First quarter: Melbourne 3.2 (20) to Carlton 2.2 (14)
Melbourne started in fine style, when Jack Watts opened proceedings after some slick work up the ground from Jesse Hogan and Jeff Garlett.
Watts played a hand in Melbourne’s second when he kicked a beautiful pass to co-captain Nathan Jones, who converted a long bomb.
Matthew Wright registered Carlton’s first at the 10-minute mark, but when Sam Weideman took a fantastic contested grab and kicked truly, Melbourne was back out to a 13-point advantage.
Ed Curnow added the Blues’ second at the 16-minute, which proved to the last goal before quarter-time. At the first change, Melbourne led by six points.
Clayton Oliver continued his outstanding start to the season, with 14 touches in the first term, as Christian Salem had 13 and Dom Tyson, back in the side, had 10.
Second quarter: Melbourne 6.4 (40) to Carlton 4.6 (30)
Melbourne took control early in the second term, booting three in a row to lead by 24 points.
Garlett, Salem and Max Gawn were the contributors during this period.
But scoring dried up for Melbourne, with a poster to Mitch Hannan at the 24-minute mark its only other score for the quarter.
Although it took 19 minutes before Carlton landed its first in the second term, via skipper Marc Murphy, when Dennis Armfield kicked one just before half-time, the margin had been cut back to 10 points.
Salem had 21 disposals by the main break, as Murphy had the most for the Blues with 14.
Third quarter: Carlton 7.8 (50) to Melbourne 7.5 (47)
Carlton continued its late second term form with the first three goals of the second half.
Wright was pivotal in this period with two in a row, with his second putting the Blues in front for the first time.
And when second-gamer Sam Petrevski-Seton kicked Carlton’s third, the Blues were up by nine points.
It took until the 21-minute mark for Melbourne to kick its first of the second half, when Garlett became the red and blue’s first multiple goalkicker.
Salem remained the leading ball-winner by the final change, with 25 touches.
Final quarter: Melbourne 12.8 (86) d Carlton 9.10 (64)
Melbourne started the final term as it needed to – with two quick goals to regain the lead. Christian Petracca got the ball rolling, before Watts landed his second for the match.
Carlton’s Jarrod Pickett kicked Carlton’s first at the 13-minute mark and the margin was back to three points.
But some breathing space came via Dom Tyson and Weideman, who booted his second, giving Melbourne a 14-point lead. Still, the Blues refused to give up, when Levi Casboult booted his first in time-on.
A fantastic chase and tackle resulted in Garlett’s third goal at the 23-minute mark and when Jones snapped his second just before the siren, Melbourne was home by 22 points.
Oliver had a game-high 34 disposals, as Tyson finished with 32.
