WESTERN BULLDOGS: 3.3, 8.6, 12.8, 13.13 (91)
CARLTON: 7.3, 13.6, 16.9, 18.11 (119)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Crameri 4, Stevens 2, Dahlhaus 2, Wallis, Cooney, Boyd, Giansiracusa, Jong
Carlton: Henderson 5, Waite 3, Murphy 2, Scotland 2, Bell, Thomas, Yarran, Ellard, Everitt, Gibbs
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Dahlhaus, Boyd, Stevens, Crameri
Carlton: Murphy, Henderson, Gibbs, Walker, Simpson, Scotland
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: TBC
Carlton: Judd (hamstring), Curnow (knee)
What Happened
Easter is all about resurrection and this proved the case as Carlton responded to last week's shock loss to Melbourne by beating the Western Bulldogs in a gutsy 18.11 (119) to 13.13 (91) result.
Lachie Henderson proved the star of the show for the Blues as he booted a career-high five goals that included three majors in the opening term as Carlton finally tore off the shackles with a seven-goal-to-three quarter.
But the big news of the day was all about Chris Judd. The Blues skipper was playing his first match for 2014 after recovering from an Achilles injury and came on as a the sub during the third term. But six minutes later he was promptly back on the pine having injured his hamstring just before three-quarter time.
Strangely, Judd did not have his hamstring iced at the three-quarter time huddle as he gave Tom Bell some words of advice but the skipper did not appear for the final quarter.
Judd isn't the only injury the Blues have to worry about as Ed Curnow – fourth in the best and fairest last season – hurt his knee crashing into the point post in a desperate scramble to stop the Western Bulldogs scoring during a dramatic final term.
Curnow's effort ensured the Dogs were 17 points down midway through the quarter as Brendan McCartney's side gradually whittled down a game-high 37-point margin in the third term.
The Blues, though, looked ripe for the picking. Down two men and with the Bulldogs coming hard, Stewart Crameri lined up for his fifth for the evening from 25 metres out to make the margin just 11 points with plenty of time on the clock. But when Crameri missed, the Blues showed true grit to take the ball down the other end for Heath Scotland to kick truly.
When Henderson nailed his fifth for the night soon after from the goal square, it was all over for the Bulldogs, who now have a 2-3 record to start the year.
Earlier in the night, the Blues, fired up by a week of soul-searching after that Melbourne loss, hit back at the critics by firing off a seven-goal salvo in the opening term.
The margin was just six points when Matthew Boyd kicked truly for the Dogs late in the quarter but three goals in three minutes from Henderson, David Ellard and Jarrad Waite – who kicked three in an impressive return from being dropped to the VFL – saw the Blues well in control at quarter time.
The Dogs responded with three in a row of their own as Adam Cooney, Lin Jong and Mitch Wallis all nailed their shots in the second quarter's first six minutes. But Bell steadied the ship for the Blues and his effort kickstarted a run of five unanswered goals that ultimately propelled Carlton to their first win of 2014.
Fallout:
As mentioned, it's been a tough day for Carlton on the injury front. With the injuries to Judd and Cunow. For the Bulldogs, Koby Stevens was also reported for rough contact against the Kane Lucas in the final quarter.
Hope They're In My Fantasy Team:
Although Henderson kicked five it was Murphy that did the real damage for the Blues. The Carlton skipper responded to a week of criticism by postng 28 possessions and kicking two goals, both of which came during that five-goal run in the second term. He also laid 11 tackles in a superb all-round performance.
What's Next
Carlton return to Etihad to take on West Coast next Saturday as the Western Bulldogs host Adelaide at the same venue the following day.