CHARLIE Curnow has kicked seven goals for Carlton, but the Western Bulldogs have staved off a stunning late rally to keep their season alive with a pulsating three-point win at Marvel Stadium.

The Dogs led by 34 points late in the last quarter, but the brave Blues rattled home with the last five goals of Saturday night's see-sawing contest.

Curnow brought the margin back to three points when the young star kicked his seventh goal with just under three minutes remaining, but the Dogs hung on to claim their fifth win of the season 15.13 (103) to 15.10 (100).

DOGS SURVIVE SCARE Full match coverage and stats

In a night of wild momentum swings, the Dogs coughed up a 34-point lead to trail by seven points late in the third quarter.

They climbed off the canvas to restore that advantage with the first four goals of the final term, but Carlton - a different beast under David Teague - came again and only just fell short of a second win under the caretaker coach.

WATCH The last two minutes

Josh Dunkley was brilliant for the Dogs with 41 possessions and 10 tackles, while Jack Macrae (37 disposals) and Patrick Lipinski (29) were also important.

The Dogs were short-handed for most of the night after Tom Liberatore left the game with a jarred knee in the second quarter.

Charlie Curnow was the star for the Blues, but his brother Ed was crucial to the fightback, curbing Marcus Bontempelli when he went to him early in the second term.

Patrick Cripps almost lifted his team over the line again with 22 disposals and Sam Walsh (22) continued to build his case for the NAB AFL Rising Star award.

ANALYSIS Numbers don't stack up for rollercoaster Dogs

The Bulldogs led by 19 points at the first break and they should have been further in front.

Dunkley and Bontempelli led the charge with 15 and 14 disposals respectively, as the dominant Dogs controlled the ball with 60 more possessions (130-70).

SHOWREEL Seven goal Curnow show

The Blues looked wobbly as the margin stretched to 34 points, Sam Lloyd bagging his third goal, but a team-lifting major to Matthew Kreuzer helped to drag them back to 21 points at half-time.

Liberatore departed the game with a jarred knee in the second quarter and the Dogs' run and carry left with him.

Their lead was 21 points at half-time and six points at the last change after Charlie Curnow inspired Carlton with three majors in the third quarter.

BRIGHT FUTURE FOR BLUES Teague challenges players to be more consistent

The Dogs had the game in their keeping, but the Blues snapped out of their late stupor only to be denied in the frantic final moments.

MEDICAL ROOM
Western Bulldogs: Tom Liberatore was done for the night in the second quarter because of a right knee injury. The severity of it remains to be seen but coach Luke Beveridge was “optimistic” his midfielder had avoided ligament damage.
Carlton: Ed Curnow was the Blues' sole injury concern, suffering an ankle injury that ended his game.

NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will look to exact revenge on Collingwood on Sunday week and try to edge closer to the top eight. Carlton and caretaker coach David Teague get the chance to take a breath with a bye next week.

CARLTON                    2.1       6.3       10.9     15.10 (100)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.2       9.6       11.9     15.13 (103)

GOALS
Carlton: C.Curnow 7, Cuningham 2, Murphy, McGovern, Kreuzer, Dow, Thomas, McKay
Western Bulldogs: Lloyd 3, Lipinski 2, Dickson 2, English 2, McLean, Dunkley, Gardner, Suckling, Smith, Naughton,

BEST
Carlton: C.Curnow, Cripps, Simpson, Setterfield, Murphy, Weitering
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Bontempelli, Suckling, Macrae, Daniel, Trengove

INJURIES
Carlton: E.Curnow (leg)
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore (knee jarring), Trengove (shoulder)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Hay, O'Gorman, Stephens, Gavine

Official crowd: 35,479 at Marvel Stadium