This time, however, some terrible kicking for goal, and a six-goal haul from Tigers cult-hero Jack Riewoldt, meant the Blues had to fight back from a three-quarter-time deficit before prevailing by 20 points.
Midfielders Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy, Mitch Robinson and Chris Judd were the driving forces behind Carlton's 14.20 (104) to 13.6 (84) victory, while Eddie Betts kicked three brilliant majors.
Riewoldt's chief helpers were former Blue Shaun Grigg and fellow onballers Trent Cotchin and Daniel Jackson. The latter spent most of the night shadowing Judd, but also snuck forward to boot two goals.
In what proved to be a typically unpredictable round one affair, Carlton dominated the match everywhere but on the scoreboard.
By the final change, the Blues led the inside-50 count 50-28, yet they amazingly trailed by 14 points, having allowed Richmond to score seven unanswered goals in the third term.
Carlton's experience and superior fitness told in the end, however, Brett Ratten's men holding the Tigers goalless in the final term, while booting five of their own.
Carlton 2.8 9.10 9.13 14.20 (104)
Richmond 3.0 7.0 13.3 13.6 (84)
GOALS
Carlton: Betts 3, Garlett 2, Walker 2, Curnow, Gibbs, Carrazzo, Murphy, Judd, Armfield, Hampson
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Morton 2, Jackson 2, Graham, Vickery, White
BEST
Carlton: Gibbs, Murphy, Robinson, Grigg, Curnow, Simpson, Judd, Warnock
Richmond: Riewoldt, Nahas, Jackson, Houli, Newman, Cotchin
INJURIES
Carlton: Waite (concussion)
Richmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Nicholls
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
