THE REIGNING premiers proved too strong at Metricon Stadium on Tuesday night, with Brisbane resigning Carlton to a 35-point defeat on Tuesday night.

In the rescheduled Round 3 clash, the Lions led from start to finish against the Blues, who welcomed debutants Keeley Sherar and Brooke Vickers to the fold.

Courtney Jones was a bright spark up forward with three goals, while Brea Moody and Kerryn Harrington continued their strong starts to the campaign.

Quarter one

It appeared that heading into the night, it would be the midfield battle where the game was won and lost. However, despite having no issue winning the ball out of the middle, the Game Changers were jumped by the hosts. Springing the counter attack successfully, Brisbane caught Carlton in transition and capitalised off turnover, kicking the first three goals of the game. A late free kick and classy snap from Courtney Jones saw the Blues hit the scoreboard right on the quarter-time siren, kicking her third goal in as many games. The Blues trailed by two straight kicks at the first change, but midfield star Maddy Prespakis was doing everything in her power to keep her side in it — she had seven disposals and three clearances in the first term. 

Quarter two 

In game No.1, Brooke Vickers did a number of nice things in the early going, providing a steady head and showcasing her composure and rebound from defence. A clever mark and finish for Nicola Stevens - a carbon copy of her goal last week - brought the Blues back within a kick. Brea Moody proved a vital outlet for Carlton, drifting into her defensive half and providing an outlet for an at-times under-siege backline. However, the dam wall eventually burst with minutes remaining in the term, as successive quick goals saw the Blues trail by 20 points at the main break.

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AFLW R3 | Stevens' strength on show with powerful finish

Nicola Stevens has brought the Blues to within a kick thanks to this display of strength

Quarter three

The most evident change that was made at the interval was Lucy McEvoy, who was stationed behind the ball to prevent Brisbane’s avalanche of inside 50s. When all was said and done for the term, the Blues held sway with the hosts but weren’t able to make any inroads on the scoreboard, wasting some promising moments with just three behinds for the term. It was a score which was matched by the Lions at the other end, meaning it was that 20-point deficit which the Blues had to negotiate in the final term.

Quarter four 

Three early goals to the hosts took the game away from the Blues, with the reigning premiers kicking out to a 38-point lead. Courtney Jones made the most of her opportunities in the forward line, kicking her second after a courageous attack on the footy before snapping truly to end her night with three of the team’s four goals. However, it was a case of too much being left to too few, as the Lions emerged with a 35-point win.

Three things we learned 

  1. She was made to wait for her opportunity at the elite level, but Courtney Jones is making up for lost time in the Navy Blue. Once again amongst the goals, Jones finished with three of Carlton’s four goals: two of those came from opportunistic snaps, while the other purely from her attack on the footy. On a disappointing night at Metricon Stadium, Jones was a bright spark.
  2. The Game Changers needed more contributors across the board on Saturday night. After emerging from the Cattery with a hard-fought win, the Blues were unable to capitalise on early opportunities and were then beaten by the Lions in all three areas of the ground. If they’re to bounce back, they’ll need a bigger and better spread, after further strong showings from Kerryn Harrington, Brea Moody and Maddy Prespakis.
  3. Speaking of Moody, the All-Australian ruck continued to add strings to her bow. With the absence of Jess Good, who was a late exclusion on Tuesday morning due to AFL Health and Safety Protocols, it wasn’t the ruck dominance we’ve come to expect from Moody. Rather, she showcased her athleticism around the ground, providing a marking option coming out of defensive 50, recording 531 metres gained and four of eight score involvements.

BRISBANE       3.1   5.3    5.6      9.9 (63)
CARLTON        1.1    2.1    2.4      4.4 (28)

GOALS
Carlton: Jones 3, Stevens

BEST
Carlton: Moody, Jones, Prespakis, Harrington