A Chris Judd masterclass and a career-high eight goals to Eddie Betts lifted Carlton to a 74-point AFL thrashing of Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night.

The runaway 24.9 (153) to 12.7 (79) win ensured the Blues remained in the top four, while the Bombers dropped out of the eight, with the size of the defeat giving their percentage a hammering and pulled them below St Kilda.

Judd had been the subject of speculation that he would be a late withdrawal, with his pregnant wife close to full term.

But he showed no sign that his mind was elsewhere.

His performance was stunning, having a major hand in many of the Blues' goals and kicking one himself, while gathering 33 disposals, 12 tackles and seven clearances.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten said Judd, who won his second Brownlow Medal last season, had been pushed to even greater heights this year by the improving midfield around him.

"It's amazing, even internally things can change a little bit, with a challenge coming from under you," he said.

"I'm talking of Marc Murphy, and Chris every time he goes to a game, he's a really proud man and wants to perform at his optimum every week.

"But I think when you've got a challenger within, that actually drives him a little bit more."

Despite Judd's dominance the Bombers managed to stay within seven points at half-time.

But they were knocked out of the contest by a brilliant Carlton third term which the Blues won 8.4 to 0.1, with Essendon's only score for the quarter a rushed behind seconds before the siren.

Essendon, which lost veteran defender Dustin Fletcher pre-game and also entered the game without Cale Hooker, lost a third tall defender in Tayte Pears when he limped off close to the long break after being injured in a marking contest.

Carlton big man Matthew Kreuzer, who had been stood by Pears, capitalised on his absence by marking a long Judd kick to goal early in the third term and starting the run.

But it was the midfield deficiencies of a Bombers outfit missing captain Jobe Watson and fellow ball-winner Heath Hocking that were shown up more in the Blues' third-quarter avalanche.

Judd, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Heath Scotland and Mitch Robinson all ran riot, with Carlton's slick ball movement making life easy for its forwards.

Betts, who did not miss a shot all night, produced one of game's highlights in the third term, showing great agility to wrong-foot several Essendon opponents close to the behind line and snap truly.

But that was topped by team-mate Andrew Walker, who took a sensational mark of the year contender, springing off the shoulders of Essendon's Jake Carlisle to set up his fourth goal.

Both Ratten and Essendon coach James Hird rated Walker's mark as good as any they had seen.

"That's the biggest mark I've ever seen ... it was like he was up there forever," Ratten said.

Hird could not help but smile at it, despite his team's circumstances.

"That was absolutely sensational, I'm not sure we'll see many better or we have seen any better," he said

Pears will have scans on a lower leg injury, with Hird hopeful there is no fracture and he can play against Collingwood next round.

The Bombers also hope Fletcher (ankle) and Watson (hamstring) will return against the Magpies, but Hocking will again be absent.

Earlier, Essendon had kept itself in the match with its attack getting on top of a depleted Blues defence, with Michael Hurley and Stewart Crameri dangerous.

But Carlton's midfield control and slick attack overwhelmed the Bombers.

Carlton: 24.9 (153) - E Betts 8, A Walker 4, D Armfield 3, B Gibbs 2, M Kreuzer 2, M Murphy 2, C Judd, C Yarran, J Garlett.

Essendon: 12.7 (79) - M Hurley 3, P Ryder 2, B Prismall, B Stanton, D Zaharakis, K Reimers, L Jetta, S Crameri, T Colyer.

AAP