CARLTON'S miracle finals run has come to an end after a hard-fought loss to Brisbane in the preliminary final.
Despite a blistering start at the Gabba, the Blues were unable to hold a relentless Lions outfit who would lift for a 16-point win and secure at the Gabba.
The 'never say die' attitude of the Blues was driven around the contest by the likes of Sam Walsh and Sam Docherty while down back, Mitch McGovern, Jacob Weitering and Caleb Marchbank stood tall against the Lions' attack.
Speaking to the media following the game Senior Coach Michael Voss acknowledged that, while the disappointment of the loss will sting for some time, it would only serve to make the team hungrier, stronger and more united in their pursuit for the ultimate glory.
Quarter one
The first piece of the positional puzzle was put in place at the opening bounce, with Adam Saad lining up on Charlie Cameron in the defensive goal square. Carlton’s start in enemy territory was ferocious, getting in the face of its opposition and bringing the large travelling Blues contingent to life. It was two boyhood Blues who combined for the opening goal of the game, with Sam Docherty finding Matthew Cottrell to convert from close range. In his first final, inclusion Jordan Boyd had his work cut out for him early with some moments under heavy pressure, but the 25-year-old was cool in the face of fire, defending with aplomb and advancing the ball further afield. It was an arm wrestle early but Carlton then broke the game open, with Harry McKay having a big influence: the 2021 Coleman Medallist took three big marks in the first term and opened his account following a free kick. When Jack Martin (after a team-lifting tackle), Sam Docherty and Charlie Curnow also converted, the Blues had five in a rush, with Sam Walsh (10 first-term disposals) crucial in getting the ball from inside to outside the contest. The Blues’ only blemish came in the final minutes through an Epic Hipwood major, as the Lions started to get back into the contest on their home deck in the final minutes: Carlton took a 23-point lead into the first change.
Quarter two
The Lions were always going to come at the Blues in the second term, and that’s exactly what they did. Carlton managed to hold firm in the early part of the quarter, but Brisbane continued to batter the door down and generate repeat inside 50s — a hallmark of their offensive game. The Blues’ back seven were called upon repeatedly in the second term, with Caleb Marchbank producing some good moments in the air: it was an indication of how busy Carlton’s defenders were with Marchbank, Mitch McGovern, Nic Newman (five intercept possessions each) and Jacob Weitering (seven) all seeing plenty of the ball. After a pair of Brisbane goals, captain Patrick Cripps looked to stem the tide with a crucial set shot after a free kick, but the Lions responded once more. In the blink of an eye, the Lions had piled on another three goals (making it five for the term) to lead for the first time on the day, as the Blues were unable to thwart their run from the back half while playing into the opposition’s hands off turnover. A 23-point lead turn into a three-point deficit at the main break, but it could’ve been more if not for desperate efforts from Boyd and McGovern to thwart Cameron on the last line. Walsh continued to motor with 19 disposals for the half, while George Hewett (12 first-half disposals) had some bright moments against Brisbane skipper Lachie Neale.
Quarter three
It was far from the start to the third quarter that the Blues wanted, with Oscar McInerney goaling from a free kick and 50-metre penalty from the opening ruck contest. When Charlie Cameron hit the scoreboard for the first time in the game, it looked like a dire situation for the Blues, with the home side showing no sign of relenting after eight of the last nine goals for the game. To the Blues’ credit, they continued to fight, dropping numbers behind the ball to quell the Lions’ run and attempting to get speedy forwards like Cottrell out the back of the Brisbane defence. Carlton’s grit was on display amidst a barrage of Brisbane forward-50 entries, attempting to wrest control and get themselves back in the hunt. There were moments of respite and a few chances to get back in the contest, but missed opportunities in front of goal were costly, particularly when Callum Ah Chee kicked truly with a minute to go to open up a 20-point lead for the home side.
Quarter four
It wasn’t an insurmountable lead, but the Blues needed to quickly break their goal-scoring drought if they were to emerge from the Gabba with a comeback win. It was captain Cripps - who kicked Carlton’s most recent goal in the second term - who fired his second to get the scoreboard ticking over once more for the Blues, before a true Harry McKay set shot had fans daring to dream. There was no faulting the Blues’ effort at all during the preliminary final, consistently taking the game to the Lions in the final term to ensure nothing was left to chance. Strong in defence all evening, Mitch McGovern wore a heavy hit to signify his commitment to the cause as Carlton battled to the final siren. A late Lincoln McCarthy goal meant the Blues’ miracle run would end at the final four, but the ovation received when walking off of the Gabba by thousands of Carlton supporters said it all.
Match summary:
BRISBANE 1.2 6.6 9.9 11.13 (79)
CARLTON 5.1 6.3 6.7 9.9 (63)
GOALS
Brisbane: Daniher 2, McInerney 2, McCarthy 2, McKenna, Hipwood, Lester, Cameron, Ah Chee
Carlton: Cripps 2, McKay 2, Martin 2, Docherty, Curnow, Cottrell
BEST
Carlton: Walsh, McGovern, Weitering, Docherty, Saad, Newman
INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Carlton: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Jarryd Lyons (replaced Callum Ah Chee in the fourth quarter)
Carlton: Matthew Kennedy (replaced Lachie Fogarty at three quarter time)
Crowd: 36,012 at the Gabba
