A stunning burst of five goals in less than four minutes in the third quarter has helped Carlton overcome a brave Richmond side by 61 points and move six points clear inside the top two with eight rounds left in the home-and-away season.

After a tight opening half, the Tigers continued to defy the form guide and moved to within a kick when Noah Balta landed the first major of the third quarter.

But Carlton kicked the next seven goals of the term, including a run of five in just three minutes and 56 seconds of game time, as midfield stars Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh put the foot down.

And the Blues cruised home to win 20.11 (131) to 10.10 (70) as the rain tumbled at the MCG in the final term, with Cripps leading the way with 40 disposals, 13 clearances and a goal.

The goals were shared by the Blues, who had 11 individual goalkickers and were led by four from Orazio Fantasia, while Noah Balta led the way for the Tigers with three majors.

Richmond will be hoping for good news on star Dustin Martin, who was subbed out in the third quarter with an apparent back injury after managing just seven disposals.

Blake Acres (33 disposals), Nic Newman (28) and Matt Kennedy (21) were all busy for Carlton, as was Adam Cerra (23), who was substituted out of his first game back from a hamstring injury.

Kennedy also failed to finish the match, sitting out the latter stages with a knee complaint.

Fantasia (four) and Lachie Fogarty (three) were the most prolific of six multiple goal-kickers for the Blues in a powerful team performance.

Tim Taranto (27 disposals) fought against the tide for Richmond and Daniel Rioli (24) showcased his superb ball use, while Jacob Hopper (25) worked hard on his return from a hamstring injury.

Balta was the Tigers' leading goal-kicker with three, while Ben Miller did a good job to restrict Coleman Medal leader Charlie Curnow to just two goals and seven disposals.

Carlton swung a late change when in-form ruckman Tom De Koning (managed/soreness) pulled out, replaced by Marc Pittonet.

After a tight first term, Carlton's lead quickly swelled to 29 points early in the second quarter before the Tigers responded with four of the next five majors to cut the margin back to 12 points at the main break.

The Tigers sniffed an upset when Balta put them within touching distance early in the third term.

But Fantasia responded with his second major and another goal to Harry McKay, who was paid a controversial mark after Newman's pass was touched off the boot, signalled the start of Carlton's match-winning blitz.

The result left Richmond (2-13) sitting second-last on the ladder ahead of an interstate trip to face Fremantle next round.

RICHMOND 2.1 6.2 7.6 10.10 (70)
CARLTON 2.4 7.8 14.9 20.11 (131)

GOALS
Richmond: Balta 3, Koschitzke 2, Baker, Nankervis, Sonsie, Taranto
Carlton: Fantasia 4, Fogarty 3, McKay 2, Walsh 2, Curnow 2, Cincotta 2, Kennedy, Owies, Williams, Cripps, Hollands

BEST
Richmond: Miller, Taranto, Nankervis, Hopper, Rioli
Carlton: Cripps, Walsh, Weitering, Newman, Kennedy, Cerra, Fantasia

INJURIES
Richmond: Dustin Martin (back)
Carlton: Matthew Kennedy (hamstring)

LATE CHANGES
Richmond: None
Carlton: Tom De Koning (soreness, replaced in the selected side by Marc Pittonet)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Sam Banks (replaced Dustin Martin in the third quarter)
Carlton: George Hewett (replaced Adam Cerra in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 58,298 at the MCG