THE CARLTON Reserves have kicked their season off with a comfortable 42-point win at IKON Park.

Prevailing over the Brisbane Lions, the Blues led from the first quarter to last, steadily building their lead over the course of the evening.

While it wasn’t always the prettiest affair, the likes of Paddy Dow and Will Hayes did the damage in the middle, allowing the Blues to start their VFL season on the right note.

Q1:

It was a vastly different affair to the last one between these two sides in the early rounds of last season, which saw the Blues pile on 12 first-quarter goals. It’s not to say that it wasn’t through the want of trying, with Jack Newnes getting the Blues on the board with a classy instinctive snap. However, it proved to be the only goal of the first term which was largely dominated territory-wise by the Blues, before a late Brisbane flurry. Jordan Boyd provided some customary drive across half-back with seven disposals, while Newnes led all comers with eight.

Q2: 

The scrappy contest which emerged at the end of the first term continued into the second quarter, with the Lions unable to convert their narrow ascendancy into scoreboard pressure. That was to the Blues’ benefit when they eventually tidied things up in the forward half, with Will Hayes capping off an impressive first half (17 disposals) with a goal. Two moments of individual brilliance in front of the big sticks soon followed, with Zavier Maher bursting through congestion to record his first of the day before Paddy Dow did something similar just minutes later. Brisbane eventually broke through with its first of the day, but Lewis Young had some key moments down back late in term to quell any further damage.

Q3:

The Blues put the foot down in the third term, breaking away from the Lions and putting a clear gap on the scoreboard. It started with the work in the middle from Alex Mirkov, with Dow using his speed and power to full effect to surge the Blues out of the middle. Jesse Glass-McCasker turned provider for the first goal of the term, setting up Ben Crocker, before kicking his own from the follow-up clearance. In another moment of class around Carlton goal, Ned Cahill snapped truly from a forward stoppage, kicking the Blues out to a game-high lead in the process.

Q4:

On his Carlton debut, one of the Blues’ key performers opened the account for the team in the final term: with his 29th disposals, Hayes produced his second goal. Carlton’s defence stood up well whenever Brisbane threatened to get back into the contest. If not for inaccuracy in front of goal, the Blues’ winning margin could’ve been even greater, with the hosts not threatened on the scoreboard for the entirety of the second half. The icing was put on the Navy Blue cake by Matthew Cottrell, who - with his fourth shot of the game - took an intercept mark and converted the set shot in the closing stages of the contest.

Three things we learned:

1. Will Hayes has been a great pickup in the off-season. He was a consistent performer across all four quarters and finished with 33 disposals, six tackles, six clearances and two goals. The former Bulldog will bring AFL experience and plenty of know-how to the Blues this season.  

2. While the AFL side last night took the most of their chances with 16 goals and just six behinds, the same couldn’t be said about Carlton Reserves tonight. The boys created plenty of great opportunities but kicked a wasteful 11.18 (84) and could’ve come away with an even larger victory if they’d had their kicking boots on.  

3. The Blues midfield in the AFL is firing on all cylinders at the moment, with Paddy Dow similarly shining for the Carlton Reserves on Friday night. His 32 disposals, seven clearances and nicely-finished goal was great to watch for the Bluebaggers who ventured down to IKON Park.

CARLTON RESERVES           1.4       4.7       8.12        11.18 (84)            
BRISBANE LIONS                0.3       1.7       3.11         5.12 (42)

GOALS
Carlton: Crocker 2, Hayes 2, Cahill, Cottrell, Dow, Glass-McCasker, Maher, Newnes, Trudgeon

BESTS
Carlton: Hayes, Dow, Young, Newnes, Cottrell, Boyd