Essendon has heaped more misery on a struggling Carlton side, winning by 34 points - 13.8.(86) to 6.16.(52) - at the MCG on Sunday night as the club celebrated the 30-year reunion of the 1993 premiership.
The first King’s Birthday Eve rivalry clash was pulsating throughout, particularly if you are of the red and black persuasion, with the Bombers completely dominant after half-time to claim their first win over the Blues since 2019.
Carlton won the inside 50 count (56-41) and had one more scoring shot, but those numbers mattered little as the efficient Bombers powered their way to a fourth win on the trot.
The defining period of the contest came either side of the main break when the Dons went on an unanswered eight-goal run which left Carlton coach Michael Voss devoid of answers.
Essendon kicked six goals in the opening 15 minutes of an eventual seven-goal third quarter having finished the second term with the last two majors.
The Blues had enjoyed more territory and chances in the first half, but were wasteful in front of goal and found themselves two points down at the break.
Whatever hope they had swiftly faded in the third term as Brad Scott’s Bombers turned on the style, led by Peter Wright who helped himself to a bag of five goals in his first appearance of 2023.
Wright’s comeback after a shoulder injury was simply sublime, taking seven marks for the game, while booting three of his handful in the scintillating third term.
The win pushes the Dons back into sixth ahead of their Round 14 bye, before they resume against Fremantle in Perth in Round 15.
For the Blues, their season is now well and truly at the crossroads after six straight losses and eight defeats in their last nine which has them languishing in 15th position on the ladder.
They meet Gold Coast at the MCG next Sunday and anything less than a victory could spell the end of any finals hopes they had this year.
FULL SCORE
Carlton: 1.5 / 3.10 / 5.10 / 6.16.(52)
Essendon: 2.4 / 4.6 / 11.7 / 13.8.(86)
GOALS
Carlton: C.Curnow 2, Cincotta, Martin, McKay, Owies
Essendon: Wright 5, Menzie 2, Caldwell, Guelfi, Langford, Merrett, Phillips, Snelling
BEST
Carlton: Cerra, Docherty, Walsh, C.Curnow
Essendon: Wright, Martin, Hobbs, Caldwell, Redman, Perkins, Stringer
INJURIES
Carlton: N/A
Essendon: N/A
Crowd: 83,638 at the MCG