Carlton vindicated the focus they put on winning the AFL pre-season competition by storming over the top of Richmond in their round one match at the MCG.

The Blues' strong early-season fitness shone through in their 17-point win, after they rallied from 27 points down early in the third quarter to win 15.25 (115) to 15.8 (98) to give their fans more reason for optimism.

The win, before a rousing crowd of 59,847 at the twilight fixture, ranks as one of Carlton's best in recent years given last year's wooden spooners appeared gone early in the second half but lifted to beat their old rival.

Carlton drew on Nick Stevens' inspirational work in the centre square and full-forward Brendan Fevola, who overcame early frustrations to play a significant part in the last-quarter charge.

Fevola missed four shots in the second quarter, became enraged when denied a mark and then sparked a halftime melee, but rose to boot two goals in the final term, one to cut the margin to one point and another after a strong mark in the goalsquare.

The Coleman medallist received great support from his forwards in the last term, as Josh Kennedy took some important grabs and Jarrad Waite threaded a team-lifting goal from the pocket to put the Blues clear.

Stevens' relentless running and constant clearances in his 30-disposal game typified Carlton's dominance in the midfield and the stronger legs of Marc Murphy, Adam Bentick and Kade Simpson, who all out-ran their Tiger opponents.

Blues coach Denis Pagan hailed his side's fitness as a crucial factor early in the season.

"We're pretty confident in our fitness, it's been proven several times," he said.

"I know it's only the pre-season competition, but we've been proven that and came from behind two or three occasions.

"I'm just so proud of all the boys for the character and mental strength they displayed.

"I don't know what would have happened last year if we were 27 points down, but they really fought it out and were really strong."

After a frenetic start to the game, in which both sides booted five goals in the first quarter, Richmond moved clear as Fevola's frustrations simmered over.

He missed three shots from an almost identical position and still steaming after being denied a mark in the goalsquare, knocked over Tiger Andrew Krakouer on the halftime siren, which sparked an all-in melee.

The Tigers settled the better in the third quarter and looked a good thing when Kayne Pettifer kicked his fourth goal, five minutes into the second half.

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