CARLTON and Richmond had their respective seasons on the line at three-quarter-time yesterday, with just one point separating the two sides who have shown vast improvement this year.

Both were in the unexpected position of vying for a finals berth. But in the final 30 minutes of yesterday's clash between two of the competition's greatest rivals, it was Carlton that stood tall to stay in contention for the September race.

In a stunning final quarter, led by stand-in skipper Nick Stevens — who had assumed the role after Chris Judd's withdrawal on Friday — the Blues piled on seven goals to two to run out comfortable 30-point winners.

The victory says plenty about the emerging character of the young Blues. It had been a lacklustre first half, neither side really impressive but Richmond slightly in control of the scoreboard and the play.

The Tigers were gritty and with Cleve Hughes and Mitch Morton as focal points in front of goal, they at least appeared to have enough avenues to goal to keep control of the match.

Joel Bowden and Jordan McMahon were rebounding well out of defence, Brett Deledio was getting plenty of disposals and helping set up attacks and Trent Cotchin presented as a calm and calculating thinker who does not panic under pressure.

Richmond worked its way to an 18-point lead early in the second term, its movement of the ball slightly better and more direct.

Each time Carlton attacked yesterday, Richmond answered. Before three-quarter-time, each team had led six times and the scores had been deadlocked six times. But Richmond seemed to know how to get in front at the vital moments.

While Carlton could get no further than a goal in front at any time, Richmond would respond. Carlton wanted the play contested and tight, Richmond wanted to run the ball and create flow. Ultimately it was the Blues who succeeded.

Carlton started its charge early in the third quarter. Blues coach Brett Ratten made several important moves. He took Setanta O'hAilpin off Hughes, who had kicked three goals in the second term and replaced the Irishman with Michael Jamison. Brad Fisher became the go-to man in the Carlton forward line, a tactic to expose Bowden's penchant for running off his opponent. Both worked a treat. Hughes didn't kick another goal for the match and Fisher was influential in the opening 10 minutes of the third term, kicking a goal and playing a role in two others.

Bryce Gibbs was unshackled and allowed to run through the midfield and, it too, had results. His work in traffic was clever, several little handballs helped set up Carlton scoring opportunities.

The Blues have now won seven of their last 11 games and have showed discipline and maturity beyond their years in the second halves and particularly the last quarters. They also show a willingness to fight matches out to the end and that was rewarded with victory yesterday.

The Blues were ferocious at the ball in the final term. Richmond had led at every change, although the Tigers had watched their lead dwindle at each break but Carlton had been on the attack for much of the second half.

In the last quarter, the Blues won all the stats that matter — the tackle count 8-6, the contested possessions 30-20 and the inside attacking 50s were a dominant 18 to 11.

Stevens was outstanding for his team and his final quarter was nothing short of match-winning, with 12 disposals, almost willing his team over the line.

Along with ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, Stevens took control of the centre square and gave the Blues first use of the ball. Carlton started to win around the stoppages and the Richmond back line, which had been breaking even with the Blues earlier in the match, started to falter under the weight of possession.

Kelvin Moore had held Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola well for most of the first three quarters, he won the one-on-one contests with the gun forward and held him reasonably quiet. Fevola had kicked just two goals — both in the second quarter — to three-quarter-time, but late in the match the floodgates opened and there was little Moore and his teammates could do.

The Blues attacked from the beginning of the final term and when Richmond star Matthew Richardson left the ground with a hamstring injury at the five-minute mark of the term, the omens were bad.

Richardson had been involved in an unusual duel with Jarrad Waite, the pair using their athleticism to roam the field and play creative roles. Waite probably had the better of the contest, but Richardson was still involved. His absence hurt because his drive was lost and Waite took his game to a higher level.

Goals came to the Blues in quick succession, with Gibbs and Fevola kicking early majors to give Carlton an 11-point lead midway through the quarter.

When Simon Wiggins marked strongly in front of Fevola and two Richmond opponents on the edge of the goalsquare, the routine shot on goal took the Blues to a 17-point lead and ended Richmond's centenary celebrations.

CARLTON 1.5 5.9 10.12 17.16 (118)
RICHMOND 2.7 7.9 10.13 12.16 (88)

GOALS Carlton: Fevola 4, Gibbs 3, Betts 2, Fisher 2, Cloke, Edwards, Grigg, Murphy, Stevens, Wiggins. Richmond: Hughes 3, Morton 3, Deledio, Johnson, Polak, Richardson, Riewoldt, Simmonds.

BEST Carlton: Stevens, Carrazzo, Waite, Gibbs, Scotland, Bentick.Richmond: Deledio, Cotchin, Foley, Moore, Polo, McMahon.

INJURIES Carlton: Judd (concussion) replaced in selected side by Anderson.Richmond: Thursfield (hamstring) replaced in selected side by King. Richardson (hamstring).

REPORTS Thornton (Carlton), King (Richmond) for allegedly wrestling in the third quarter.

UMPIRES Rosebury, Kamolins, Wenn.

CROWD 73,503 at MCG.

THE UPSHOT The wealth of young talent on display at the MCG yesterday should hold Carlton and Richmond in good stead well into the future. Carlton youngsters Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy and Kade Simpson were among those who stood up in the absence of Blues' skipper and midfield general Chris Judd, while the continuing good form of Tigers' first-year player Trent Cotchin, vice-captain Nathan Foley and Brett Deledio gave Richmond fans plenty to smile about, despite the loss.

TALKING POINT After a short stay in the top eight was ended by last week's loss to Essendon, Brett Ratten said the Blues would not talk internally or publicly about finals again during the home-and-away series. However, that won't stop the Carlton faithful talking up the Blues on the back of a rousing victory over an old foe.

HOT AND COLD Nick Stevens collected 12 touches in the final term and 26 for the game in one of his strongest performances this season. The acting captain's goal on the run early in the third term sparked the Blues, who kicked the next two goals to snatch the lead, the momentum and eventually the win. Matthew Richardson provided one of the best match-ups with Jarrad Waite, but the Tiger ended the afternoon on the bench with an ice-pack on his hamstring.