities in front of goal.
The Bombers made them pay with the last three goals of the quarter setting up an imposing 47-point lead at three-quarter time.
Carlton launched a last-ditch attempt to snatch the win with five of the first six goals of the final term, but an Angus Monfries goal with eight minutes to play secured a memorable win for the Dons.
Brett Ratten was disappointed to have received so few four-quarter contributions from his players and refused to blame the loss of Carrazzo and Laidler's struggles for the flat performance.
"It would be a big excuse if we said that," Ratten said.
"Teams will face these challenging times to reshape their teams and that's the beauty of coaching - you don't know if it's going to be a beautiful day or if it's going to rain or lose players and you have to change your plans."
CARLTON 4.4 4.7 5.12 11.13 (79)
ESSENDON 3.6 8.11 12.17 15.19 (109)
GOALS
Carlton: Betts 4, Robinson, Garlett, Murphy, McLean, Gibbs, Judd, Hampson
Essendon: Crameri 5, Davey 3, Melksham, Stanton, Ryder, Zaharakis, Hurley, Fletcher, Monfries
BEST
Carlton: Simpson, Murphy, Judd, Scotland, Henderson, Waite
Essendon: Watson, Stanton, Crameri, Hardingham, Ryder, Davey, Heppell, Hibberd, Fletcher
INJURIES
Carlton: Carrazzo (shoulder), Laidler (knee), Yarran (toe)
Essendon: Hurley (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Andrew Carrazzo (shoulder) replaced in the first quarter by Brock McLean
Essendon: Michael Hurley (hamstring) replaced in the third quarter by Cory Dell'Olio
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Rosebury, Leppard
Official crowd: 73,172 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
