THE scoreboard shows that Essendon defeated Carlton by 35 points at the MCG yesterday. It would be easy to confuse that one undeniable fact with a comfortable win and regulation margin, but Essendon's victory was anything but regulation as the Bombers were forced to reply to a late Blues charge that almost stole the four points.

Midway through the final quarter, with less than 12 minutes of play, Carlton's Andrew Carrazzo booted a goal on the run and put his side ahead by a point for the first time all day. It was a fairytale turnaround for the Blues and the player himself.

Carlton had been put to the sword in the opening quarter, blown away so comprehensively that coach Brett Ratten would later lament that the opening quarter was the Blues' worst start for the year.

The Bombers were in control of every area. They led contested possession 40-25 and went inside their attacking 50 17 times to 10. When it came to clearances, Essendon won 13 of the 16 contested and was finding multiple avenues to goal.

Essendon was dominating off the deck with three of its opening four goals coming from players picking up the crumbs as too many Carlton defenders flew into packs.

It was at times a bruising encounter, and two major incidents in the first quarter — both accidental — had a major influence on the match.

Just five minutes into the game, Brendan Fevola flew for a mark only to be met by Henry Slattery, courageously backing into his flight path.

The Essendon defender copped a boot to the chest and worse still, a knee to the face that sent him to hospital with a suspected fractured cheekbone.

That incident and its sickening aftermath appeared to temporarily subdue Fevola for the rest of the term. Minutes later, the opposing captains Matthew Lloyd and Chris Judd clashed heads as they battled for a ball on the wing. It was a sign of the intensity to come from the champion Bomber for the rest of the day, but it left Judd dazed for much of the match.

He was tagged well by Andrew Welsh, but the blow had the Brownlow medallist off the field with greater frequency than usual.

Essendon kicked seven goals to Carlton's solitary major in the opening term, but what was pleasing for Matthew Knights and his team was the number of players getting involved. Five players shared those goals — with Lloyd and Angus Monfries both kicking two. It would be a major storyline for the rest of the day. Lloyd, Monfries and Adam McPhee were all causing problems and Essendon would end the day with 11 goal-kickers, while the Blues had just five.

But, of course, one of those five was Fevola and the spearhead was instrumental in Carlton's comeback.

His three goals in the second quarter clawed back the deficit that had been 41 points just a minute into the second term and his tussle with Dustin Fletcher continued to prove Fevola's class.

Whether he was on the lead or in a one-on-one contest with the veteran full-back or snapping goals around his body, the Blues' spearhead was a danger after quarter-time kicking seven goals.

Carlton's slow comeback turned into a final quarter rush. It had gradually got itself back into the game by generating its own midfield spark.

While David Hille and Jobe Watson had been allowed to dominate early, Nick Stevens and Marc Murphy started to get back into the contest by winning some clearances and contested possession.

The margin was cut to 25 points by the final change and while the match should have been well in Essendon's hands, a poor turnover from Mark McVeigh gifted Murphy a goal right on the siren and gave the Blues momentum.

When these two sides met in round three, the Bombers won a high-scoring shoot-out that had little emphasis on defence as the teams kicked 44 goals between them.

The final quarter of yesterday's match reverted to form with both teams throwing caution to the wind in search of a win and 14 goals turned the last quarter into a frenzy.

The Blues pushed their strongest midfielders Judd, Stevens and Murphy into the centre and went for all-out attack.

A brilliant left-foot snap from Kade Simpson two minutes into the quarter cut the margin to 19 points and sent the Blues on their way.

A juggling one-handed mark by Fevola, for his sixth goal of the day, and then a long bomb from Stevens had the Blues within five points.

In defence during the first term, Carrazzo had made four crucial errors that had gifted Essendon goals.

He was moved into midfield where he had a more positive influence.

When he kicked his only goal to put Carlton ahead, it seemed the Blues' recent habit of successful comebacks was going to continue.

But then Essendon steadied to kick eight of the last 10 goals. Hille — brilliant all day in a best-on-ground performance — stepped up to wrestle back control of the game. The floodgates opened in the dying minutes and Essendon grabbed the win it had richly deserved all day. Andrew Lovett kicked three goals in the dying minutes.

ESSENDON  7.5 8.9 12.13 20.16 (136)
CARLTON 1.2 5.4 9.6 15.11 (101)

GOALS: Essendon: Monfries 4, Lloyd 4, Lovett 3, Neagle 2, Reimers 2, Jetta, McVeigh, Lucas, Laycock, McPhee. Carlton: Fevola 7, Stevens 2, Carrazzo 2, Murphy, Simpson, Fisher, Betts.

BEST: Essendon: Hille, Monfries, Lloyd, Watson, Stanton, Welsh. Carlton: Fevola, Stevens, Murphy, Simpson, Carrazzo, Waite.

INJURIES: Essendon: Slattery (fractured cheekbone). Carlton: Judd (concussion), Carrazzo (concussion).

UMPIRES: Chamberlain, S McLaren, Armstrong.

CROWD: 59,177 at the MCG.

THE UPSHOT CARLTON'S glorious fortnight, including stunning wins over Port Adelaide and Collingwood, is just a memory as it slips to 10th spot. After basking in eighth spot for one week, yesterday's 35-point loss to Essendon was enough for coach Brett Ratten to dismiss any further talk of finals. The Blues will be taking it one week at a time, starting with Richmond, back at the MCG on Saturday.

TALKING POINT BRENDAN Fevola's seven goals pushes his season tally to 57 after 13 rounds, heightening speculation he and Hawthorn spearhead Lance Franklin could be the first players to kick 100 goals in a season since Sydney full-forward Tony Lockett in 1998.

HOT AND COLD ANGUS Monfries' 63rd game in red and black was the best of his career and helped set up the Bombers' 23-point half-time lead with three opening-half goals. The former first-round draft pick finished with four goals, 25 disposals and 10 marks. Chris Judd battled on after a heavy clash of heads with Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd early in the game, but the Blues' skipper was well below his best.