THE WESTERN Bulldogs have returned to winning ways at their Etihad Stadium fortress, but their 36-point triumph over a plucky Carlton has come at a cost after a hamstring injury to rebounding defender Jason Johannisen.
Still recovering from the loss of skipper Bob Murphy to a season-ending knee injury against Hawthorn just six days ago, Johannisen's hamstring soured the Dogs' 13.7 (85) to 7.7 (49) victory, which improved their record to 3-1.
The dashing half-back had to be helped from the field after bombing a 55m goal in the third quarter, and he looks set for an extended period on the sidelines.
Johannisen (19 disposals) had been among the Bulldogs' best as they bounced back from the narrow defeat to the Hawks, which cut their 11-game winning streak under the roof at Etihad.
Luke Beveridge's men looked hungry to atone and, fortunately for them, killed the contest by half-time before their injuries hit.
The Dogs led by 18 points at the first change and extended the margin to 43 by the main break, but the injury toll opened the door for the Blues to launch a spirited fightback.
After only kicking two goals in the first half, Carlton nailed three in the third term and grew in confidence as the match wore on, whittling the margin back from 51 points to 29 late in the final term.
But a goalless stretch from the 25-minute mark of the first term until the fourth minute of the third quarter killed the Blues, as they allowed the Dogs to run away with the game thanks to seven unanswered majors.
The Blues also shot themselves in the foot with some of their goalkicking, with repeat offender Levi Casboult and Bryce Gibbs botching gettable set shots in the second term as Carlton tried to hold back the tide.
In his first game for Carlton, former No.3 draft pick Lachie Plowman stood tall and blanketed damaging Dogs forward Jake Stringer.
Recruit Sam Kerridge tried hard for the Blues, with veteran half-back Kade Simpson and Sam Docherty other four-quarter performers on another tough night, when key onballers Marc Murphy, Gibbs and Dale Thomas had little influence.
The Dogs spread the load, with Shane Biggs (32 disposals) taking another step forward, Lachie Hunter (33) starred, while Caleb Daniel (23), Jack Macrae (26) and veteran Matthew Boyd (26) were tireless.
Marcus Bontempelli (three goals) made the Blues pay for turnovers with his lethal left boot, with unheralded Koby Stevens (two goals, 25 disposals) dangerous across half-forward.
Jed Adcock came into the Dogs side to help fill the leadership void left by Murphy, and the ex-Brisbane Lions skipper was swamped by his new teammates after snapping the game's second goal.
Even 210-game defender Dale Morris tried to join the party early, but the skipper couldn't add to his three career goals when his snap hit the post from 15m out in the second term.
The Blues' woes up forward continue to be a major headache for first-year coach Brendon Bolton. In four games, Carlton has kicked just 34 goals.
The Blues' are facing a trip to Perth to play Fremantle next round in search of a first win, while the Dogs will host the Brisbane Lions back at Etihad Stadium.
CARLTON 2.1 2.3 5.5 7.7 (49)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.1 9.4 12.6 13.7 (85)
GOALS
Carlton: Sumner 2, Buckley, Lamb, Phillips, Gibbs, Cripps
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 3, Stevens 2, Adcock, Suckling, McLean, Wallis, Liberatore, Johannisen, Jong, Hunter
BEST
Carlton: Plowman, Docherty, Simpson, Weitering, Kerridge, Wright
Western Bulldogs: Hunter, Biggs, Johannisen, Macrae, Stevens, Bontempelli, Suckling
INJURIES
Carlton: Thomas (left knee and right ankle), Murphy (cut head)
Western Bulldogs: Johannisen (right hamstring), Suckling (right ankle), T. Boyd (right shoulder)
Reports: Lin Jong (Western Bulldogs) after making high contact with Patrick Cripps (Carlton) in the first quarter
Umpires: Nicholls, Kamolins, Ryan
Official crowd: TBC at Etihad Stadium
