EDDIE Betts took two unforgettable grabs, the Carlton midfield ran riot, and Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss was in awe of his opponents after the Blues' 91-point rout at the Gabba on Thursday night.
Betts put on a show few of the 25,920 spectators on hand will forget as he soared for a mark of the year contender over James Polkinghorne in the second quarter, and matched it with an equally spectacular effort in the third.
After the Lions led by two points at the first change, the Blues showed their premiership credentials to kick 18 of the final 21 goals of the match to storm to a 23.16 (154) to 9.9 (63) victory.
While disappointed in the Lions’ fade-out, Voss was quick to lavish praise on Brett Ratten’s side.
"We know we've been smashed,” Voss said.
"I thought their pressure at the contest was as good as I've seen over the last couple of years.
“They were spectacular at times with some of the things they were doing. They were clinical with their ball movement and some of the individual brilliance they had."
While Betts was turning heads and dropping jaws, midfielders Marc Murphy and Chris Judd were running rings around the Lions' engine room with virtuoso performances.
"They were fantastic," Ratten said of his star onballers.
"Judd's influence, especially after quarter-time, and scoring the goals as well. Murphy just continued his brilliant way and then you have (Heath) Scotland and (Kade) Simpson off wings."
Despite being worn closely by NAB Rising Star nominee Claye Beams for much of the night, Murphy was sublime in racking up 30 disposals.
His second-quarter goal from the boundary line - in which he baulked around a Lions defender and slotted from an acute angle - was all class.
Murphy also spotted up Jeff Garlett and Kade Simpson with perfectly-weighted passes in the third term that led to goals, and rounded out his night with a clever flick to his captain Judd for a fourth-quarter goal.
Judd had just two disposals at quarter-time, but as he lifted, so did the Blues.
He had 11 touches in the second quarter and 12 in the third, and finished with 33 and three goals as Carlton simply over-ran the Lions.
Wave after wave of Blue jumpers went forward after the first change.
Jarrad Waite was the main focal point up forward, kicking five goals, but it was Betts that left everyone talking.
His second-term effort over Polkinghorne drew comparisons with Cyril Rioli's screamer at the MCG just six days earlier against Collingwood.
He backed up just a quarter later by leaping over Cheynee Stiller to drag down another gem.
Ratten saved some of his kindest words for quiet achiever Andrew Carrazzo, who combined a tight defensive role on Simon Black with 31 disposals.
"Carrazzo's role on Black was first-class. Black's a great player, a champion of the game and you can't stop that fella, but Carrazzo stopped his influence on the game, which is pretty hard to do."
What started so promisingly for the Lions ended terribly.
Aside from Daniel Rich and Black - who tried valiantly despite the tag - they had few players that contributed over four quarters.
The Lions will now prepare for Fremantle next Saturday with captain Jonathan Brown a welcome addition following his recovery from a broken cheekbone.
Carlton 5.5 10.9 16.10 23.16 (154)
Brisbane Lions 6.1 7.6 7.7 9.9 (63)
GOALS
Carlton: Waite 5, Judd 3, Garlett 3, Betts 2, Murphy 2, Simpson 2, Hampson, Kreuzer, Lucas, Scotland, Tuohy, Yarran
Brisbane Lions: Merrett 2, Lester 2, Beams, Hudson, Redden, Rich, O'Brien
BEST
Carlton: Murphy, Judd, Carrazzo, Waite, Garlett, Simpson
Brisbane Lions: Rich, Black, Redden, Leuenberger, Merrett
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Grun, Pannell
Official crowd: 25,920 at the Gabba
Michael Whiting covers AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
