AFL premiership contenders Carlton recovered from a lacklustre first-half display to overpower bottom side Greater Western Sydney by 67 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Blues were only 10 points ahead at halftime but conceded just 1.3 in the second half to claim victory 15.20 (110) to 6.7 (43) and register their fifth win in the first six rounds.
Onballers Marc Murphy and Mitch Robinson were among Carlton’s better players as was ruckman Shaun Hampson with three goals, 31 hitouts and 15 disposals.
Bret Thornton also booted three goals for the Blues.
Carlton scored the first three goals of the game but four in a row to the energetic Giants, including one from a juggling mark by Tom Scully, allowed the visitors to draw level at the eight-minute-mark of the second term.
Former Blue Setanta O’hAilpin, in his first game for the Giants, booted two goals in the first half including a bizarre left-foot reverse-torpedo.
But despite trailing in the contested possessions tally and the clearances, Carlton were ahead 6.8 (44) to 5.4 (34) at halftime.
Giants ruckman Dean Brogan was subbed off in the third term with an arm injury and big forward O’hAilpin also limped off in a double blow for the first-year team seeking their breakthrough AFL victory.
Hampson kicked his second and third goals in the last quarter as the Blues smashed their younger opponents with a six-goal term while holding the Giants scoreless.
Adam Kennedy played a fine tagging role on Carlton’s star small forward Eddie Betts who was goal-less in his 150th game.
Toby Greene and James McDonald were also strong contributors for the Giants.
Carlton had rested champion onballer Chris Judd and key forward Jarrad Waite while the Giants had given in-form young key forward Jeremy Cameron a week off.
Debutant Josh Bootsma, 18, was a late replacement in Carlton’s selected side for Ed Curnow (ankle).
The Giants host Gold Coast in a keenly-awaited clash of the newcomers on Saturday while the Blues face St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Monday May 14.