Halftime report: How low can Blues go?

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MISS any of the highlights — or lowlights — of the round so far? Catch up on all the big talking points here.

HOW LOW CAN THEY GO?

CARLTON plunged further into despair on Saturday when the Blues became Melbourne's first victim of the season at the MCG.

It wasn't just the result, but the listless manner in which the Blues succumbed that would have infuriated Blues fans.

There was no spark, little fight and seemingly even less direction out on the field.

Remember the fallout last week following the 81-point belting to Essendon in Round 3?

The 23-point loss to Melbourne will have even greater impact across the footy world, with Mick Malthouse and skipper Marc Murphy — comprehensively beaten by Nathan Jones — certain to be in the firing line.

After the game Mick declared he won't be changing the game plan just because he's lost a few games, although he didn't mention this is the worst start to the season of his entire coaching career; in 29 seasons as senior coach he has never lost the first four matches.

Amid all the Blues bashing, let's stop for a moment to praise a great win for the Demons.

Nathan Jones led from the front, James Frawley has become a genuine threat up forward and Jack Watts even chimed in with a crucial goal. Handy timing when the bloke he is so often compared to finished the day in the sub vest (see below).

Carlton fans were irate after the loss to the Dees. Picture: Colleen Petch

BUT THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS

While things on-field might not be going so great for the Blues, there was some interesting — and potentially exciting news — for footy fans yesterday.

Carlton chief Greg Swann said he expected his club would play an AFL match for premiership points on Good Friday next year .

"Lock it in," Swann told Triple M radio on Saturday.

Swann said the two teams had been working with the AFL for several seasons to organise a 4.30pm Good Friday match, after which the two captains and coaches would hand over a cheque to the Royal Children's Hospital during the televised Good Friday Appeal.

"We nearly got (the match) up two, maybe three seasons ago before Andrew Demetriou put the kibosh on it," Swann said.

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CAFF PUTS THE CUFFS ON COTCHIN

How far can taggers go?

The subject is back on the AFL agenda after Brent Macaffer's superb — or disgraceful, depending on your point of view — stopping job on Richmond captain Trent Cotchin on Friday night.

The debate over Macaffer's negating tactics continued on Saturday with AFL umpires coach Hayden Kennedy saying he didn't like what he saw at the MCG, and Demon Nathan Jones taking the scalp of Marc Murphy with similar tactics.

Did you see anything wrong with the tactics Brent Macaffer employed against Trent Cotchin?

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I AM SAM ... AND SO IS HE

Two new boys stepped on to the AFL stage this weekend after battling their way to the top, and both had an instant impact.

Sam Lloyd provided some rare highlights for Tiger fans on Friday night with three goals on debut, and Sam Gray followed in his footsteps on Saturday.

Lloyd played with Deniliquin (in country NSW), Mt Eliza (on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula) and Frankston in the VFL before landing at the Tigers.

Gray trained with the Power before the 2012 rookie draft but didn't make the cut, so he went back to the SANFL and won the best-and-fairest for the Port Magpies then earned a second chance in last year's rookie draft.

Promoted to the senior list, he was named for his debut against Brisbane and, like Lloyd, he also booted three goals. But the result for his team was a lot more favourable, with the Power smashing the Lions by 113 points.

The pair have something else in common — they are both SuperCoach bargains. Gray is a $102,400 midfielder while Lloyd is a $117,300 forward.

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WEST COAST WANDERERS

Remember the heady days of two days ago when the Eagles topped the AFL ladder and were everyone's favourite top-four bolter?

At quarter-time at Simonds Stadium last night West Coast was taking it up to Geelong in what shaped as a genuine heavyweight bout.

After that the wheels fell off and might still be bouncing their way across the Nullarbor.

Geelong piled on 12 goals and the Eagles added ... none.

West Coast managed just seven behinds as the Cats recorded 113 more disposals, 30 more inside-50s and 79 more marks for the match.

Ten Geelong players scored 100 SuperCoach or more, West Coast's highest scorer was Elliot Yeo with 82.

With the injury list growing, are we seeing a repeat of 2013 or will the Eagles bounce back? Port Adelaide at home next Saturday will be big.

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COUNTDOWN TO EASTER MONDAY IS ON

As Geelong was flexing its muscles against West Coast, Hawthorn put another upstart in its place up north, smashing Gold Coast by 99 points.

It sets up a mouth-watering Easter Monday encounter next week with the two fierce rivals sitting first and second on the ladder.

After that clash only one side will remain unbeaten after five rounds.

The Hawks broke the Kennett curse in a dramatic preliminary final last year, a five-point win ending a streak of 11 straight losses to Geelong since the 2008 Grand Final.

We'll hear plenty about sides in trouble this week but it will be great to celebrate footy at its best. Keep next Monday free.

Nic Naitanui in the sub vest sums up West Coast's dismal night. Source: Getty Images

CANBERRA SAND TRAP

The Bulldogs and Giants looked like they were playing on a golf course when they squared off at Star Track Oval on Saturday.

The ground was covered with sand which was often kicked up as players dived, kicked and basically moved across the surface.

If the AFL is planning to look at the surface at ANZ Stadium (and we haven't seen any evidence they are), they can add Canberra to the inquiry.

The Dogs took the honours after a late rally with Liam Jones standing up when it mattered for the second week in a row. He's copped plenty of criticism in his 56-game career, has he finally made it?

Anyone for a game of beach cricket? Tom Scully bites the dust.

BURGER WITHOUT THE LOT

On top of a 113-point drubbing, Brisbane faces life without Matthew Leuenberger after the big man limped off Adelaide Oval with a leg injury.

The ruckman will have scans today and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

The Lions also lost playmaker Pearce Hanley to a hamstring injury, but the Lions hope it isn't serious.

Leuenberger played almost a half and finished with the forgettable stats sheet of two disposals, eight hitouts, five clangers and zero SuperCoach points.

It hasn't been a great weekend for ruckmen in SuperCoach, with Tom Hickey pulling out of the St Kilda squad on Friday and Shane Mumford a late withdrawal for GWS yesterday.