Mid-season hiccups, or worrying signs for finals-bound Carlton?

As a result, the Bulldogs’ scoring reliance fell on emerging star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan who looked like he was not up to the task when he was given a bath early in the air by big Blue Jacob Weitering.

But the mercurial forward fought his way back to kick four crucial goals, while Rhylee West played an ideal cameo and also booted four.

Ultimately, the game was won by the Bulldogs’ hard-working engine room of Tom Liberatore and Ed Richards who gained midfield ascendancy over Cripps and Sam Walsh, while Bailey Dale (30-plus possessions) was superb off halfback.

They did so on a day that Marcus Bontempelli was kept to 20 possessions by tagger Alex Cincotta.

The Blues face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium next Sunday and need to rediscover winning form. When Cripps and Walsh are held, as they were against the Dogs, the Carlton support cast, especially Adam Cerra, needs to lift.

Another concern is whether they can continue to play two ruckmen, with the return of Marc Pittonet (nine disposals) not seeming to help their cohesion across the ground.

Pittonet and Tom De Koning were beaten in the hitouts by Tim English and the Bulldogs 49 to 37.

De Koning (19 disposals) is half the player when he is not allowed a free rein in the ruck, the restricted time severely diminishing his contested ball work around the ground.

Two of the most intriguing contests of the afternoon happened in the Carlton forward line.

Inexperienced defender Buku Khamis was given the job on Charlie Curnow and had his measure in the air in the first half. He continually outpointed the reigning Coleman medallist.

But Curnow worked his way into the game to create multiple scoring opportunities. Sadly for the Blues, his accuracy deserted him and his 3.6 proved costly in the end.

Charlie Curnow after booting a goal.Credit: AFL Photos

Harry McKay threatened to swing the game the Blues’ way in the first half with three goals, but he was blanketed in the second half by an unlikely opponent in Rory Lobb.

Necessity is the mother of invention and it has been a late-career reinvention for Lobb, who has had to go back as an extra tall after struggling across the opening half of the year as a forward.

Cody Weightman continues to be an excitement machine.

He put his hand up for an entry in the mark-of-the-year competition with a screamer in the first quarter.

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The small forward sat on the head of Carlton ruckman De Koning and landed on his feet like a cat. It might not be enough to better the sensational grabs of Collingwood pair Jamie Elliott and Bobby Hill, but it will be a worthy entrant.

Weightman also kicked a crucial goal in the second term when he was caught high by a Walsh tackle – during which he might have ducked.

But he nailed the goal and once again brought the Bulldogs’ crowd to their feet.

Cripps did have one magic moment. The Blues skipper brought the vocal Blues crowd to their feet with a running goal midway through the second term. He received a handball from Curnow and booted truly from 50m, raising both arms in triumph.

But the Bulldogs would not be overwhelmed. They scrapped and scrambled and their pressure overwhelmed the Blues.

Poor kicking and a controversial holding-the-ball decision proved costly to the Western Bulldogs in the opening term.

They kicked seven straight behinds, a number of them gettable, and that wasteful start saw them trailing the Blues by 15 points at quarter time.

The questionable holding-the-ball free kick was paid against Bulldog Bailey Williams who received a handball on the run and was immediately pounced upon by small forward Matthew Owies.

Two months ago it would have been a ball up, but because Williams had an arm free it is now ruled that he should have disposed of the ball.

Owies kicked Carlton’s first goal from the ensuing free kick.

Beyond that, the Bulldogs worked their way to ascendancy before securing a memorable win.