Carlton has defeated 2021 grand finalists Western Bulldogs, going 2-0 to start a season for the first time in 10 years, doing so in front of a pulsating crowd at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.

The Blues, who defeated Richmond to open the season, were hit by several forced omissions, with star recruit Adam Cerra and senior coach Michael Voss isolating under health and safety protocols, but prevailed against a Dogs side that now sits 0-2 for the second time in three years.

A super opening half gave the Blues a buffer in excess of 30 points, but the Dogs fought back to set up a tense final term before the Blues ultimately prevailed.

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There were no late changes for either side, which was of particular comfort for the Blues given fears more players and officials would test positive for covid.

Carlton are looking to go 2-0 for the first time since 2012.

Bailey Williams (Western Bulldogs) and Lachie Plowman (Carlton) were named the medical substitutes.

The Blues made the perfect start to the match, kicking the opening goal via Charlie Curnow in the first 20 seconds of the match after great work from Marc Pittonet, Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh.

The Dogs hit back via Tim English and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who put through a great snap and was mobbed by teammates.

Like some of their clashes in the past, the Dogs and the Blues looked happy to engage in a shootout, with goals aplenty from clearance.

Adam Treloar sealed a classy finish running inside 50, but it was a rare moment of relief for the Dogs, who were under immense pressure from the Blues.

Cripps continued his good goalkicking form as well, slotting through a set shot after a great tackle on Jackson Macrae inside 50.

Bontempelli and Cripps matched up at stages in a mouthwatering contest, but it was Cripps who had the ascendancy in the opening term.

A goal to the Dogs was nearly followed up by another after the siren, but Aaron Naughton hit the post with his set shot, meaning Carlton took a seven-point lead into quarter-time.

The Blues very quickly widened the margin in the second term, going on an extraordinary run of scoring, kicking the opening four goals of the term within six minutes to put the margin out to 32 points.

It took a much-needed goal to Aaron Naughton to stem the flow for the Dogs, but it was met with a goal to McKay at the other end.

McKay got himself up to four goals by the time the halftime siren sounded, with a goal to Mitch Hannan late in the quarter salvaging something for the Dogs.

The Blues took a 31-point lead into half-time.

“To have the Blues back from the dead, they’ve been missing for a long time, but they’re up and about,” Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy at half-time.

“We’re seeing something special here tonight.”

The Dogs made a much better start in the second half, with a goal to Bailey Dale part of an offensive press across all parts of the ground, with a goal to Cody Weightman bringing the margin back to three straight kicks.

Jack Silvagni tried to steady things for the Blues with a goal, but the Dogs looked back to their best as Tom Liberatore and Anthony Scott brought the margin back to 13 points.

Naughton limped from the ground after Scott’s goal after appearing to land awkwardly following a marking contest.

A goal against the run of play saw Charlie Curnow kick his third for the night, making it nine goals between he, McKay and Silvagni for the night.

Sensing the occasion, Bontempelli took a brilliant contested mark and drilled through the resulting set shot to reduce the margin to just 12 points.

Curnow’s impressive performance became even more so as he kicked the next two goals for his side, with Cripps and George Hewett lifting in response to the Dogs’ surge.

The Dogs had all of the momentum after Curnow’s goal but were unable to capitalise, with five straight behinds putting a significant dent in their chances.

Inaccuracy would ultimately cost them as the Blues held on to their lead up to the final siren.

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