Blues’ Colossal Collapse: Deja Vu for Carlton as Demons Roar Back
The ghosts of last year’s round one capitulation against Richmond loomed large for Carlton, but their recent meltdown against Melbourne at the MCG might just be a more significant, and potentially fateful, blow. The Blues, after commanding a staggering 43-point lead early in the second quarter and still holding a comfortable 20-point buffer following back-to-back goals in the dying stages of the final term, inexplicably crumbled to a 23-point defeat.
This alarming trend of second-half fadeouts has left coach Michael Voss “filthy,” admitting post-match that his team is failing to close out games they should be winning. The Kysaiah Pickett-inspired Demons, in only their third outing under new coach Steve King, staged a remarkable comeback, overturning a dismal opening quarter and a largely uninspired first half to kick the final seven goals of the match.
“We’re putting ourselves in great positions, and we’re handing it back,” a frustrated Voss stated. “That sounds like I’m taking something away from Melbourne… but we’re also not helping ourselves. We have to own it. That’s the first thing we have to do. I’ve taken the measure of, ‘Let’s look at this glass half full’, and sort of see the things that we’ve been rehearsing over the course of pre-season, and seeing the transfer and really highlighting what those moments are. But today was really disappointing. I was expecting more than that, and we didn’t get the change we’re after.”
A Tale of Two Halves
The victory served as a fitting celebration for Melbourne’s 250-game veterans and premiership heroes, Max Gawn and Tom McDonald, both of whom played pivotal roles in the resurgence. The Demons managed a meagre 12 points by halftime, a stark contrast to the 14 goals they piled on in the second half, kicking 14 goals to Carlton’s four.
This win is particularly impressive for a new-look Melbourne side that has navigated significant off-season changes, including the departure of premiership coach Simon Goodwin and the trades of star midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. Despite these upheavals, they’ve managed two wins from their first three matches of the 2026 season. Conversely, Voss’s Carlton now find themselves with a 1-2 record heading into a crucial Good Friday clash against North Melbourne.
“The quick turnaround might be a good thing for us,” Voss mused, perhaps hoping for a swift opportunity to rectify their errors.
The Blues’ Early Dominance and Swift Demise
Carlton’s dominance was evident early. The match-high 43-point lead was established when Elijah Hollands snapped their seventh goal a mere 39 seconds into the second term. In stark contrast, the Demons struggled to even execute basic handballs in the opening hour, taking until almost 26 minutes into the second quarter to register their first goal through Harvey Langford.
Ironically, it was Langford who would put Melbourne in front two quarters later, with nearly six minutes still on the clock, after a Kysaiah Pickett soccered the Sherrin from over 20 metres out. Langford, a top-10 draft pick who recently turned 20, gathered the ball, skillfully evaded pressure, and slotted the goal.
From that point, Melbourne became an unstoppable force, spearheaded by Pickett. Max Gawn was a dominant presence in the ruck, overwhelming his opponent Marc Pittonet with 23 disposals and a colossal 58 hitouts. Forward Bayley Fritsch continued his stellar record against the Blues, booting four goals in the second half.
While Pickett’s early performance was somewhat scratchy, mirroring his teammates, he finished with a career-high 33 disposals, 10 inside 50s, and an astounding 821 metres gained, primarily playing a midfield role. His crucial intercept and subsequent magnificent goal in the last quarter, followed by his involvement in Fritsch’s fourth, ignited the exodus of thousands of exasperated Blues fans.
A Faltering Fightback and Lingering Questions
Melbourne’s second-half surge was relentless. Despite Carlton’s renewed intent after halftime, Hollands’ goal early in the fourth quarter, followed by another assist to Matt Carroll, appeared to have momentarily stemmed the tide. However, the Blues’ once-effective, clean ball movement devolved into a static display, contributing significantly to their unraveling and the surrender of what should have been a match-winning lead.
While Melbourne ultimately proved superior, their performance was far from flawless. In the third term, Harry Petty’s ill-discipline in holding Mitch McGovern for too long resulted in a 50-metre penalty, gifting Carlton a goal and stretching their lead back to 30 points. McGovern, who had already kicked three goals and looked set to be the story of the day, was ultimately overshadowed by his team’s inability to maintain their advantage.
New coach Steve King lauded Pickett’s “special” performance and emphasised the unwavering belief within his playing group that fuelled their fightback. “We believed the game would turn around if we started to execute the basic fundamentals, which cost us dearly in the first quarter,” King explained. “I thought things started to turn halfway through the second, and the stats told us that the game was played the way we wanted. We just couldn’t capitalise when we had our opportunities. So for me, just immense pride in our playing group, to believe in themselves and each other, and have that spirit to do it for two pretty important people [Gawn and McDonald] in the history of our footy club.”
The match also saw its share of injuries. Carlton’s Zac Williams was ruled out for the remainder of the game after a third-quarter collision with Pickett, while first-year defender Harry Dean was taken to hospital with a hip injury following an awkward landing. Demons recruit Changkuoth Jiath’s day ended prematurely before halftime due to a calf setback.
Carlton now faces another week of intense scrutiny, with their upcoming Good Friday clash against North Melbourne offering a chance to regroup and prove they can avoid a repeat of this devastating capitulation.
