Blues give fans reason to smile

Dale Thomas celebrates a third-quarter goal. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: Michael Klein / News Corp Australia

CARLTON fans have shaken their heads often this season.

Mostly in frustration. Sometimes disbelief.

But for a few beautiful moments last night the navy Blues' faithful finally got to feel the rush again.

It was the joy of seeing Chris Judd dig so deep into what we thought was an empty gas tank that you wished he would go on again next season.

It was the exhilaration of watching Levis Casboult not only launch spectacularly from four deep in a pack, but also finish accurately on goal from decent distance with each of his first three kicks.

Dale Thomas celebrates a goals in the third quarter, when Carlton led briefly. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

And the encouragement of key defender Sam Rowe standing his ground in a marking contest against Jarryd Roughead and cradling a one-handed mark like he was Stephen Silvagni.

When the official teams dropped before the bounce announcing crucial big men Michael Jamison and Lachie Henderson as late outs for the Blues, you sensed a drubbing coming at the MCG.

Matthew Watson's nerve-wrecking start, playing a hand in almost every one of the Hawks first five goals, did little to ease the knots from Carlton stomachs.

Levi Casboult kicked four goals. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

But as key forward Casboult shoved out Matt Spangher to clunk another strong grab and then drill his third major from 50m, that barren forward line that has been the source of so much worry over the years found new life.

To be fair, every ounce of Malthouse's patience would have been tested by Casboult's woeful set shot goal kicking technique, which has the longest ball drop in the country.

You could understand if the Blues had already decided to cut him loose, it looks so flawed.

But if he can find some much-needed fluency, perhaps the Blues won't have to sell the farm to get a ready-made key forward to accelerate the list "regeneration", because the 24-year-old can mark it like John Nicholls.

Chris Judd made a successful return with 26 possessions. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

When he charged into the goal square to boot his fourth early in the third term, and Jarrad Waite followed up to put the Blues up by seven points, Mick's busted-up premiership clock suddenly didn't seem so bad.

They had found something, the Blues. The confidence to run the ball quickly. To kick long into the forward line. And the grit, as far as Waite was concerned, to run 30-odd metres to chase down Matthew Suckling.

Maybe Juddy's comeback game lifted them. He was immense at the start of this one, rekindling memories of the way he single-handedly dragged the Blues over the line against Richmond in last year's elimination final. If he was massively underdone, as you would expect after such a horror run with injury this year, or coming to the finish line of a champion career, you wouldn't know watching him last night.

Mitch Robinson celebrates Carlton's opening goal. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

Or maybe Malthouse's 700th coaching appearance meant something to his troops. Or the club's 150th year celebrations tonight needed an effort like this.

Whatever the case, the Blues looked like they turned a bit of a corner last night, despite the late fade-out that made the game look more one-sided than it really was.

Finally, in a season to forget so far, the navy Blue army had some things to cheer about. Importantly, it involved an on-fire key forward.

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