North Melbourne are getting closer to avoiding a last-place finish after blowing Carlton away by 39 points at Marvel Stadium.
After not winning until Round 9, the Kangaroos have drawn level on 18 points with 17th-placed Hawthorn after putting away the dismal Blues at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
North trailed by two points at halftime but blew the game open with seven goals to none in the third quarter as full-forward Nick Larkey starred to finish with a career-best seven-goal haul.
Larkey was so dominant it forced Carlton to move star defender Jacob Weitering into the Blues’ forward line in the last quarter.
Taking a match-winning 38-point lead into the final term, the Kangaroos ran out winners 18.8 (116) to 11.11 (77) to record their highest score since Round 9, 2019.
It was their first win in Victoria since Round 1, 2020 with all other victories since coming in Queensland, Tasmania and Perth.
Only percentage keeps North (4-13-1) on the bottom-of-the-ladder after the wooden spoon appeared a mere formality for the Kangaroos a month ago.
“I probably don’t need a carrot not to win the wooden spoon. I’m pretty motivated when it comes to that and I think our players are, too,” North coach David Noble said.
“There’s no doubt it took us a while to get going, but it was a whole new game plan for us (to learn).
“We couldn’t get our best team together until the back half of the year but what it allowed us to do is grow those young guys.”
After missing last week’s loss against Essendon, veteran midfielder Ben Cunnington made a stunning return, and with Jy Simpkin, was crucial in North winning the clearances 42-27.
Tarryn Thomas continued his emergence with a career-best four goals.
As memorable as the win was for North, the result extinguishes any faint hope Carlton (7-11) had of making finals for the first time since 2013.
The Blues struggled without Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay, who withdrew from the match on Friday due to a toe injury.
Carlton coach David Teague conceded it was the Blues’ worst performance of the season.
“North Melbourne’s ball use was better than ours and their ability to win the ball back and go through us was superior,” he said.
“In the first quarter our effort and intent was there, we just didn’t finish the work in front of goal and inside-50.”
Adding further insult to the dispiriting effort was high-priced recruit Zac Williams (hamstring) hobbled off and was subbed out for veteran Marc Murphy, who played his 297th career game.
There were some brief highlights for the Blues, with Ed Curnow kicking the best goal of his career in his 200th game and emerging ruckman Tom De Koning bringing down a mark-of-the-year contender.
Veteran forward Eddie Betts spent almost ten minutes being assessed in the rooms after falling heavily but was able to play out the game.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
That’s awesome work Kane and worthy of a Roar article. All you need is those extra players you didn’t have time for and an introduction to your piece. Send it off in the final week as the Carlton end of year report card? I haven’t seen enough of the Blues but feel Martin and Williams are too much show not enough substance but that’s just from about three Blues games I’ve seen this year. SPS a little the same. I also left the last game thinking you had a number of skinny blokes. Thanks for your response.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Righto Pete, here we go. Before I start though my opinion will be based on each players Carlton career, not just this year. Saad= B. He's actually been pretty good this year, his role is to run, carry and get the ball over the opposition defensive lines. Martin= C-. Big disappointment, a lot of soft tissue injuries which is a fitness, recovery and preparation issue. Drops a lot of marks that he should take, silly errors under pressure, especially in forward half that 75% of time would end in at least a score if mistakes weren't made. Got no ticker Williams= D. Recruited as a midfielder on midfielder money, has been a massive disappointment. Silly suspensions, soft tissue injuries, needs a flogging over the summer. Will be interesting what condition he comes back in for pre season. Got no ticker McGovern= F-. Don't really have any words for this bloke. Might as well chuck up a cardboard cut out on the ground. Worst recruit I have seen in my 42 years following Carlton especially on the coin that he's on. 2 years to go on 800k, needs to be traded and pay half his salary. I don't care if it's to Bunyip, 400k a year can pay for a good up and coming kid. Betts= C. Was ordinary last year, I'm pretty happy with his output this year. I would actually offer him another year on low coin as apart from Owies no one is looking like taking his spot and we need at least 2 small goal kicking forwards. Dow= C. Very ordinary first few years, gifted too many games early on in career when they weren't earnt. Has turned the corner the last month or so after being made to earn his spot. Showing that he could be a decent midfielder, jury is still out. SPS= D. Has all the ability in the world, but like Dow he was awarded unearnt early game. Doesn't work hard enough, often enough. Trade him Stocker= B. I love this kid, he gives his all every game and is improving rapidly after realising he has what it takes to make it. Tough as nails and is first bloke in if a team-mate has been harshly done by. Looking forward to see what the next 10 years bring Setterfield= D. Too slow and no ticker. Teague= C-. This one is a hard one to grade. When we're on no one can get near us but unfortunately we're only on for 10 minutes a game, absolutely no defensive game plan. Without knowing what goes on behind closed doors he seems too soft on the players. We are the weakest mentally and physically side in the league by a long way and this falls squarely on Teague. If he is to be retained as coach then he needs a team of ruthless assistant's around him and a senior assistant that won't stand for the weak efforts that creep into our game every week. A couple of players that you didn't mention; Owies= C. Very impressed with him this year especially with where he's come from. Forward pressure is very good, goal kicking is sound and finds himself in the right places a lot of the time. I'm very disappointed though in the selection committee that he got dropped last week though. Fisher= D. Hasn't backed up his year from a couple of years ago, terrible shot for goal. Might be worth something in a trade to a Perth side. There's plenty of other players that I'd like to do this for but unfortunately I don't have the time tonight. Final assessment of where we are at; - Need tougher coaching -Higher ceiling of efforts that will be accepted on and off the field ie. training etc - A more ruthless attitude from board all the way through to the players - Every player needs to earn their spot
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Cheers Kane
Kane
Roar Rookie
G'day Pete, I'll do one up tonight after work and I'll write a short sentence on each player.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Gday Kane. I asked Macca in another thread the question below and are interested in your comment on this too. How about your report card on the following A+ to E- : Saad Martin Williams McGovern Betts Dow SPS Stocker Setterfield Teague
Kane
Roar Rookie
Putrid performance by Carlton but in all honesty it was always going to happen, always get ahead of themselves when they have no right to. We need a massive coaching department shake up, not hard enough on the players. We need the hardness we had back in the 80's as we're the softest mentally and physically in the league by a long long way.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
North are going places and are on the up.carlton are heading into a downward spiral.after that dispirited performance carlton supporters must sick and tired of the crap they serve up every week.
Liam
Guest
"Larkey was so dominant it forced Carlton to move star defender Jacob Weitering into the Blues’ forward line in the last quarter." Could you explain how the former has a causational relationship with the latter, please? Because - and I could be wrong - but in general when a forward has such a dominant performance, one shifts a key defender to them, not move the key defender to the opposite end of the ground.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
some good work going on down at Arden street,Larkey looking like a good prospect