The transformation from AFL mediocrity to elite is filled with ups and downs, and we often look back on the significant moments when the process is completed.

Carlton's inspiring six-goal victory over reigning premier Geelong on Monday at the MCG could be such a moment. We could even be looking back on it in years to come.

It could go down as the day in which the Blues young team graduated from boys to men.

The one-time whipping boy of the competition went head-to-head with the much-vaunted Cats' line-up - and won.

It is actually Carlton's second win in a row against the Cats, after its victory in Round 19 last year.

And the Blues are the only team in the league to defeat Geelong in their last two head-to-head battles.

Carlton returned to the finals last season after a barren five-year period from 2004-08 that included two wooden-spoons and just 31 victories.

But football can change quickly in today's environment.

Remember when the Brisbane Lions entered their Round 10 match with powerful reigning premier Essendon - which had lost just two of its past 34 matches - in ninth position on the ladder in 2001?

Leigh Matthews' team defied the odds, and made all and sundry stand up and take notice, with a 28-point win over the ladder-leader.

The success marked the beginning of a 16-match winning streak, highlighted by victory in the 2001 season-decider - over Essendon.

The Lions went on to win the next two flags, in 2002 and '03, to confirm their status as one of the greatest teams of the modern era.

Then there was the Geelong team of 2007, which lost to North Melbourne early in the year, and fell to 10th position on the ladder.

The Cats thumped Richmond by 157 points the following week and went on to win 19 of their next 20 matches on the way to the ultimate prize.

Just one game can change it all and, on Monday, Carlton showed it can wrestle with the best of the blue-chip sides.

After Round 3, when the Blues succumbed to Essendon, coach Brett Ratten should have been sacked in the view of a number of supporters.

In the fortnight since, they have disposed of Adelaide by eight goals and Geelong by six goals. The worries over the departure of Brendan Fevola are starting to slowly disappear.

Ratten made a tough call after the Essendon defeat when he dropped the experienced pairing of Jarrad Waite and Bret Thornton. Both have not played since in a sure sign that games now have to be earned at the Blues.

Against the Cats, Carlton's small forwards ran amok, with Eddie Betts, Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran contributing seven goals between them. With Fevola gone, others are getting more opportunities.

In the midfield, the best two players in the competition were on show, Gary Ablett Jr and Chris Judd. They were probably the best two players on the day, too.

Throw in Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Heath Scotland, Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson, Jordan Russell and Brock McLean, and there is no question about the Blues' depth in the middle.

And they put their Geelong counterparts to the sword to confirm it.

This week's match against an in-form Collingwood will tell us plenty more, but the Blues are already making some giant strides - and collecting some victims along the way.

Luke D'Anello is a Melbourne freelance journalist.