Blues suffer stunning MCG collapse against Kysaiah Pickett-inspired Demons
Everyone still remembers Carlton’s capitulation against Richmond in round one last year.
But the Blues’ last game against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, when they led by 43 points at the start of the second quarter and were still 20 points ahead after back-to-back goals in the final term, could be worse.
This could also prove fatal for under-pressure coach Michael Voss.
In their third game under new manager Steve King, the Kysaiah Pickett-inspired Demons rebounded from another horror opening quarter and a largely insipid first half to score the final seven goals and seal a remarkable 23-point lead.
This was a great way to celebrate 250-game veterans and flag heroes Max Gawn and Tom McDonald, who both made huge contributions.
New-look Melbourne, who sacked premiership coach Simon Goodwin then traded champion midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver in the off-season, have made it two wins from three games in 2026.
But Voss’s Carlton fell to 1-2 ahead of their Good Friday date with North Melbourne.
The Blues continued their lead with a match-high 43 points when Elijah Hollands scored his seventh goal 39 seconds into the second term. The Demons, who had difficulty even handballing each other in the first hours, scored their first goal through Harvey Langford in the 26th minute of the same quarter.
Coincidentally, Langford was the one to put Melbourne ahead two terms later with almost six minutes remaining after Pickett footballed Sherrin from more than 20 metres.
Langford, a top-10 player who turns 20 this month, collected the ball, got out of trouble and bounced the ball into the goals.
The Demons have become an irrepressible force, led by Pickett and striker Bayley Fritsch, who continued her superb record against the Blues with four second-half goals.
Pickett stopped Carlton’s attempt to escape from the defensive 50, then scored a spectacular goal and was brought back into the game as Fritsch scored his fourth goal.
By that stage exasperated Blues fans began to gather in their thousands.
Melbourne came at Carlton a few times in the second half – after coming out of half-time with renewed intent – but Hollands’ goal early in the fourth quarter appeared to stem the tide, particularly when he put out Matt Carroll for another goal.
But the Blues’ bold, clean ball movement from the start of the game reverted to a static version that played a part in them surrendering what should have been a match-winning lead.
Melbourne was good in the end but far from perfect.
In the third term, Harry Petty appeared to have brutally spoiled their comeback bid when he held onto resurgent Blue Mitch McGovern for too long and awarded the 50-metre penalty that cost the Demons a goal and extended Carlton’s lead to 30 points.
McGovern had three goals at that stage and stood out as the story of the day. Instead, the Blues have shot themselves in the foot again as they surely prepare for the next week of review.
More to come
