Carlton go back-to-back with huge Good Friday win over North

Pressure is mounting on North Melbourne and coach Alastair Clarkson after their 82-point loss to Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Good Friday, with the Blues claiming their second win of the 2025 AFL season.

Michael Voss’ men easily covered the line of 18.5 points — as picked in BettingSite.com.au’s North Melbourne v Carlton match preview — winning 24.9 (153) to 11.5 (71) in a dominant display.

The game was evenly poised for much of the first quarter, and those who backed Paul Curtis for two or more goals at $2.05 with BetOnline were rewarded early on when he bagged the Kangaroos’ first couple.

However, the tide turned after Nick Larkey missed a point-blank opportunity to put the Roos ahead midway through the term, with the Blues then kicking five unanswered goals to take a 31-point lead into the first break.

The second stanza was a far less free-scoring affair, with Carlton managing only two goals — one of those from a 50m penalty to Blake Acres.

North had the better of the play for a lot of the quarter and made inroads through Larkey, Curtis, Cam Zurhaar and Luke Parker to whittle the margin down to 20 points at half-time.

It all came undone for the Roos after the restart, however, as Carlton kicked six goals to blow the margin out beyond 50 points late in the third term.

North Melbourne did not register a major until the final minute of the quarter, when George Wardlaw — a shining light in his first game of the season — added a tidy finish on the angle to his highlight reel.

The Roos showed signs of life when Zane Duursma and Parker kicked the first two goals of the final term, but it was all one-way traffic after that as the Blues booted seven in a row to push the margin out past 12 goals and kill off the contest.

George Hewett was a clear standout for the Blues, finishing with 34 disposals, 12 clearances and a goal, while Charlie Curnow and Zac Williams each booted four majors as Carlton’s forwards cashed in against an insipid Kangaroos defence.

Next up for the Baggers is a tough clash with Geelong at the MCG on Sunday, April 27, with the Cats likely to be solid favourites with top online bookmakers.

North, meanwhile, will head across the border to face Port Adelaide in South Australia on Saturday, April 26.

North Melbourne v Carlton final score

North Melbourne 11.5 (71)
Carlton 24.9 (153)

Goals:
Kangaroos – Curtis 3, Parker 2, Duursma, Konstanty, Larkey, Powell, Wardlaw, Zurhaar
Blues – Curnow 4, Williams 4, Motlop 3, White 3, Durdin 2, Lord 2, Acres, Cerra, Cripps, De Koning, Hewett, Young

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