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)
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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
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rasty
Guest
Macca
Guest
The age didn't even have Rockliff as the best Lion - Robinson got that one.
Liam
Guest
I agree. Rockliff was more ineffective than otherwise, and goes some ways to demonstrating the absurdity of relying wholly on statistics for analysis.
Liam
Guest
"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." Ah, Sterling. It's a long time between drinks, isn't it? Funny, how sneering at Carlton when you got them last time has turned into excuses when they weren't as bad as you thought they were.
Macca
Guest
Tom Rockliff 3 votes, really? His team got beat by over 6 goals and Gerard Whately said at 3/4 time he wouldn't have home in the best 5 to that point (at which time he had 36 touches) - he might have had 48 disposals but the words "no impact", "the blues are happy to let him get the ball" and "Brisbane just give the ball to Rockliff regardless of whether he is a better position" were often repeated on the 774 commentary.
Stirling Coates
Editor
Click here for the full match report from this game What's next? Follow our Geelong vs GWS live blog CARLTON v BRISBANE LIONS THE ROAR AFL MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Tom Rockliff (BL) - Brisbane had a lot of passengers, but Rockliff pushed the bus up the hill all day. 48 disposals, 13 clearances, nine tackles and a goal. Clearly the best on the ground. 2 VOTES - Ed Curnow (CAR) - Stood up with Bryce Gibbs picking up the tag. 28 touches, 12 tackles and a highlight-reel goal in the fourth quarter. 1 VOTE - Jacob Weitering (CAR) - It was billed as Schache v Weitering I, and the full back took the points. 24 touches, 14 marks and five rebound 50s, while Schache had just the nine disposals and a very late goal from a 50-metre penalty.
Stirling Coates
Editor
CARLTON v BRISBANE LIONS FULL TIME REPORT Carlton - 16.6 (102) Brisbane Lions - 9.10 (64) GOAL KICKERS Blues: Lamb 3, Armfield 3, Cripps 2, Wright 2, Tuohy, Casboult, Rowe, Kerridge, Gorringe, Curnow Lions: Rich 2, Jansen, Cutler, Freeman, Keays, Rockliff, Schache, Martin DISPOSAL LEADERS Blues: Kerridge 30, Curnow 28, Cripps 26 Lions: Rockliff 48, Zorko 25, Robinson 25 TEAM STATS Disposals: Blues 375, Lions 342 Contested Possessions: Lions 129, Blues 113 Tackles: Lions 72, Blues 70 Inside 50s: Blues 50, Lions 43 Clearances: Lions 42, Blues 25
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN Tom Rockliff gets career-high disposal number 48, with a kick to Dayne Zorko in the forward pocket. The siren sounds just as he's kicking, but typical of Brisbane's day, his easy kick from 20 out on a slight angle misses to the near side. Brisbane got a little more respect on the scoreboard, winning the second half by one point, but it was a blistering second quarter from the Blues that sees them win their sixth match from the last seven by 38 points. CAR - 16.6 (102) BL - 9.10 (64) FULL TIME
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND LIONS Dayne Zorko takes the mark inside 50 after his opponent misjudges the drop of the ball quite badly, but his set shot from 40 is well off to the left. CAR - 16.6 (102) BL - 9.9 (63) Q4: 2'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL BLUES The kick coming out of defence for Brisbane is an absolute mess, missing the target from a set kick and Carlton make them pay. They've got free men up forward, and the kick ends up with Dennis Armfield, who slots his third. CAR - 16.6 (102) BL - 9.8 (62) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Carlton rather arrogantly start to play around with the ball inside 50, nobody electing to take the shot, and in the end Ciaran Byrne is caught holding the ball outside 50. Brendan Bolton wouldn't want to see that creep into their game. CAR - 15.6 (96) BL - 9.8 (62) Q4: 4'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND BLUES Carlton with the quick kick from the centre clearance and Daniel Gorringe takes the mark, but the kick from 30 out on a slight angle is across the face. CAR - 15.6 (96) BL - 9.8 (62) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL LIONS Brisbane take it up the middle following the 50-metre penalty out of defence, and the Blues fans are incensed further when Josh Schache gets a another 50 after Nick Graham runs through the mark. That brings him virtually to the goal line, and he puts it through. CAR - 15.5 (95) BL - 9.8 (62) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Sam Kerridge goes for an absolute sprint up the wing, and his long kick to full forward is spilled by Levi Casboult, although replays show Mtich Robinson chopped both of his arms and the Blues fans are incensed. Next kick inside 50 and Mitch Robinson takes the mark going back with the flight, and Casboult bumps him square in the back, giving away 50. CAR - 15.5 (95) BL - 8.8 (56) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL LIONS Tom Bell sends a long kick to the top of the square, Stefan Martin roves the tap but misses the ball with the quick kick attempt, but falling to ground he has another swing at the ball and this time strikes it through. CAR - 15.5 (95) BL - 8.8 (56) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
One shining light for Brisbane has been Mitch Robinson's tagging role on Bryce Gibbs. The 2006 #1 draft pick has just ten touches to his name at 40% effectiveness, while Robinson has racked up 23 touches and eight tackles. CAR - 15.5 (95) BL - 7.8 (50) Q4: 10'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL LIONS Good tap from Trent West down to Tom Rockliff from the stoppage inside 50, Rockliff throws it onto the boot and snaps home a goal. Bit of an easy one late. CAR - 15.5 (95) BL - 7.8 (50) Q4: 11'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL BLUES Just superior running from Carlton from the kick-in. They take it up the ground with too much ease, and they've got three men in behind the Brisbane defence. Andrew Walker hands over to Matthew Wright, Wright runs to the line and pops through another Carlton goal. CAR - 15.5 (95) BL - 6.8 (44) Q4: 12'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND LIONS Tom Bell takes the mark inside 50, and to the boos from his old fans, caps off a very forgettable afternoon with a bad miss to the near side. CAR - 14.5 (89) BL - 6.8 (44) Q4: 12'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Injury update for Brisbane is that Allen Christensen, who came off after a crushing hit from Andrew Walker, has been taken to hospital for scans on his collarbone. CAR - 14.5 (89) BL - 6.7 (43) Q4: 13'