Charlie Curnow boots nine as Blues crush Eagles

Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow has put on a marking masterclass on the way to a career-high nine-goal haul in his team's 108-point trouncing of West Coast at Optus Stadium.

Curnow took eight contested marks among his 14 grabs in a dominant display up forward, with the 26-year-old brushing aside four opponents on the way to 9.3 in the 23.14 (152) to 6.8 (44) rout on Saturday night.

His previous career best was a seven-goal haul against the Western Bulldogs in round 13, 2019.

Curnow missed a shot on the run in the final quarter that would have given him 10 goals, but he wasn't too upset at falling short of double figures.

"It's always nice, but I like watching other boys kick snags," Curnow told Fox Footy.

"It's been a big two weeks for us. We needed to perform like this.

"It makes my job easy when we've got the boys up the ground. The lads dominated in the midfield there.

"I'm lucky I get to be up front and get the rewards on a day like today."

The result snapped a two-match losing streak for the Blues, who improved their win-loss record to 4-2 and one draw.

West Coast (1-6) have now lost five games on the trot, and face a huge fight to avoid the wooden spoon this year amidst a devastating injury toll.

The win was Carlton's second biggest over West Coast, falling just short of the 119-point triumph in their first meeting in 1987.

Carlton midfielder Patrick Cripps starred with 33 disposals, eight clearances and a goal, while Nic Newman, Adam Cerra, Blake Acres, George Hewett and Sam Walsh all racked up 30 or more possessions.

Curnow started the match with undersized Eagles defender Josh Rotham for company, and the Carlton star burst out of the blocks with three contested marks and two goals in the first quarter.

Harry McKay also booted two early goals to give the Blues a 21-point lead at quarter time, and Curnow had four goals to his name by halftime as the lead swelled to 40 points.

Rotham was finally relieved of the job on Curnow when the spearhead booted his sixth goal at the nine-minute mark of the third quarter.

Curnow booted his seventh when he snared a mark under the tight attention of Tom Barrass before kicking truly from 50m.

Sub Rhett Bazzo was then sent to Curnow, but it was Hurn's brief cameo on the spearhead that created the biggest highlight.

Curnow jumped onto Shannon Hurn's shoulders to take a spectacular high grab before wheeling onto his right boot to snap his eighth.

He had the Optus Stadium record of nine goals when he pushed off Bazzo to take a mark in a pack near the goalsquare.

That took him past the haul that Sydney veteran Lance Franklin posted in the first AFL game at Optus Stadium in 2018, and Josh Kennedy's eight-goal heroics in his retirement game last year.

The focus for the remainder of the match was on whether Curnow could make it a magical 10, but West Coast double teamed him at times to ensure it didn't happen.