A gruesome bump from Steven May has somewhat overshadowed Carlton’s heart-stopping win over Melbourne on Saturday night, with the Blues holding on to win by eight points.
Michael Voss’ side led at every change, and only conceded the lead one throughout the entire match to eventually come out winners 12.6 (78) to the Demons’ 10.10 (70).
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Unfortunately for Simon Goodwin’s troops, a stunning five-goal haul for superstar Kysaiah Pickett from 23 disposals wasn’t enough to drag Melbourne over the line, who now remain one game away from dropping down into the bottom four.
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For the Blues, Ashton Moir stunned with a crucial four-goal haul of his own in what could very well turn out to be a ‘coming of age’ on the AFL stage. In Moir’s five games at the top level before tonight (three of which were as sub), he has kicked just three majors.
The loss gives Ikon Park their first AFL win since Round 14, and extends the Demons’ losing streak to six games.
In the third term, Carlton SSP signing Francis Evans was concussed after a hard-hitting bump from May that left the Blue bloodied, concussed and with one less tooth in his mouth — an act almost certain to see him suspended by the league’s Match Review Officer, or sent straight to the tribunal.
De Koning comes off after BIG collision | 00:27
MATCH CENTRE: Blues v Demons final scores, stats and more
“If you come in with that sort of velocity there … he came so fast into the contest, that the collision was inevitable. Steven May has a duty of care when Francis Evans has the ball there,” three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy’s Super Saturday Live post-game.
“For me, this will go to the Tribunal — and it’s how hard, or how big a penalty they want to give Steven May. If they rank it severe, it could be anywhere from four to five weeks.”
“It’s a no-brainer for mine, it definitely goes to the Tribunal … it’s a pretty gruesome injury.”
For a brief period, Carlton’s pressure factor dipped to as low as 110 at the 10-minute mark of the third term, before holding off one last charge from the Demons to claim their fourth straight win over the Demons at a combined margin of just 15 points.
Carlton goalkickers: Moir 4, Curnow 3, Cerra, Evans, F.Young, Docherty, Carroll
Melbourne goalkickers: Pickett 5, Fritsch 2, Melksham, van Rooyen, Jefferson
‘IN TROUBLE’: BRUTAL BUMP ON BLUE SET FOR MRO SCRUTINY… AND HISTORY THAT ‘DOESN’T HELP’
In an ideal world, tonight’s main narrative would be spun in favour of Carlton who registered a desperately needed four premiership points to lift a smidge of pressure off Ikon Park.
Instead, it’s turned the way of Melbourne defender Steven May — who is almost certainly set to face a multi-week suspension from the AFL’s Match Review Officer (MRO) for his third-quarter hit on Carlton’s Francis Evans.
Just after the halfway mark of the third stanza, the Blues’ SSP signing and May both charged at full pace towards a loose ball inside Carlton’s forward 50, with the Demons trailing by just two points.
The yellow Sherrin continued to roll over itself towards the Blues’ goal, before popping up well for either player to snatch. Evans beat May to it by a minimal margin, but it very quickly ended his night – as the Dee braced to bump at full speed, pulling out of any intent to win the ball.
It left Evans bloodied, battered and with one less tooth in his mouth. The 23-year-old was quickly ordered to leave the field of play, before being swiftly subbed out due to concussion.
While May’s forceful contact on Evans was evident, it left Fox Footy’s commentary team unsure as to the appropriate sanction for the hot-headed Dee.
“These days, you have to step out of the way don’t you?” Jason Dunstall said in the collision’s aftermath.
“The handball’s missed, he sees it coming … can Steven May make a late decision to get out of the way and let Evans run onto the ball?”
Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley added: “He would’ve thought he was going to get there at the same time (as Evans).
“I don’t know if our game is capable of allowing that anymore. We’re taking that outcome out of the game.”
“I don’t know — other than not compete — what Steven May can do there. He’s of the Tom Lynch mould, who doesn’t mind hurting the opposition though; so that doesn’t help with that history either.”
Unfortunately for Evans, the former Geelong and Port Adelaide small forward was en route to finishing with his best game in his new colours, collecting eight disposals and a goal early on to go with his four tackles.
As a result of the bump, Evans will miss at least next Thursday night’s clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.
Speaking at three-quarter time, Eddie Betts also noted that May was “in trouble” for the hit, before Dunstall finished by saying: “We’ve still got a serious injury to a player that we have to protect, so we think May’s probably going to be in trouble.”
‘HELL OF A FOCUS’: ‘CLUTCH’ CURNOW RETURNS TO FORM WITH A BANG AFTER ‘TOUGH TROT’
After a four-round run of going goalless, Charlie Curnow set the tone from the very first bounce to play a crucial role in seeing his Blues home.
In fact, it took the dual Coleman Medalist just 33 seconds to kick truly in front of goal as teammates rushed from all parts of the MCG to get around the superstar who has been heavily scrutinised in recent weeks.
“He’s been excellent; you’d be really encouraged as a Carlton supporter sitting in the crowd looking down at his work rate,” Nathan Buckley said at half time.
“He’s been able to get involved (and) kicked two goals early.”
Adelaide Crows and Carlton great Eddie Betts added: “Kicking those two goals really set the tone for him, because he was quiet the last month — he hadn’t kicked a goal.”
“He’s getting up the ground, 14 (first-half) disposals (and) seven marks. It’s back to the Charlie we know!”
While a miscued ping at goal from outside the arc still proved Curnow wasn’t at his absolute best, the 28-year-old bullied Melbourne’s defence throughout the rest of the night – even if it didn’t mean he kicked a massive bag of majors.
Speaking to Fox Footy post-game, head coach Michael Voss praised his high-profile forward for his return to form.
“He’s been steadily building. He’s had a tough trot in terms of form, and obviously given the player he is for us, he cops a hell of a lot of focus“ Voss said after his side’s seventh win of 2025.
“He’s been fighting pretty hard down there in more recent weeks, and not a lot’s been going for him. He’s been getting shots on goal, but hasn’t been able to convert that into goals.
“Tonight, he kicks the first and kicks the last — that was clutch at the end, we needed it.
“You could just sort of see the energy he builds in the stadium. As soon as he turns to the crowd, everyone flocks to him. To see him in that sort of form is definitely heartening.”
Curnow’s three-goal haul takes his season tally to 37 goals from 17 games, still averaging a more-than-reasonable 2.2 goals a game this year.
MORE TO COME…
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