West Coast was left to rue a poor first quarter as Carlton dominated and then kept the Eagles at arms length to win by 34-points.
The Blues raced to a 39-point lead at quarter time on the back of a commanding midfield led by George Hewett, Adam Cerra and Patrick Cripps.
To their credit the Eagles stuck with Carlton after half-time, winning the second half of the 12.14 (86) to 7.10 (52) result.
Mid-season recruit Tom McCarthy was outstanding, finishing with a club-record 31 disposals on debut, with half-back/wingman Tyrell Dewar (27 and seven rebounds) also prominent.
The Eagles are hopeful their co-captain Oscar Allen has escaped serious injury after the key forward went down innocuously behind play in the final quarter and had to be helped from the ground by trainers with an apparent left leg issue.
The Blues were fierce with their pressure and clinical with their handball chains early but lost a lot of the flow from their game for the final two-and-a-half quarters as the Eagles kicked six of the last eight goals of the game to add a little respectability to the scoreboard.
Curnow was substituted at half-time after coming to the bench during the second quarter for assessment, with the gun goalkicker declaring post-match that it was "a bit of awareness" and he expected to be available next week.
The visitors also lost Hudson O'Keeffe to a hamstring injury, while West Coast key defender Harry Edwards finished his 50th game with ice on his hamstring having earlier nursed an arm injury.
With Curnow sidelined after two first-half goals, tall forward Mitch McGovern stood up to boot three goals, while Lachie Fogarty also added three. Midfielder George Hewett was central to the early charge and motored on to finish with a game-high 35 disposals and seven clearances.
Adam Cerra (30 and nine marks) and star ruck Tom De Koning (21, five clearances and six inside 50s) were also prominent, with the Blues doing all of their hard work early and then slowing the game down when injuries stifled them.
There were alarms going off everywhere for West Coast early as it succumbed to the Blues' fierce pressure, with Allen forced to move behind the ball after four straight goals from the Blues to open the game.
Some stern words from coach Andrew McQualter drew a response, and the team lifted to a more competitive standard, with young star Harley Reid (28 disposals and five clearances) leading the charge in a combative performance.
Forward/ruck Bailey Williams was dangerous with a team-high three goals, benefiting from the Eagles' increased intensity and ability to turn the ball over and counter-attack.
The Eagles have the bye next week to regroup ahead of the round 16 clash against Collingwood.
WEST COAST 1.1 3.4 5.7 7.10 (52)
CARLTON 7.4 10.8 11.11 12.14 (86)
GOALS
West Coast: B.Williams 3, J.Williams, Hewett, Cripps, Brockman
Carlton: McGovern 3, Fogarty 3, Williams 2, Durdin, De Koning, Curnow, Cincotta
BEST
West Coast: McCarthy, Reid, B.Williams, Dewar, Ryan, Graham
Carlton: Hewett, McGovern, De Koning, Cerra, Fogarty, Binns
INJURIES
West Coast: Allen (TBC)
Carlton: Curnow (calf tightness), O'Keeffe (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Clay Hall (replaced Jayden Hunt in the third quarter)
Carlton: Corey Durdin (replaced Charlie Curnow at half-time)
Crowd: 43,803 at Optus Stadium
