Blues’ unsung hero in demolition job; ‘shining light’ as Roos’ drought continues: 3-2-1

Carlton has demolished North Melbourne in a ruthless second-half blitz on Good Friday, winning 24.9 (153) to 11.5 (71) at Marvel Stadium.

The Blues mercilessly piled on 15 goals across the third and fourth quarters to consign the Kangaroos to their fifth loss in six games and seven of eight in Good Friday clashes.

The Blues recorded their first win of the season last time out against lowly West Coast and banked a crucial percentage-booster under the roof to move to 2-4, with Charlie Curnow and Zac Williams leading the scoring with four goals apiece.

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It was just the third time the Blues have kicked a score in excess of 150 points since the end of 2013.

George Hewett was damaging all afternoon in the 82-point triumph, leading all-comers with 34 disposals, 21 contested possessions, nine tackles, a goal, seven centre clearances and eight score involvements.

The sole shining light for Alastair Clarkson’s Roos was the return of hard-nosed midfielder George Wardlaw, whose attack on the footy was undeniable en route to 21 disposals, 13 contested possessions, five clearances and a goal.

Wardlaw sustained a high-grade hamstring tear during the pre-season before being forced to build his fitness with the VFL side across the past two weeks.

Coach Alastair Clarkson said during the week he could and would manage Wardlaw’s minutes on the ground, but he couldn’t slow the gun’s appetite for the contest.

Wardlaw had six possessions — each of them contested — in the first quarter before a 10-disposal second term.

— with NCA NewsWire

THE 3-2-1… (what we learned) via Ben Cotton at Marvel Stadium

3. BLUES’ UNSUNG HERO SHINES IN CLEARANCE DOMINATION

The likes of Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh seem to earn all the plaudits for Carlton when its midfield is up and about.

But George Hewett showed just how valuable he is as the unsung of Michael Voss’ on-ball brigade to lead its spurring 85-point victory.

Hewett racked up 21 of his 34 disposals in the first half to really set the tone for Carlton, also finishing with 21 contested possessions, eight score involvements, 12 clearances and a goal.

What’s more, the two-way Hewett also dug in defensively with nine tackles.

Hawks legend Jason Dunstall noted Hewett was “absolutely smashing” North after his third quarter- goal.

“This is a man in fantastic form. There’s some big-name players in the middle of the ground for Carlton like Walsh and Cripps, but he has put a season together,” Demons great Garry Lyon added.

Hewett’s performance played a huge role in Carlton dominating clearances 46-37 and contested possessions 151-131 in a decisive part of the game.

The inside midfielder simply goes under the radar, having ranked No.2 in the AFL in disposals, No. 4 in tackles, No.6 in contested possessions and No. 6 in clearances going into this game.

“He is a player that gets less attention from the opposition, but you’ve still got to put yourself in position to impact and be able to contribute,” four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis said of Hewett.

“He’s been the cleanest player on the ground when there’s been a lot of mistakes.”

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley meanwhile noted Hewett simply “does the basics well”.

“He stays on the move around clearance. He keeps going to ball, and if not, he’s putting himself in first receive position,” Buckley said.

“He can go left or right foot hand and foot. He’s been effective in what he does in that little 10 metres around the contest.”

2. ROOS DEFENSIVE WOES CONTINUE DESPITE ‘SHINING LIGHT’

It was another hapless performance from North Melbourne as the club’s defensive woes continued.

It marked the fifth time from six games North has conceded over 100 points in each of its losses after giving up triple figures 18 times last season.

Roos coach Alastair Clarkson even flagged pre-game his team had to defend better, but this was the heaviest score it conceded in 2025 in a game that became “sadly uncompetitive,” as put by Fox Footy caller Gerard Whateley.

In what was largely a consequence of North getting dominated at the coalface, the damage was largely done in the second half when Carlton stacked on 15 goals to the Roos’ five.

After Carlton kicked six goals from seven inside 50 entries during the fourth quarter onslaught, Roos legend David King called it “a ridiculous number” that showed the club was “not fighting the fight.”

King later added: “I haven’t seen a number like this from clearance — 75 points they’ve conceded and their best players are in there, their A-graders are in there.”

The return of George Wardlaw was at least something for Roos fans to cheer about.

Whateley called Wardlaw the Roos’ “glimmer of hope” after his third-quarter goal, while Hawks great Jason Dunstall labelled the 20-year old a “shining light.”

Be that as it may, King noted at three-quarter time it was “damning” Wardlaw had the most disposals for North in a team-low 60 per cent game time – excluding sub affected players.

Wardlaw finished 21 touches and a goal in 55 per cent time on ground.

“There’s a North Melbourne team with George Wardlaw and a North Melbourne team without George Wardlaw,” triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown noted at half-time.

“He’s a burst player. Obviously today he’s going to be limited in his first game back, but he’s just so exciting and powerful. He’s a bit old school.

“He’s desperate, in everything he does he has desperation written all over it.”

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley added of Wardlaw: “Scruffy is a word that comes to mind, but effective.

“He’s just so good at winning he ball in close and nearly impossible to tackle.

“If he finds the ball in there he generally finds a couple of metres to make a decision. Some of his kicks aren’t that effective but they get territory and the ball and momentum moving his team’s way.”

TDK’S SYMBOLIC MOMENT IN EPIC RUCK DUEL

Last time Tristan Xerri and Tom De Koning matched up on each other, De Koning was left hospitalised with a collapsed lung following a late hit from Xerri.

In an exciting duel between two of the game’s top rucks, both players had their moments and dug in.

But there was no bigger moment than De Koning late in the first quarter pushing off Xerri in a ruck contest inside 50 and kicking a goal in a statement from the Blues star that felt symbolic.

This time, De Koning wasn’t going to be pushed around … literally.

Demons legend Garry Lyon believes Xerri would’ve “taken that personally,” while Lions great Jonathan Brown said it was “unlike” the big Roo, who’s battled a hamstring issue in the early rounds.

“From that point on TDK really launched into the game,” Brown added.

De Koning finished with 11 touches, 24 hit-outs and a goal, while Xerri had 14 disposals, 11 tackles and 43 hit-outs.

“Xerri embarrassed TDK last time they played and there was discussion about some of the tactics, whether they were legit and whether they were over the top in terms of physicality,” Kangaroos legend David King said on Fox Footy.

“Don’t get beaten by what you know – (De Koning) grabs it out of the ruck and has shots on goal, he’s done it seven times so far this season – no. 1 ruckman in the competition to do it.

“(Xerri) just got moved too easily. He wasn’t ready or prepared. And that is a statement from a ruckman on the march.”

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