![\"Essendon\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774772953_122_735ee6eda9238a13fe99e471b89aa8ef8494a1baf4e8fdd76eddb230b34fff20.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHowever, Voss\u2019 Carlton slipped to 1-2 ahead of a Good Friday date with North Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe quick turnaround might be a good thing for us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Blues led by a match-high 43 when Elijah Hollands snapped their seventh goal 39 seconds into the second term. The Demons, who struggled even to complete handballs to one another in the opening hour, took until almost 26 minutes into the same quarter to finally kick their first goal via Harvey Langford.<\/p>\n
Coincidentally, Langford was the one who put Melbourne in front two terms later, still with almost six minutes remaining, after Pickett soccered the Sherrin 20-plus metres.<\/p>\n
Langford, a top-10 pick who turned 20 this month, gathered the ball, wheeled out of trouble and bounced the ball through the goals.<\/p>\n
The Demons were an irrepressible force from there, led by Pickett, a dominant Gawn, who overwhelmed his opposite number Marc Pittonet with 23 disposals and 58 hitouts, and forward Bayley Fritsch, whose stellar record against the Blues continued with four second-half goals.<\/p>\n
Pickett was scratchy early, much like the rest of his teammates, but finished with 33 disposals \u2013 the first time he had more than 30 \u2013 10 inside 50s and an enormous 821 metres gained, in a predominantly midfield role.<\/p>\n
He intercepted a Carlton attempt to escape their defensive 50 in the last quarter then blasted through a magnificent goal, and was involved again as Fritsch slotted his fourth.<\/p>\n
Exasperated Blues fans began walking out in their thousands at that stage.<\/p>\n
Melbourne came at Carlton several times in the second half \u2013 after emerging from half-time with reinforced intent \u2013 but Hollands\u2019 goal early in the fourth quarter appeared to have stemmed the flow, particularly when soon after he laced out Matt Carroll for another.<\/p>\n
But the Blues\u2019 brave, clean ball movement from the start of the match reverted to a static version that played a role in them surrendering what should have been a match-winning lead.<\/p>\n
Melbourne were good in the end, but far from perfect.<\/p>\n
In the third term, Harry Petty appeared to have cruelled their comeback bid when he held on to resurgent Blue Mitch McGovern for too long and gave away a 50-metre penalty that cost the Demons a goal and stretched Carlton\u2019s lead back to 30 points.<\/p>\n
McGovern had three goals at that stage, and loomed as the story of the day. Instead, the Blues shot themselves in the foot again as they prepare for what will certainly be another week of scrutiny.<\/p>\n
King hailed Pickett\u2019s performance as \u201cspecial\u201d but felt his players\u2019 unerring belief helped them fight until the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believed the game would turn around if we started to execute the basic fundamentals, which cost us dearly in the first quarter,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought things started to turn halfway through the second, and the stats told us that the game was played the way we wanted. We just couldn\u2019t capitalise when we had our opportunities. So for me, just immense pride in our playing group, to believe in themselves and each other, and have that spirit to do it for two pretty important people [Gawn and McDonald] in the history of our footy club.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlton\u2019s Zac Williams (ribs) took no further part after a third-quarter collision with Pickett, while first-year defender Harry Dean (hip) went to hospital after an awkward landing. Demons recruit Changkuoth Jiath\u2019s day ended before half-time with a calf setback.<\/p>\n
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![\"Marc](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1fd9e8feb443a3c0e7ff1305e00989af6ff0ed64.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Reason](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1b830e53fa2121b13a4c236c23298233721a28d5.jpeg\")
Reason to smile: Kysaiah Pickett.AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n