Carlton Media selects its top-five player stats from the Blues' 30-point loss to Brisbane at The Gabba on Sunday evening:
Matthew Kreuzer
Game-high 14 contested possessions
It's uncommon for a ruckman to record game-high contested possessions, but Matthew Kreuzer did exactly that on Sunday. The heart-and-soul No.8 again willed himself in the contests, finishing with 14 contested possessions - an equal career-high. Sam Docherty, who spent more time in the midfield, finished with 10 as Carlton's next highest, while Brisbane's Dayne Zorko still fell two short of Kreuzer despite his dominance.
Harry McKay
Game-high 4 marks inside 50
Debutant Harry McKay gave the Carlton faithful reason to smile on a tough evening. The 19-year-old, taken at pick 10 in the 2015 national draft, was a constant threat in the Blues' forward line, taking a game-high four marks inside 50 for a return of 1.2. Carlton's contested marking has been a strength this season, and it will only become more of a weapon with McKay, who had an equal game-high three contested marks alongside Kreuzer and Levi Casboult.
Sam Docherty
Game-high 4 centre clearances
In the absences of Patrick Cripps and Ed Curnow, the Blues experimented with their midfield set-up against Brisbane. Defender Sam Docherty was one player who saw plenty of time in the centre circles, finishing with a game-high four centre clearances. Carlton was well beaten in the centre clearances in the first half, but dominated this area in the second to spark a seven-goal streak, led in part by Docherty's work in the middle.
Marc Murphy
Equal game-high 9 score involvements
After a subdued first half, captain Marc Murphy stamped his authority in the second half. The recently turned 30-year-old gave the Blues some much-needed spark and polish through the centre corridor. He finished with a game-high nine inside 50s and made them count, registering an equal game-high nine score involvements.
Charlie Curnow
Equal game-high 6 tackles
Charlie Curnow had a balanced game from an attacking (15 disposals, seven marks, two goals) and defensive (16 pressure acts, six tackles) perspective. The Blues were able to lock the ball in their attacking half more effectively than the Lions, with 59 per cent of the game played in their forward half. They also had four more tackles inside 50 than Brisbane - two stats which wouldn't have been possible without the defensive efforts of forwards like Curnow.
Who were your shining lights against Brisbane? Vote now in the Hyundai Fans' MVP.
