Magpies blitz Blues
Collingwood blasts old enemy with 10 unanswered goals
COLLINGWOOD broke through for its first win of the AFL season last night, launching a stunning 10-goal blitz to defeat Carlton by 24 points.
The situation looked grim for Nathan Buckley’s men after the rampant Blues kicked the first three goals of Friday night’s game at the MCG.
But the resurgent Pies reeled off 10 unanswered goals to set up the 16.4 (100) to 11.10 (76) win in front of 68,548 fans.
Steele Sidebottom was outstanding with 35 possessions and three goals, while Josh Thomas led the way in attack with a career-high five goals.
Levi Casboult booted four majors and skipper Marc Murphy gathered 29 disposals for Carlton.
The Blues are winless after the first three rounds.
Casboult kicked the Blues’ third goal 14 minutes into the first quarter, but they couldn’t manage another until the big forward added his second five minutes after halftime.
Will Hoskin-Elliott started the ball rolling for the Magpies with back-to-back goals, helping his side to a four-point lead at the first break.
That margin blew out to 36 points at halftime, with Brodie Grundy (25 touches and 32 hitouts) important for the Pies.
Casboult fired Carlton back to life with three goals in the third term, but his side still trailed by 32 points at the final change.
The slim chances of a Blues’ revival were effectively snuffed out when Sidebottom dribbled through his third from a tight angle early in the last quarter.
Carlton’s cause wasn’t helped when defender Caleb Marchbank left the game with an ankle injury at halftime.