CARLTON has kept its finals hopes alive after an under-strength Blues team overcame the Western Bulldogs by 18 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

A video-score review proved a crucial last-term turning point, with a Luke Dahlhaus goal correctly changed to a minor score after vision showed it clearly hit the post.

View match highlights on the media player above.
With Dahlhaus dangerous in front of goal, the Dogs had led for most of the first three quarters, and they were in front by as much as 25 points late in the second quarter.

But they couldn't meet the late challenge from Carlton who kicked six goals to two in the final term to set up the 16.6 (102) to 12.12 (84) win.

The crippled Blues lost Chris Judd (suspension), Andrew Walker (calf), Matthew Kreuzer (hip), Lachie Henderson (groin) and Kane Lucas (hamstring) during the week and suffered another blow on match day with the late withdrawal of Mitch Robinson with a calf strain.

Brett Ratten threw three debutants into service against the Dogs with perhaps the biggest task falling to tall forward Levi Casboult who was pitted against ruckman Will Minson.

Casboult, a part-time ruckman only, tried but struggled mightily against Minson with the final hit-out tally a lopsided 59-19 in favour of the Bulldogs.

The Dogs, who made five changes of their own at the selection table, made the most of that advantage and had the better of the early going.

Liam Picken, who got the job on stand-in skipper Marc Murphy, stung his opponent with a goal inside the first three minutes to help his side to an eight-point lead at the first break.

The Bulldogs, ably led by Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross and Ryan Griffen, were getting plenty of the ball and deserved their 25-point lead late in the second term, but Jeff Garlett made it a 19-point margin at half-time with the second of his goals for the quarter.

While the Blues played like they had the weight of the world on their shoulders in the first half, they began the second with more of the run and daring play that saw them win the first three games of the season.

Conversely, the Dogs suffered a blow with Shaun Higgins subbed out of the game with a hamstring injury and they appeared to retreat into their shells in the face of the Carlton challenge.

Andrew Collins, in perhaps his best game for the club, booted the first two goals of the third as the Blues lifted and Bret Thornton's first goal of the night 24 minutes in gave his side the lead for the first time.

However, a bad mistake by Jordan Russell saw Jason Tutt goal after the siren to put his side back in front thanks to a 50m penalty for a push after a mark.

With their season on the line the Blues needed something from their veterans and they got brilliant efforts from Brock McLean, Eddie Betts and Murphy.

Betts had been well held most of the night, but he saved his best for last with two outstanding goals propelling Carlton to a season-saving win.

WESTERN BULLDOGS     3.3   8.4    10.9   12.12 (84)                 
CARLTON                             2.1   5.3    10.4   16.6  (102)         
 
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus 4, Williams 2, Grant 2, Picken, Higgins, Giansiracusa, Tutt
Carlton: Collins 3, Garlett 2, Thornton 2, Gibbs 2, Betts 2 Joseph, Bell, Bower, Carrazzo
 
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Lake, Griffen, Liberatore, Dahlhaus, Cross, Picken
Carlton: McLean, Scotland, Collins, Yarran, Garlett, Murphy
 
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Higgins (hamstring)
Carlton: TBC
 
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Nathan Djerrkura replaced Shaun Higgins in the third quarter.
Carlton: Frazer Dale replaced Dennis Armfield in the last quarter.
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Stewart, Wenn, Foot
 
Official crowd: 24,615 at Etihad Stadium.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs