A comfortable Carlton win without spearhead Brendan Fevola making it onto the scoreboard is a heartening sign for Blues coach Brett Ratten.

Carlton thrashed Collingwood 16.8 (104) to 7.11 (53) at the MCG on Sunday, the Blues never threatened by a disappointing Magpies outfit after kicking five goals to none in the opening term.

Carlton had 10 goal-kickers in all, including four to goalsneak Eddie Betts and three to versatile and talented big man Jarrad Waite, while Fevola failed to register even a behind.

The 2006 Coleman Medallist has menaced Collingwood in recent meetings, booting a total of 15 goals in the Blues' two wins over the Magpies last season.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was happy to single veteran backman Simon Prestigiacomo out for praise for his stopping job on Fevola this time, after the defender missed last year's two clashes through injury.

But, after Fevola booted eight goals against Hawthorn two rounds ago, before hitting the post in the dying seconds as Carlton went down by four points, Ratten was happy his side proved their fortunes do not rest on the boot of the star forward.

"Sixteen goals without Fev, I suppose it (shows) the belief of players around and the team that he doesn't have to dominate games for us to win," Ratten said.

"We kicked about 15 goals against Hawthorn and he kicked eight. Today we kicked 16 and he didn't kick any."

Fevola was criticised by some commentators for his body language when he managed just one goal in a losing side against Fremantle last round, a match in which he copped a minor injury early.

But Ratten said he was delighted with the forward on Sunday, saying Fevola's contribution went well beyond his eight disposals and four marks.

"The way he went about rolling up (the field) and assisting in creating space for others was fantastic," Ratten said.

"He had great body language, he was up and I think we've seen a great reward from a team performance across the board and he was one that played his part on the day."

But the victory was set up by the performance of Carlton's running players, most significantly an outstanding game from captain Chris Judd, who picked up 32 touches and looked a class above most other players on the field.

Fellow midfielders Kade Simpson, Heath Scotland, Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy and Nick Stevens also made valuable contributions, as Carlton moved the ball with much more fluency than Collingwood.

But Ratten said just as important in Carlton breaking their two-game losing streak was that their lesser lights also stood up.

"That's been a big part of our game that has probably fluctuated a fair bit where we've had 10 or 12 contributing and blokes we've had to carry through games and I thought today everyone played their part," he said.

The Magpies, who started the game in strangely subdued fashion, were hampered by their lack of targets in attack.

Youngster John Anthony was forced to play almost a lone hand up forward in the absence of the injured Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst, Alan Didak and Anthony Rocca.

Collingwood scored just three goals in the first three terms, before adding four in the final quarter when the game was effectively over.

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