Brisbane has picked up a crucial win after holding off Carlton 114–81 at the Gabba on Sunday afternoon.
With the teams sitting sixth and seventh at the first bounce there was plenty riding on the clash as the finals race heats up with two weeks remaining.
While they entered the game as potential contenders, it was only Brisbane who looked like a quality outfit early on as they pulled away from the Blues with a four-goal to zero first term.
Just as Brisbane looked like they’d run away the momentum would be snatched by the Blues who kicked three straight goals in what was their first sign of life.
Unfortunately for Michael Voss’ men, Brisbane would quickly reassert dominance late in the second term and early into the third as their forwards got to work to build a 57-point buffer at the final break.
With the game just about over, Carlton would start the fourth quarter impressively once the pressure was off to close the gap with the opening six goals of the term, eventually bringing the gap back to 15 points.
Ultimately though, it was far too little, too late, as the score was 33 points in the Lions’ favour at the final siren.
On top of how impressive Brisbane looked against a fellow finals hopeful for three quarters, the other significant storyline from the game was Patrick Cripps’ bump on Callum Ah Chee in the second term.
Although the hit appeared a football action as Cripps and Ah Chee contested a loose ball, there’s every chance it could cost the skipper the rest of his home and away season after he elected to leave the ground, bump and ultimately concuss the Lion.
AFL Nation’s Kane Cornes expects Cripps to be in significant trouble once the MRO hands down his decision on Monday.
“He’ll be in trouble,” Cornes said.
“The AFL will hate that.”
Ultimately, the game was won for Brisbane after beating Carlton at their own game winning the clearance count 48-37.
With the stoppage taken care of, the Lions were able to get their transition game moving off the back of it to register a significant 69-46 inside 50 victory and create significant scoring opportunities.
Brownlow medal fancy Lachie Neale was prolific for the home side with a goal and 32 disposals, while Zac Bailey (four goals, 19 disposals), Hugh McCluggage (28 disposals) and Daniel McStay (four goals) were dominant as well as Oscar McInerney who claimed the ruck duel against Tom De Koning.
For the Blues, Sam Docherty (28 disposals) and Sam Walsh (27 disposals) were solid but ultimately, it wasn’t their day.
For Brisbane, the win vaults them onto the brink of the top four as they sit only behind Sydney on percentage, while Carlton’s September hopes hang by a thread as they sit one game inside the eight with tough games against Melbourne and Collingwood to come.
On the injury front, both teams came out relatively unscathed barring Ah Chee’s concussion.
The Lions will hope to press their top four claims in a crucial game next Friday against St Kilda while the Blues will be hoping to cause an upset against reigning premiers Melbourne on Saturday night.
FULL SCORE
Brisbane: 4.6, 8.9, 13.11, 17.12 (114)
Carlton: 0.1, 3.4, 4.8, 12.9 (81)
GOALS
Brisbane: Bailey 4, McStay 4, Cameron 2, Hipwood, Berry, Mathieson, McCarthy, Neale, Robinson, Zorko
Carlton: Curnow 2, Fisher 2, Motlop 2, Cripps, Durdin, Martin, McKay, Newnes, Owies
BEST
Brisbane: Lachie Neale, Zac Bailey, Oscar McInerney, Daniel McStay, Hugh McCluggage
Carlton: Sam Docherty, Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Adam Cerra
INJURIES
Brisbane: Ah Chee (concussion)
Carlton: n/a