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The Carlton Blues continued their push for an unlikely spot in the AFL’s top eight with a 38-point win over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday afternoon.
Final score
Carlton Blues – 16.6 (102)
Brisbane Lions – 9.10 (64)
WHAT’S NEXT? FOLLOW OUR GEELONG VS GWS LIVE BLOG
The Carlton Blues have defied all expectations this year, and look set to continue their run against the struggling Brisbane Lions. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:10pm (AEST).
After a disastrous wooden spoon campaign a season ago and an uninspiring 0-4 start, few predicted Carlton would do anything of note in 2016.
But stunningly, they’re now one of the form teams of the competition.
They’ve won five of their last six games, including last week’s boilover against Geelong, to incredulously sit within striking distance of the top eight.
It’s a long season, and coach Brendon Bolton will be after consistent development rather than a ladder climb, but continue like they are and Blues fans will dare to dream.
Brisbane were mere percentage points away from the spoon last year, but unlike their opponents today have barely improved in what’s been a miserable first half of the season.
An encouraging three-point loss to Sydney seems like ancient history now, after the Lions suffered woeful floggings at the hands of Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Melbourne since.
They pushed Hawthorn for three quarters last week, but that effort will count for little if they’re blown off the park again today.
Brisbane have won the last three contests between these sides, including a blistering 64-point triumph last year that saw them kick 12 goals to three in the second half.
But Carlton have won two of their last three games at Etihad, doubling their win tally at the venue from last year already. The Lions have lost four of their past five at Etihad by an average of 66 points.
Prediction
For whatever reason most wooden spoon teams often unfairly get picked to ‘win’ it again the following year. But while predictions the Blues would flounder again this year may have been off, nobody could have seen them at 5-5.
Brisbane looked superb for three quarters against Hawthorn last week and are definitely a chance, but consistency has not been in the Lions vocabulary this year.
Blues by 19 points
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:10pm (AEST).