Mick has troops on war footing

Carlton have elevated themselves into the top eight after a 61-point thumping of Melbourne at the MCG.

Chris Judd is tackled by Demons Jake Spencer and Nathan Jones. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

MICK Malthouse has always fancied himself as a battlefield general, plotting and strategising his way to victory.

Today his side seized the battle against dogged Melbourne, but the greater joy for Malthouse might be finally assembling an arsenal that could eventually see him win the war.

For the first time in his short tenure yesterday Malthouse was able to witness the potency of a forward line featuring not only his brilliant mosquito fleet, but veteran forward Jarrad Waite.

And if Waite wasn't quite best afield, the added dimension it gave Carlton's forward line was stark: the Blues took 22 contested marks, had 31 shots at goal, and finally look capable of competing in September.

Any question marks about Waite's ability to make an instant impact were quickly dispatched by his 10 marks and two goals, as were doubts about playing all of Eddie Betts, Chris Yarran, and Jeff Garlett in the same forward line.

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That quartet were involved in all five of Carlton's electric first-quarter goals, waxing and flicking the ball around like they were training at Visy Park.

With Shaun Hampson taking five contested marks and Matthew Kreuzer returning soon, Carlton is quickly amassing lethal forward options.

By the time Betts matched Garlett's four-goal haul with a post-siren torpedo from 50m to make it a 61-point victory, it was apparent Carlton's swagger was back.

It wasn't Yarran's day - subbed off with a tight hamstring - and Waite's borderline headbutt on Tom McDonald will get match review panel heat.

Eddie Betts takes a flying mark against Melbourne. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

But now that the Blues are back to parity at 3-3, they have St Kilda, Port Adelaide (Etihad Stadium), Brisbane and the Gold Coast and a potential 7-3 platform to iron out any remaining kinks in the game plan.

Betts, Marc Murphy, rebounder Andrew Walker and Heath Scotland were all dominant, but there is no question Waite is the club's most important player.

''I have been training pretty hard over the last month, just trying to get my touch back, because the last few times it has taken me a few games to get into it,'' he said.

"Last week down at Preston I felt really good with where I was at. It is just all about my rehab and injury prevention now. The calf was a number of things - it flared up a couple of times, but as long as I am on top of everything, I should be fine.

"With our small forwards they are going to be guarding (the space) behind so we were trying to get that hit up and just with creating space, it worked out well for us.''

That it took the Blues most of four quarters to turn yesterday's MCG contest into a rout was to the eternal credit of the undermanned Melbourne.

Four of today's Demons had played their first game this year, three more had just 24 games experience between them, and captain Jack Grimes was floored by a serious shoulder injury just 14 minutes into the contest.

Health Scotland collars Luke Tapscott. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Yet if a Demons side already missing Mark Jamar, Jack Watts, Mitch Clark and Chris Dawes never threatened to win, the performance of the unheralded kids was highly commendable.

Lynden Dunn did a superb job on Chris Judd, Rohan Bail curtailed Brock McLean, and across the ground the no-name midfield held up with aplomb.

The sight of Colin Sylvia, busting a gut as he closed on Yarran in a 50m chase, was representative of a side outclassed yet determined to go down fighting.

Captain Jack Trengove (eight disposals) just cannot find the Sherrin, but as far as honourable 10-goal losses go, it fitted the bill.

Melbourne is all about building respect under Mark Neeld, yet for opponent Carlton a season that coughed and spluttered is quickly working its way through the gears into overdrive.

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