Blues thrash Pies to climb ladder
Carlton has climbed off the bottom of the AFL ladder in emphatic style, with a midfield mauling setting up a 19.15 (129) to 14.10 (94) pounding of a limp Collingwood at the MCG.
Carlton monstered the Magpies in the centre, particularly in the first and third quarters, both of which produced seven-goal scoring blitzes for the rampant Blues.
Youngster Adam Bentick, playing just his 12th AFL game, showed the way with a mountain of possessions, regularly driving the ball into attack with long kicks, interspersed with handballs out of traffic to set up teammates.
His chief partner in the destruction was Nick Stevens, who used his pace to find space and cause plenty of damage with his silky skills.
But there were plenty of other willing helpers, with Heath Scotland, Scott Camporeale and Anthony Koutoufides also having fine games.
They were well provided for by ruckman Barnaby French, who together with Chris Bryan had by far the better of Collingwood's David Fanning and Jason Cloke at the hit-outs.
The spoils were shared in attack, with goalsneak Eddie Betts snaring three, but Carlton had 12 goal-scorers in all.
The Blues set the game up with seven goals without a miss in the opening 20 minutes to race to a 29-point lead.
Goals came almost every time they went forward during the opening purple patch, with highlights including a left-foot snap by Betts and a 55m goal on the run from Camporeale.
The Pies fought their way back within touch in the second term, mainly through the efforts of skipper Nathan Buckley.
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