Carlton kept their finals hopes alive with a 16.10 (106) to 14.12 (96) over Richmond in front of 63,825 at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues delivered one of their grittiest wins of the season to fight back from a five-goal quarter time deficit, kicking six goals to two in the second quarter to come within under a goal at the major break.
The win means Carlton remain in ninth position, two spots behind Port Adelaide with two rounds in the home and away season remaining.
Blue-collar role players Brock McLean and Mitch Robinson led the comeback. McLean rallied from a lacklustre first term to collect 12 second quarter possessions, kicking three goals for the match, while Robinson provided his usual sacrificial attack on the ball and opposition player alike.
The addition of Levi Casboult proved to be a match winner as the 23-year-old kicked three second half goals after the scoring dried up significantly for both sides after halftime.
Bryce Gibbs and Troy Menzel added two goals each while Andrew Walker (27 touches), Kade Simpson (25) and Marc Murphy (23) were busy around the ground.
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse didn’t believe his side was out it after falling behind at quarter time.
“They got some very easy goals, we needed to close that down,” he said.
“In the first quarter we didn’t get it in there (inside 50) enough, on our terms, but when we did. I just thought if we stuck to it long enough and changed some things around it might turn for us.”
The Tigers looked vulnerable for the second week in a row- they held on to beat Brisbane last week, but not before letting the Lions stage a big comeback.
Led by 27 possessions from Brett Deledio, the finals bound Tigers have an easier task against Greater Western Sydney next week before facing the sliding Bombers in round 23.
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