It has not taken long for the wave of optimism that engulfed Carlton since the arrival of Chris Judd to fizzle out as the Blues' crashed to last year's wooden spooners Richmond in the AFL season opener at the MCG on Thursday night.
In front of a crowd of over 72,000, the much-maligned Tigers rediscovered their passion and character - which was so absent last year as the club finished on the bottom, enduring its worst season since 1960 - with a 17.7 (109) to 11.13 (79) victory.
The Tigers, who did not win their first game last season until round 12 on their way to winning just three games all year, trailed by 25 points midway through the second term. But, with veteran spearhead Matthew Richardson in magnificent form, finished all over the tiring Blues.
The Blues' lack of height going into this game - with ruckmen Cain Ackland and Matthew Kreuzer, key defender Andrew Walker and strong-marking forward Brad Fisher all sidelined through injury - came back to haunt them as Richardson's five goals proved the difference between the sides.
Such was the Blues' lack of options down back that Richardson - who kicked goals in every quarter including two in the final term - found himself opposed to 21-year-old Michael Jamison, who was playing just his sixth game.
Earlier, the game got off to an electrifying start when Judd - the former Eagles' premiership captain who was making his much-anticipated debut - won the first centre clearance of the match to the delight of pro-Carlton crowd.
However Judd, who had played just one practice match heading into this game following groin surgery in the off-season, struggled to have his usual dynamic impact even though he still finished with 22 possessions.
Judd was not the only Carlton star that looked underdone, with controversial spearhead Brendan Fevola - who almost didn't play in this game after yet another alcohol-fuelled off-field problem during the week - also struggling against the close-checking Will Thursfield.
But the Blues were still in a winning position in the second term thanks to the early dominance of Kade Simpson, Marc Murphy and Andrew Carazzo.
However the Tigers lifted from late in the second term as players such as Nathan Brown, who had just one handball in the first quarter, and Kayne Pettifer began to get into the game.
Brown, who is finally fully fit again for the first time since suffering his broken leg in 2005, eventually booted three goals, while the underrated small pair of Nathan Foley and Jake King ran themselves to a standstill as the Tigers celebrated a much-needed victory in a season in which the entire club - and particularly coach Terry Wallace - is under pressure to lift an outfit that has reached the finals just twice in the past 25 years.
CARLTON: 4.3, 9.6, 10.10, 11.13 (79)
RICHMOND: 4.3, 8.6, 11.6, 17.7 (109)
GOALS: Carlton: Fevola 2, Betts 2, Scotland 2, Murphy, O'hAilpin, Stevens, Houlihan, Edwards
Richmond: Richardson 5, Brown 3, Deledio 2, Pettifer, Tuck, Pattison, Foley, Polak, Jackson, Tambling
BEST: Carlton: Thornton, Murphy, Stevens, Simpson, Carazzo, Houlihan
Richmond: Richardson, Foley, King, Pettifer, Thursfield, Johnson, Jackson, Brown
INJURIES: Carlton: Murphy (ankle)
Richmond: Howat (concussion)
UMPIRES: McBurney, Margetts, Meredith
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 72,552 at MCG
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3 – Matthew Richardson (Richmond)
2 – Jake King (Richmond)
1 – Nathan Foley (Richmond)