Details: Marvel Stadium Saturday 24 April, 4.35pm (AEST)

Broadcast: Fox Footy, AFL app, Kayo

THE GAME IN FOCUS:

The Blues are looking to rebound on the back of a disappointing result last weekend.

With Brisbane playing a very good game in the wet against Essendon last week, Carlton will want to bring its opposition back a peg by reducing the Lions' high-possession, high-scoring game.

Making the most of their opportunities will be crucial for the Blues, who had more scoring shots and won the forward territory battle against Port Adelaide last weekend despite the result on the scoreboard.

LAST TIME WE MET: 

It hasn’t been long since the Blues faced the Lions, with the two teams meeting in Round 18 last year at the Gabba.

Brisbane secured a 17-point win on the way to a top-two finish, but it was a young star who showed that he could well and truly mix it with the best. 

Young gun Sam Walsh put on a show, topping the disposal count with 31 - two ahead of the next best, Lachie Neale - as well as gathering six clearances and 21 contested possessions. 

Harry McKay slotted three goals in a towering final-quarter display, while Lachie Plowman kept the dangerous Charlie Cameron to just 11 disposals and one goal.

BLUE FOCUS:

Brisbane is a side hungry for success after getting so close to the Grand Final last year, and it’ll be up to Carlton to bring them a challenge. 

Despite both sides having a 2-3 record after five rounds, the game looms as one of the more intriguing from this week's football with the respective teams harbouring finals ambitions.

It's an all-star cast in the middle of the ground, with the midfield battle to prove crucial with the likes of Cripps and Walsh to come up against Neale and McCluggage.

Then, there's the scoring power and stopping power at either end, with battles between Weitering against Daniher and McKay against Andrews to take centre stage.

GET EXCITED ABOUT:

After enjoying a win in their last game at Marvel Stadium, the Blues will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday evening.

By way of challenges, there aren't too many more exciting than the Lions, who have taken the competition by storm in the last two years.

Now back at Marvel in front of the home crowd, it will give Carlton plenty to play for in their quest for the four points.

BLUE VIEW:

The banner is back. 

After a long year of no home crowds, the banner and cheer squad are finally allowed to grace the ground again pre-game.

There's always been the feeling that something has been missing, and with the name of every 2020 member emblazoned on the banner this weekend, it just feels right.

CARLTON was left to rue a costly second quarter in an 18-point loss to Brisbane.

The Blues won the first, third and final terms on the scoreboard, but a seven-goal-to-two second term for the Lions was the catalyst for the Blues' defeat. 

Sam Walsh and Harry McKay were the Blues' two best performers on the day, but a late rally wasn't enough for Carlton at Marvel Stadium.

Quarter one:

It was just the start Carlton was after at Marvel Stadium, with the ball spending the lion’s share of the opening 10 minutes of play in Carlton’s forward 50. There was no reward for effort for Lachie Fogarty, with the youngster unlucky not to record the first of the day when what would have been an outstanding team goal shaved the inside of the post. It was Mitch McGovern who was first to get the Blues on the board, taking advantage of the Patrick Cripps assist. From there, the Lions nabbed their first for today, before Harry McKay dribbled through the Blues’ second for the afternoon. Another goal from Brisbane and a second for McKay gave Carlton the eight-point lead at the first break, with Carlton's on-ball combination of Cripps (eight disposals), Sam Walsh (11 disposals) and Zac Williams (eight disposals) having their fair share of the football.

Quarter two:

Brisbane came out in the second quarter intent on starting with the momentum, with three quick goals quickly eclipsing the Blues’ first-quarter efforts. The Lions' strong start only continued, with the first half of the quarter awash with unanswered goals. Walsh did his best to wrangle back control with a major, sparking an evening of the inside 50 count for the remainder of the quarter. A late goal from Marc Murphy did little to quell Brisbane’s attack, with a 26-point half-time deficit the challenge in front of the Blues with a half left to play.

Quarter three:

Carlton’s third quarter kicked off on a far brighter note than its second, with a crafty kick from Michael Gibbons to the hands of Harry McKay giving him his third major of the afternoon. Mere seconds later the Sherrin once again ended up in the No.10’s hands and McKay had his fourth, narrowing the deficit to 14 points. The Lions steadied the ship with their own major, but a fumble in front of the Blues goal proved costly when Ed Curnow took advantage of the loose ball to slot his own. McKay nabbed another goal to cut the margin to just seven points midway through the quarter, but two quick opportunistic goals to the Lions saw them take back the ascendancy, finishing the quarter with a 25-point lead.

Quarter four:

Carlton kicked its fourth quarter with a false start, as a Sam Walsh kick for goal minutes into the term - which would've brought the Blues within 18 points -  was met with a goal review and subsequent behind. From there the Lions were able to capitalise on the pause in play, notching a goal shortly after to all but ice the contest. Murphy and McGovern gave the Blues same late hope with their second respective goals from identical positions, as Liam Jones did everything in his power to repel Brisbane's forward entries. Despite a late McKay snap (his sixth for the day), a Brisbane major was enough to ice the contest, resigning the Blues to a three-goal defeat.

Three things from the match:

1. Harry McKay loves it under the roof. Confidence is key for the high-flying McKay, who once again proved impactful up forward for his side. McKay finished the afternoon with six goals, with three of these coming in an inspired third-quarter showing. From his 22 goals from six games, 13 of those have come at Marvel Stadium from just two games.
2. Sam Walsh's performances cannot be undersold. Whether it's his solid work through the midfield or his ability to push forward fro a wing when the moment calls for it, you always know what you're going to get from the 20-year-old leader. Walsh finished with 33 disposals (more than anyone on the ground), six clearances and a second-quarter goal.
3. It was a quiet second quarter which once again came to bite the Blues at Marvel Stadium. Carlton led all key statistical indicators across the first, third and final terms, but a second quarter which saw the Blues concede seven goals and record only two themselves was ultimately their undoing.  

Match summary: 

CARLTON         3.5      5.7      9.11          12.13 (85)
BRISBANE       2.3      9.9      13.12        15.13 (103)

GOALS
Carlton: McKay 6, McGovern 2, Murphy 2, Curnow, Walsh

BEST
Carlton: Walsh, McKay, Curnow, Weitering, Docherty