CARLTON'S bright future shone through the MCG gloom on Saturday to snatch the spotlight from arch-rival Collingwood's 125th birthday celebrations. 

Tales of the Pies' rich history have been told all week, giddily coming off the back of what hinted at being a season-turning victory over Geelong a week ago.

Full match coverage and stats 

Instead it was the Blues who reigned supreme, posting a 12.7 (79) to 8.8 (56) triumph in front of a pro-Collingwood crowd of 70,279 that welcomed them with boos pre-match.

Carlton banked back-to-back wins for the first time since rounds 10 and 11 last year, adding to the win over Sydney, and put a smile on second-year coach Brendon Bolton's face. 

"We want to keep building consistency on top of pressure – that's been a constant message to our players and to our supporters," Bolton told reporters post-match. 

"On the back of last week ... we're starting to show some signs of consistency. 

"Most importantly, we put a plan in to execute defensively and I think they would have scored from, if my data is right, something around 35 to 40 per cent of their entries.

"So that's a good defensive output from our group over four quarters."

Five talking points: Collingwood v Carlton

Former Magpie favourite Dale Thomas, recalled for the date with his old side, rubbed salt into the wounds when he capped a multiple-bounce dash with a close-range goal.

That sent Carlton 30 points clear inside the first five minutes of the fourth term to snuff out any hope of a Collingwood ambush.

Alex Fasolo and Jamie Elliott (three goals) had chances within minutes of one another to bring the Pies within range, but each misfired to continue the season-long goalkicking nightmare. 

Last year's No.6 draft pick, Sam Petrevski-Seton, was outstanding from the outset, gathering 14 of his 22 disposals and kicking two of the Blues' goals in an electric opening half. 

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The West Australian could easily deliver Carlton consecutive NAB AFL Rising Star nominations, after Caleb Marchbank (21, 10 intercept possessions) got the nod last week.

There is more where that comes from at the Blues, with 2015 top pick Jacob Weitering, Charlie Curnow, Nick Graham and Lachie Plowman also showing impressive glimpses.

Usual suspects Marc Murphy (30), Patrick Cripps (25), Bryce Gibbs, Sam Docherty and Kade Simpson (26) are accustomed to toiling away in a futile cause, but must be buoyed at what they are seeing.

As must ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, who was held back for so long by injury, but capped his re-emergence with a fantastic display against in-form Brodie Grundy.

Carlton stood up to a brief Collingwood challenge early in the second term – the margin sliced to just one point – before shooting three-goals clear at half-time.

But the Blues truly skipped away in a high-octane third quarter, benefiting from their greater efficiency going forward as the Magpies continually turned the ball over going inside 50.

Gibbs shot Carlton to a match-high 36-point lead during the term when he rode a bump, found an opening and finished wonderfully on the run before saluting the Blues' faithful. 

Ben Reid (25 disposals, 12 marks) was resolute in defence and Scott Pendlebury (29) and Taylor Adams (27) typically won big possession numbers for Collingwood, but their support was lacking.

Under-fire Magpies coach Nathan Buckley was disappointed with his players' ball movement, admitting they looked lethargic in slipping to a 2-5 win-loss record. 

"Our ability to execute going forward and probably more so to keep our shape was not great today," Buckley said. 

"Credit to Carlton, they defended pretty well and we just didn't seem to have the execution or the legs to be able to move the ball in the manner that we wanted to." 

MEDICAL ROOM
Carlton: Brendon Bolton's men came through without any injury concerns.

Collingwood: The Pies pulled Daniel Wells from their selected line-up, wary of their injury prone recruit playing a third game in 12 days. American big man Mason Cox received treatment for an ankle problem in the second quarter, but played out the match.

NEXT UP
Carlton has not won three straight matches since claiming four on the trot between rounds five and eight last year. A similarly upbeat St Kilda awaits the Blues at Etihad in seven days time. It doesn't get any easier for Collingwood, which faces a trip north to Spotless Stadium to take on a Greater Western Sydney line-up on the rebound.

COLLINGWOOD      1.3    3.5    7.6     8.8 (56)
CARLTON                3.4    6.5    11.5   12.7 (79) 

GOALS
Collingwood: Elliott 3, De Goey 2, Fasolo, Cox, Moore
Carlton: Petresvki-Seton 2, Wright 2, Casboult 2, Simpson, Weitering, Graham, C.Curnow, Gibbs, Thomas 

BEST 
Collingwood: Reid, Elliott, Adams, Pendlebury
Carlton: Petresvki-Seton, Kreuzer, Cripps, Murphy, Marchbank, Simpson, E.Curnow

INJURIES 
Collingwood: Daniel Wells (soreness) replaced in selected side by Tim Broomhead, Mason Cox (ankle).
Carlton: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Foot, Findlay, McInerney

Official crowd: 70,279 at the MCG