A devastating second-quarter burst against Carlton was enough to ensure the Kangaroos ended 2003 on a bright note - a thumping 124-point win over the Blues at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

The Roos put through seven goals without reply to open a decisive 62-point lead at the long break. They did it with a simple, but potent, combination of hard running through the midfield and clean ball-handling.

The 28.19 (187) – 9.9 (63) score line represents the Kangaroos’ greatest win over Carlton - eclipsing the previous mark of 111 points – and the Blues’ biggest ever defeat.

Previously, Carlton’s greatest ever loss was a 116-point defeat to West Coast at Subiaco in round 15 this year.

Moreover, the Roos equalled the highest score by any team this year, matching West Coast’s score against the Blues in round 15.

Time and again Dean Laidley’s men broke quickly from the stoppages and streamed forward in numbers that left Carlton helpless in both appearance and form.

Two, three, sometimes even four Kangaroos players were left to do as they pleased by the Blues.

It was a horrible way for Denis Pagan to end his first season at the helm, with the 22 under his charge showing little, if any of the vigour and personal pride that has so characterised previous teams he has coached.

The carnage continued after the long break, and when Saverio Rocca registered the team’s 17th major of the afternoon 14 minutes into the third quarter, the gap between the two sides had blown out to 100 points.

Laurie Angwin got a couple back for the Blues entering time on in the third term, breaking a run of 14 straight goals from the Roos.

Still, the margin was an embarrassing 111 points at the final change.

Talented ruckman Matthew Burton gave the crowd one final glimpse of his wonderful skills by receiving a handball from Motlop and snapping cleverly for a goal in the last term. It sparked not only a roar from the still-present Kangaroos fans, but Burton being swamped by congratulating team mates. He would add another before the day was through and with some difficulty, was chaired from the ground by team mates after the match.

Burton was one of 10 multiple goal-kickers, with Corey Jones and Rocca racking up four majors each. Daniel Motlop, Drew Petrie and Brent Harvey all booted three, while four players kicked two.

On this occasion the statistics provided the whole story, with the Kangaroos coming out on top in every department. The Roos had 170 more disposals and 44 more marks.

Adam Simpson, Motlop, Shannon Grant and Brent Harvey all proved too classy, ending the afternoon with some impressive statistics.

The Blues are winless since the mid-season break, with their most recent win a thrilling seven-point result over Richmond in round 12.

The Carlton hierarchy shifted this round 22 home game away from Optus Oval as a gesture of thanks to all of its 33,000-plus members for what has been a trying season.

But the only thanks came via a closed roof that protected spectators from the outside elements - howling wind and rain. However, faced with the performance of their beloved Blues, many chose to draw a line on the season well before the three-quarter time siren, leaving their seats to contemplate the off-season and find hope for a new beginning in 2004.

The result sees the Kangaroos pick up their 11th win of the year and finish 10th, while Carlton improves one spot on its wooden-spoon year of 2003, rising to 15th with four wins and 17 losses.


CARLTON: 1.4, 2.6, 4.8, 9.9 (63)
KANGAROOS: 5.5, 12.8, 22.11, 28.19 (187)

GOALS: Carlton: Fevola 5, Angwin 2, Camporeale, Koutoufides.
Kangaroos: Jones, Rocca 4, D.Motlop, Petrie, Harvey 3, Rawlings, Simpson, Burton, J.Clayton 2, Grant, Wells, King.
BEST: Carlton: Houlihan, Lappin, French, Fevola, Beaumont, McCormick.
Kangaroos: Simpson, D.Motlop, Colbert, Jones, Petrie, Harvey, Rocca, M.Stevens.
INJURIES: Carlton: Livingston (arm).
REPORTS: Angwin (Carl) for striking Rawlings in the third quarter.
UMPIRES: James, Ryan, Avon.
CROWD: 26,138 at Telstra Dome