Twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay have mixed for 9 targets to energy Carlton to a thumping 56-point win over North Melbourne within the Kangaroos’ marquee Good Friday match.
Coleman medallists McKay (5 targets) and Curnow (4) monstered the undersized Kangaroos defence in a strong efficiency in entrance of 47,565 followers at Marvel Stadium.
Curnow left the bottom halfway by way of the ultimate quarter with a slight hobble and stayed on the bench, however that gave the impression to be solely as a precaution.
North gave their supporters intervals to be enthusiastic about however had been nonetheless blown away and by no means seemed like inflicting an upset, with the Blues main at each change to win 21.11 (137) to 12.9 (81).
Not like earlier Good Friday video games after they had been embarrassed by the Western Bulldogs in 2021 and 2022, North saved combating and attacking the scoreboard.
The Kangaroos additionally confirmed some critical aggression at instances, with star ahead Nick Larkey (three targets) gifting away a 50m penalty late within the third quarter for slamming Mitch McGovern to the bottom.
Already undersized in defence, North suffered one other main blow when key tall Callum Coleman-Jones went down with a suspected ruptured achilles tendon within the second quarter.
The previous Richmond participant was taken from the sector on a medical cart and given fast ache reduction, changed by sub Eddie Ford.
It was North’s second critical achilles harm in three weeks after Josh Goater’s season got here to an abrupt finish within the spherical one defeat to GWS.
Carlton didn’t come out of the match unscathed, both, after defender Caleb Marchbank was concussed in a heavy collision with teammate Jordan Boyd within the remaining time period.
Preliminary finalists final season, Carlton prolonged their undefeated begin to 3-0, whereas the Kangaroos stay winless.
In an encouraging signal, star defender Jacob Weitering made a formidable return from harm, whereas former Gold Coast utility Elijah Hollands improved as the sport progressed in his first look for the membership.
The Blues have a possibility to go 4-0 for the primary time since 1995 – the 12 months of their final premiership – after they face Fremantle in Collect Spherical subsequent Saturday.
North will play grand finalists Brisbane Lions, smarting off a disappointing 0-3 begin to their season, subsequent Friday at Norwood Oval.
