Carlton collapse: Demons pour in final seven goals to shock Blues

Everyone still remembers Carlton’s capitulation against Richmond in round one last year.

But this latest one from the Blues – against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, after leading by 43 points early in the second quarter, and still up by 20 points after back-to-back goals in the final term – might be worse.

It could also be fateful for under-pressure coach Michael Voss.

The Kysaiah Pickett-inspired Demons, in their third match under new coach Steve King, rallied from another horror opening quarter and a largely insipid first half to kick the final seven goals and score a remarkable 23-point victory.

It ended up being a wonderful way to celebrate 250-game veterans and flag heroes Max Gawn and Tom McDonald, who both made big contributions.

After sacking premiership coach Simon Goodwin then trading champion midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver in the off-season, new-look Melbourne have two wins from three matches in 2026.

However, Voss’ Carlton slipped to 1-2 ahead of a Good Friday date with North Melbourne.

The Blues led by a match-high 43 when Elijah Hollands snapped their seventh goal 39 seconds into the second term. The Demons, who struggled even to complete handballs to one another in the opening hour, took until almost 26 minutes into the same quarter to finally kick their first goal via Harvey Langford.

Coincidentally, Langford was the one who kicked Melbourne in front two terms later, still with almost six minutes remaining, after Pickett soccered the Sherrin 20-plus metres.

Langford, a top-10 pick who turned 20 this month, gathered the ball, wheeled out of trouble and bounced the ball through the goals.

The Demons were an irrepressible force from there, led by Pickett and forward Bayley Fritsch, whose stellar record against the Blues continued with four second-half goals.

Pickett intercepted a Carlton attempt to escape their defensive 50 then blasted through a magnificent goal, and was involved again as Fritsch slotted his fourth.

Exasperated Blues fans began piling out of the ground in their thousands at that stage.

Melbourne came at Carlton several times in the second half – after emerging from half-time with reinforced intent – but Hollands’ goal early in the fourth quarter appeared to have stemmed the flow, particularly when soon after he laced out Matt Carroll for another.

But the Blues’ brave, clean ball movement from the start of the match reverted to a static version that played a role in them surrendering what should have been a match-winning lead.

Melbourne were good in the end, but far from perfect.

In the third term, Harry Petty appeared to have cruelled their comeback bid when he held on to resurgent Blue Mitch McGovern for too long and gave away a 50-metre penalty that cost the Demons a goal and stretched Carlton’s lead back to 30 points.

McGovern had three goals at that stage, and loomed as the story of the day. Instead, the Blues shot themselves in the foot again as they prepare for what will certainly be another week of scrutiny.

More to come