Richmond has gone down to Carlton by 25 points in Round 1 on Thursday night at the MCG. 

A six-goals-to-two third quarter gave the Tigers control and Shai Bolton's third goal of the night looked to have set Damien Hardwick's men on their way to victory early in the final term.

But Carlton turned the match on its head with five goals in eight minutes in a stunning surge to power themselves to a 14.17 (101) to 11.10 (76) upset.

Captain Patrick Cripps kicked three goals from 30 disposals in the Blues' first triumph over Richmond since the famous 2013 elimination final.

It was also Carlton's first round-one win in a decade.

Richmond's night was further soured by Dion Prestia's latest injury setback.

The unlucky midfield star, who managed just nine games in each of the past two seasons, left the field with a hamstring injury before halftime and was immediately replaced by substitute Hugo Ralphsmith.

Blues duo Cripps and Jacob Weitering both had injury scares when they had ankle issues seen to by medical staff during the final term, but returned to see out the match.

The two leaders were important contributors along with Adam Saad in the last quarter, as Carlton's midfield brigade dominated out of the centre square.

The last of them set up Blues midfielder Adam Cerra to kick the sealing goal from close range.

Richmond superstar Dustin Martin started strongly in his first game since surgery to repair a lacerated kidney in July and had six disposals in the opening minutes.

He finished with 21 touches and kicked a third-quarter goal from a free.

Noah Balta started in defence for the Tigers but was swung forward and kicked two goals, as did Tom Lynch.

Shai Bolton was excellent throughout, booting three brilliant goals.  

CARLTON            1.3       5.9       7.12       14.17 (101)
RICHMOND        4.5       4.7       10.9     11.10 (76)

GOALS  
Carlton: Cripps 3, Durdin 2, Docherty, Hewett, Kennedy, McKay, Silvagni, O’Brien, Cerra, Fisher, Martin
Richmond: Bolton 3, Balta 2, Lynch 2, Aarts, Baker, Martin, Riewoldt

BEST  
Carlton: Cripps, Kennedy, Docherty, Cerra, Hewett, Saad
Richmond: Short, Pickett, Bolton, Martin

INJURIES  
Carlton: McGovern (back/hip)
Richmond: Prestia (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES  
Carlton: Nil
Richmond: Ralphsmith (for Prestia in second quarter)

Crowd: 72,179 at the MCG