CHARLIE Curnow and Harry McKay have booted 10 goals between them to haul Carlton to a 23-point win over North Melbourne in the annual Good Friday SuperClash.

Curnow booted six goals while McKay kicked four and had 14 marks against North Melbourne's undersized defence as Carlton overcame an unconvincing first half to kick away for a 16.11 (107) to 11.18 (84) win.

Carlton's victory came in front of a bumper crowd of 49,062 at Marvel Stadium, beating the previous Good Friday high of 48,278 in 2019.

The Kangaroos stuck with the Blues until midway through the third quarter, despite being without Griffin Logue (suspension) and Ben McKay (foot), with Curnow and McKay monstering a defence led by Aidan Corr and Aiden Bonar.

North spearhead Nick Larkey hurt his hip in a first-quarter collision with Jacob Weitering and was hampered throughout.

KANGAROOS v BLUES Full match coverage and stats

Carlton's Mitch McGovern (27 disposals, six marks) was excellent down back despite requiring early treatment on his right thigh but was substituted out late.

Zac Fisher (28 disposals, five clearances) was consistent all game while skipper Patrick Cripps (29 touches, nine clearances) lifted in the second half.

In their respective returns from a calf injury and suspension, Kangaroos duo Luke Davies-Uniacke (30 touches) and Jy Simpkin (29 disposals) dominated around clearances.

First-year gun Harry Sheezel (37 disposals) continued his fine form while Cam Zurhaar and Jaidyn Stephenson booted three goals apiece.

Coach Alastair Clarkson also pulled a surprise when he substituted veteran ball-winner Ben Cunnington for Hugh Greenwood late in the third quarter

The Kangaroos got on top around the contest early and led by a goal at quarter-time.

Carlton was conservative with the ball and plagued by skill errors and fumbles throughout the second term.

But the Kangaroos were wasteful around goal and took just a two-point lead into halftime.

Zurhaar steered a brilliant snap through on his left foot at the start of the second half but from there, Carlton lifted its intensity and booted the next six goals, including a masterful long-range shot from Jesse Motlop put the Blues in front.

They extended their lead to nine points after Cunnington was penalised for holding the ball, with Corey Durdin dobbing his set shot.

For the sixth, Tom De Koning received a contentious 50m penalty from Jack Ziebell to help Carlton to a 25-point lead at the final change.

From there, the Blues threatened to kick away before North reeled them in to keep the scoreline respectable.

McKay will likely be scrutinised for a high, late hit on Sheezel.

A Good Friday for footy
North’s resurgence under Alastair Clarkson as well as the Blues’ hot start to the season had fans turning out in droves, with more than 49,000 supporters packing into Marvel Stadium. General public tickets for the match sold out during the week and ended up being the biggest Good Friday crowd ever, a fitting audience for a rollicking display of football between two sides with plenty to prove. Played in support of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, the two teams ran out onto the field and through a banner together, symbolising the shared support for the cause.

Plenty of room in the Blues' forward line 
After a quiet start to 2023, McKay finally kicked multiple goals against the Roos. While some had questioned the functionality of  Carlton's forward line with McKay and fellow key forward Curnow, Friday afternoon proved there are plenty of goals to go around. The two worked in tandem, giving each other plenty of space and setting up scoring shots for the other. 

NORTH MELBOURNE        3.4     5.8     6.12    11.18 (84)
CARLTON                           2.4     5.6     11.7    16.11 (107)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 3, Stephenson 3, Taylor, Phillips, Powell, Simpkin, Curtis
Carlton: Curnow 6, McKay 4, Motlop 2, Durdin, De Koning, Silvagni, Honey

BEST 
North Melbourne: Sheezel, Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Zurhaar
Carlton: Curnow, McKay, Cripps, Young, McGovern

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: Larkey (hip)
Carlton: McGovern (thigh)

LATE CHANGES
North Melbourne: Miller Bergman replaced in selected side by Daniel Howe
Carlton: None

SUBSTITUTES 
North Melbourne: Hugh Greenwood replaced Ben Cunnington in the third quarter
Carlton: Jack Carroll replaced Mitch McGovern in the fourth quarter

Crowd: 49,062 at Marvel Stadium