CARLTON has ridden some Chris Judd brilliance to overrun a dogged Fremantle and return to the top eight with a hard-fought 15-point win at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

The Blues, who seemed destined for a dog of a day when they fell 36 points down early in the second quarter, dramatically turned their form around to run out 16.19 (115) to 15.10 (100) winners, booting seven goals to two in the final term.

Judd (35 possessions, seven clearances and eight inside 50s) was the catalyst behind Carlton’s comeback, but his midfield protégés Marc Murphy (27 disposals) and Bryce Gibbs (33) also turned in brilliant performances in the Blues' seventh win for the season and just their second over Fremantle in 12 matches.

All three were superb in the final quarter, while Andrew Carrazzo chimed in with two crucial long-range goals in the fightback. 

Carlton now leapfrogs Port Adelaide and Essendon to sit seventh on the AFL ladder.

For Fremantle, their seventh straight loss looked unlikely early with Luke McPharlin (three goals) firing and David Mundy (26 possessions and one goal) dominating a wing in his 100th game, all them of them played in succession since his debut in 2005.

Greg Broughton was polished down back in just his seventh AFL game, while Hayden Ballantyne overturned his disappointing debut last weekend against Collingwood to boot three goals in his second match.

It wasn't enough, however, with the home side surrendering an 18-point three-quarter lead to stay moored in 15th place on the ladder.

Fremantle raced out to a 25-point lead within 10 minutes, with McPharlin providing a big and constant option in the absence of injured captain Matthew Pavlich.

Matt de Boer and Kepler Bradley both kicked early goals, and when Nick Suban ran in for Fremantle's third, Carlton had registered just two possessions.

Jeff Garlett snuck into space for the Blues' only major of the first term, but his good work was quickly undone by ill-discipline, a Carlton trainer giving away a free kick and Michael Jamison and Mark Austin giving away consecutive 50m penalties to gift Fremantle a double goal and Ballantyne his first in AFL football.

The Blues gave away four 50m penalties for the quarter – three of which resulted in goals – and entered quarter-time 28 points down. Coach Brett Ratten didn't hold back in the huddle, delivering a lengthy spray to Austin.

Fremantle had won the midfield match-ups comprehensively in the first quarter, but Ratten's words clearly had an effect, with a different Carlton unit emerging in the second.

Judd, Murphy and particularly Gibbs, who had 10 touches for the quarter, started to win cleaner possessions and the Blues kicked six goals for the quarter to Fremantle's three.

Ballantyne was the star for Fremantle, booting two goals for the term, his third for the match giving the home side an 11-point break at the main break.

The pesky small forward carried his form into the third, setting Stephen Hill up for the opener and McPharlin for another moments later.

The Blues had the better of the third term, going inside 50m 17 times to Fremantle's eight, but they registered just 2.6.

When Scott Thornton converted against the run of play, Fremantle was 18 points clear with a quarter to play, and the Blues desperately needed someone to provide a spark.

As it was, three of their stars answered the challenge, with Gibbs and Judd electrifying in the middle and Brendan Fevola kicking his third for the match two minutes into the finale after a superb one-hand mark while tucked up against the goalpost.

When Gibbs kicked truly from 50m out on the run, the Blues had their first lead of the day, and Carrazzo matched his teammate's effort minutes later to extend the advantage.

Mundy broke free to keep Freo in touch with five minutes to play, but when Setanta O'hAilpin kicked his fourth with a minute to play, the result was settled.

Carlton            1.4    7.8    9.14    16.19 (115)
Fremantle       6.2     9.7   13.8    15.10 (100)

GOALS
Carlton: O'hAilpin 4, Fevola 3, Gibbs, Carrazzo 2, Garlett, Grigg, Johnson, Kreuzer, Russell
Fremantle: Ballantyne, McPharlin 3, Bradley, de Boer, Headland, Hill, Mundy, Sandilands, Schammer, Suban, Thornton

BEST
Carlton: Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Russell, Carrazzo, O'hAilpin
Fremantle: McPharlin, Broughton, Mundy, Grover, Ballantyne, Schammer

INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Fremantle: Foster (calf), replaced in selected side by Gilmore

Reports: Mark Austin (Carlton) for striking Nick Suban (Fremantle) in first quarter

Umpires: Findlay, Avon, Jeffery

Official crowd: 34,720 at Subiaco Oval

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.

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