Brisbane burst clear early against Carlton at the Gabba as Blues’ season scrutiny deepens
Brisbane landed the first blows on Friday night, piling on three late goals to open a 29-9 lead over Carlton at the Gabba and leaving the visitors chasing the game from the outset. After a scrappy opening in which the Lions controlled territory but failed to capitalise, Lachie Neale’s booming attempt from outside 50 was touched on the line.
The breakthrough came with about eight minutes left in the first term when Logan Morris ran into an open goal after a free kick against Nic Newman in the lead-up. Brisbane won the next centre clearance and again found Morris on the lead for his second, before Carlton finally opened their account via a snapped finish following a long Zac Williams kick.
The Lions then surged. Levi Ashcroft snapped truly from a tight angle after taking a handball from his brother Will, and moments later Charlie Cameron marked at the top of the square to make it three in a row. As “Take Me Home, Country Roads” rang around a packed Gabba, the home side looked sharp and confident while the Blues struggled for inside-50 opportunities.
The early onslaught arrives amid a difficult period for Carlton. The Blues are third-last on the ladder at 1-7 after a 39-point defeat to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium last Saturday, a game in which they led by 15 points in the third quarter before conceding the next eight goals.
That collapse added to pressure on out-of-contract coach Michael Voss and sharpened focus on a midfield mix that has misfired. Former football boss Brad Lloyd said the club should continue to evolve its on-ball brigade around captain Patrick Cripps rather than consider trading him.
Cripps, 31 and contracted until the end of next year, managed 14 disposals and four turnovers against the Saints — his lowest-rated performance of the season, according to Champion Data. In a sign of the reshuffle under way, Carlton sent reigning club champion George Hewett to the VFL after their Good Friday loss to North Melbourne.
Against Brisbane, the Blues will need urgent answers to avoid another uphill chase. The Gabba has rarely been forgiving for visiting sides, and the start suggested Carlton faced a long night unless they could steady at stoppages and turn territory into chances.