Grading every player in Carlton's nail-biting win over Melbourne

Carlton is back on the winner's list after downing Melbourne in a thriller by a solitary point courtesy of a strong start at the MCG.

Michael Voss’ men needed a scalp after squandering last week’s opportunity against Collingwood and stamped their credentials early, booting five goals and keeping Melbourne scoreless in the opening term.

Midfielder Sam Walsh had 13 possessions, two clearances and a goal in the first quarter alone, while Jacob Weitering roamed the skies down back.

Melbourne got into the contest from there, with Christian Petracca doing all he could to drag the Demons over the line in a role primarily inside 50 and kicked a career-high five goals.

Simon Goodwin’s men had a startling 20 more inside 50s.

“It’s the same old problem for Melbourne,” Dermott Brereton declared on AFL Nation.

The Demons kicked three goals in the dying minutes to narrow the margin that was as great as 38 points early in the third term, but the 12.4 (77) to 11.10 (76) in front of 58,472 was won and lost at the start.

We've graded every player below.

CARLTON

Jacob Weitering: A+

Could be Weitering’s greatest performance on the big stage, praise enough in itself. Treated Harrison Petty with contempt and rebounded so hard out of the backline.

Sam Walsh: A+

Couldn’t have started any hotter and was on track for 50+ possessions at quarter time. Also booted the first goal of the game and set the tone early for Carlton.

Patrick Cripps: A+

The opposite of Walsh, Cripps started slow but worked his way into the contest to lead the game for disposals.

Blake Acres: A

It’s hard to remember a bag game from Acres at the MCG, or most venues in fairness. Proving to be one of the best acquisitions of the last five years.

Charlie Curnow: B+

Got a lot of the footy higher up the ground on Thursday night but his aerial prowess and footy smarts saw him kick two goals. Seven score involvements is also an impressive return for a key forward.

Matt Owies: B+ 

Continued his strong run of form with another three majors on Thursday night and was there every time the ball hit the turf in Carlton’s forward 50. 

Ollie Hollands: B+ 

Back in the senior side after being dropped and fell just short of a career-high disposals with 21 touches this week. 

Matt Kennedy: B+ 

Tagged Christian Petracca from the opening bounce and given Petracca moved forward from the second term, fair to say Kennedy got the chocolates. 

Alex Cincotta: B

Locked down on Pickett and beat him for most of the night.

Marc Pittonet: B 

Clearly got under Max Gawn’s skin, which is job done in itself. 

Mitch McGovern: B-

Had the battle with Christian Petracca on most occasions the Demon pushed forward and lost that battle overall but still finished with 10 intercepts.

Matt Cottrell: B-

Typically tough all night and had a few crucial one-on-one wins.

Nic Newman: B-

Could come under MRO scrutiny for a late bump early in the third term.

Harry McKay: C+

Tom De Koning: C+ 

Jack Martin: C_

Not much of the footy but competed well aerially in his first game of the season and made an impact.

Jordan Boyd: C+

Was pumped up by Champion Data during the week but didn’t offer much in terms of offence off half-back at a slippery MCG. A different story defensively however, with several key moments standing out.

Lachie Cowan: C

Had a win or two on Christian Petracca but not much else to speak of.

Corey Durdin: C

Matt Owies was the Blues forward that dominated at ground level, with Durdin not offering much by the way of influence.

Elijah Hollands: C

Brodie Kemp: C

Spent most of the night on Jacob Van Rooyen.

Adam Cerra: N/A 

Subbed out in the third term with another hamstring injury, his third in 12 months, as Carlton’s issues with soft tissues continue. 

George Hewett: N/A

Came on in the third term for an injured Adam Cerra and finished with 21 as well as a goal.

MELBOURNE

Christian Petracca: A+

Was beaten in the midfield early by Matt Kennedy, but that loss ended up being Melbourne’s game as Petracca commanded the forward 50. A career-high five goals and was responsible for more than half the Demons’ score. Has he ever played a more impactful game?

Alex Neal-Bullen: A

One of the only Demons who could hold his head high early and was in Melbourne’s top three on the night.

Caleb Windsor: A-

Has a lot of similar mannerisms to Christian Petracca on the field and played like his superstar teammate for much of the clash. Perhaps his best performance in his young career.

Steven May: A- 

Had the big responsibility of Charlie Curnow for most of the night and intercepted from there. Didn’t feel like he could do much more, yet Curnow still booted two goals. 

Max Gawn: B+  

Didn’t appreciate the attention he copped from Marc Pittonet early and went on to play one of his poorer games of 2024 to date. That last-gasp goal somewhat saved him. 

Tom McDonald: B+ 

Had a couple of nightmare moments but kept Harry McKay to only a goal. Tick. 

Jack Viney: B

Got in and under to lay 11 tackles and took it up to the Blues on-ball unit all night. A remarkable effort to keep the ball in play and set up a Caleb Windsor goal in the dying minutes.

Clayton Oliver: B- 

Plenty of the footy without doing a stunning amount with it. Six clangers. 

Jake Lever: C+ 

The Blues perfectly exploited Lever, often using his man while going forward and keeping the brilliant Demon down on his best. He fought to the final whistle, though. 

Kade Chandler: C+ 

Trent Rivers: C+ 

Judd McVee: C+ 

Fought hard off half-back and finished with 13 possessions.

Tom Sparrow: C

Not as clean as he had to be in big moments in the wet.

Ed Langdon: C 

Some 24 possessions on the night but didn’t have the impact to match. 

Blake Howes: C

Jacob van Rooyen: C

Competed hard in the air and got better as the game progressed

Jake Bowey: C

First game back from a broken collarbone and was subbed off in the final term.

Daniel Turner: C

His only goal came from a downfield free kick.

Bayley Fritsch: C-

An uncharacteristically quiet game for the star forward.

Jack Billings: C-

Plenty of uncontested footy.

Kysaiah Pickett: C- 

Not a single touch in the first quarter. Started to get going after that but had to be better when the game was on the line. 

Harrison Petty: C-

Another Demon who didn’t touch it in the first quarter and he didn’t improve from there. No impact himself and couldn’t contain the force that is Jacob Weitering.

Taj Woewodin: N/A

Came on as the sub in the third term.