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CARLTON has won a thrilling clash against the Brisbane Lions by six points at the Gabba on Saturday night, 16.16 (112) to 16.10 (106).

The Blues had to withstand a Lions onslaught in the final quarter but held their nerve, booting three of their own to get the win.

Jonathan Brown and Luke Power each kicked two goals in the final quarter as the Lions piled on the pressure, reducing a thirty point three-quarter time margin to a solitary kick by the final siren.

Brendan Fevola proved the difference between the two sides, booting 8.3 for the game while Bryce Gibbs, Chris Judd and Heath Scotland dominated the centre clearances to set up their full forward.

The Blues had the better of the opening exchanges but missed a number of shots on goal.

Brad Fisher, Judd and Fevola all sprayed gettable shots while Eddie Betts made a spectacular leaping soccer attempt from out of the air which hit the post.

Kade Simpson’s shot after the siren giving the visitors some reward for their effort and a handy ten-point margin at the first change.

Daniel Bradshaw went to Fevola’s side from the opening bounce and stayed there for the duration of the first half.

The Lions defence was left shaky after Josh Drummond hobbled off at quarter time with a calf injury and didn’t return.

At the other end of the ground Bret Thornton was shutting Brown out of the game, the giant full forward getting just three behinds for the first half with his shots at goal all being taken from wide on the boundary.

Defender Michael Jamison was wearing the dangerous Jared Brennan like a glove.

Brennan proved a suitable replacement for Bradshaw up forward though, bobbing up for three dazzling goals in the second quarter including two in a minute.

It was only Brennan’s magic and Carlton’s inaccurate kicking which kept the Lions in the game, the Blues extending the margin to 17 points at half time.

Paul Bower swept up sixteen disposals in the first half running loose across the half-back line while Gibbs and Judd were at their brilliant best, Judd shaking off the tag of Cheynee Stiller.

Fevola kicked two in the second term, one a gift after Ash McGrath ran across the mark, giving away a 50m penalty to send Fevola into the goal square.

The second was a piercing set shot from fifty after a trademark Judd delivery.

Scotland was a welcome inclusion for the Blues, racking up 18 disposals in the first half and booting a goal.

Bradshaw moved to full-forward after half time, kicking one soccer goal for the home side, but the switch opened the flood gates for Fevola.

With Joel MacDonald battling to compete with Fevola’s size, the Blues lynch pin kicked four majors in the third term, his seventh goal of the game a classic snap after beating two Lions defenders.

The home team was desperately missing the composure of Drummond running off the half-back line but they hung in there through the power marking of Brown up forward who booted two goals for the term.

Simon Black also started to find his feet, setting up goals and kicking one of his own

Thirty points down at three quarter time, the Lions came out a different side in the final term, Power booting two quick goals while Justin Sherman was inspirational, bursting out of the pack to kick the home side back to within six points.

Fevola and Daniel Rich traded goals and when Bradshaw bagged his second, the margin was again reduced to a solitary goal.

But a wayward Travis Johnstone handball gave Judd an opportunity twenty metres out.

The captain didn’t disappoint, slotting the goal and giving Carlton its sixth win of the season, their third on the trot over the Lions.

Brisbane Lions  2.2  5.5  9.7  16.10 (106)
Carlton  3.6  7.10  13.13  16.16 (112)

GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Brennan, Brown 4, Power, Bradshaw 2, McGrath, Black, Sherman, Rich
Carlton:   Fevola 8, Judd, O’hAilpin, Scotland, Houlihan, Garlett, Simpson, Carrazzo, Fisher

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Brennan, Black, Power, Sherman, Clark, Adcock, Brown
Carlton: Fevola, Gibbs, Scotland, Judd, Bower, Thornton

INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Drummond (calf)
Carlton: None

Reports: Nil
Umpires: James, Rosebury, Armstrong
Official crowd:  33,790 at Gabba

The views contained in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL