Round 2 v Brisbane: Photo Gallery
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CARLTON made it two wins from two starts after seeing off a determined challenge from the Brisbane Lions to prevail by 19 points at Docklands on Saturday night.
The Blues appeared to be cruising to victory with a 48-point lead 14 minutes into the third quarter, but had to fight off a late run before clinching the 18.11 (119) to 15.10 (100) win.
There was just 12 points in it after Justin Sherman booted two goals in as many minutes midway through the final term, but a couple of pieces of Brendan Fevola magic resulted in goals that effectively ended the Lions' challenge.
The win came at a cost to the Blues with first-choice full-back Michael Jamison leaving the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter.
Bryce Gibbs played arguably his best match in navy blue with 34 possessions and two goals, with Chris Judd (25 touches and 10 tackles), Marc Murphy (24 disposals and three goals) and Richard Hadley all important.
Fevola finished with five goals to his name with Daniel Bradshaw going one better for the Lions who were well-served by Luke Power (33 possessions) and Simon Black (28 touches).
Fevola set the tone for the night with his first goal after a dogged chase and tackle on immediate opponent Daniel Merrett.
The Lions went blow for blow with the Blues early with goals to Rhan Hooper and Jonathan Brown and even edged to a seven-point lead late in the term after Brown added his second, but Murphy made it a one-point game with his first.
Fevola was pivotal early again in the second with his sublime check-side goal regaining the lead for his side and sparking the eight-goal onslaught.
Judd led the way as the Blues took control of the stoppages, with the skipper racking up 11 second-quarter possessions and kicking a goal. Eddie Betts snapped truly in heavy traffic, Ryan Houlihan slotted it home from a tight angle and Cameron Cloke converted from long range as Carlton ran riot.
A goal to Bradshaw was the Lions' only major for the term as the Blues turned a one-point deficit into a commanding 41-point advantage at the main break.
But the run and carry and lightning-quick transition from defence to attack evaporated in the third quarter as the Lions made a run of their own.
Gibbs' goal 14 minutes in was the Blues' last for the quarter as the visitors got busy.
The loss of Jamison saw Paul Bower switched onto Bradshaw and the big Lion got the better of him with three of his side's six goals for the term.
With their lead whittled back to just three goals, majors to Murphy and Fevola gave the Blues some breathing space, but the Lions came again.
Three unanswered majors gave Carlton fans cause for concern, but a towering mark in the goal square and a brilliant long-range snap saw Fevola add two more to his tally to seal the result.
CARLTON 3.2 11.5 13.8 18.11 (119)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.3 4.6 10.8 15.10 (100)
GOALS
Carlton: Fevola 5, Betts 3, Murphy 3, Cloke 2, Gibbs 2, Hadley, Houlihan, Judd.
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 6, Brown 3, Hooper 2, Sherman 2, Johnstone, McGrath.
BEST
Carlton: Gibbs, Judd, Murphy, Fevola, Hadley, Kreuzer, Waite, Houlihan.
Brisbane Lions: Power, Bradshaw, Black, Drummond, Brown, Rich, Adcock.
INJURIES
Carlton: Jamison (shoulder)
Brisbane Lions: McGrath (corked thigh), Clark (thigh), Hooper (ankle), Selwood (head knock)
Reports: Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions) reported by emergency umpire Troy Pannell in the fourth quarter for rough conduct on Marc Murphy.
Umpires: Rosebury, Chamberlain, Keating
Official crowd: 42,496 at Docklands
