CARLTON'S otherwise promising season is over after it was run down by the Brisbane Lions in Saturday night's elimination final at the Gabba.
Surrendering a semi-final date with the Western Bulldogs at the MCG next Friday night, the Blues led by 30 points in the early stages of the final quarter but saw the Lions slam on the last six goals to win by seven points: 16.15 (111) to 15.14 (104).
Two goals to Daniel Bradshaw (5.3 for the night), two to Jonathan Brown (4.3), a booming 50m goal by Daniel Rich – who had been well held by Andrew Walker – and a Rhan Hooper cameo were behind the home side's late surge.
In contrast, Cameron Cloke was the lone goalkicker for the Blues in the final term after they had dominated the possession count for most of the night.
However, he missed a gettable set shot midway through the term while Eddie Betts hit the back of the post in a desperately unlucky attempt.
After a six-goal third quarter that produced a 24-point three-quarter time lead, Carlton would have felt confident of progressing to week two. Trailing by one point at the main break, the signs were terrific for the Blues in the new term as the Lions looked out on their feet.
Captain Chris Judd (30 disposals) had a brilliant game, while Andrew Carrazzo (25), Ryan Houlihan (25) and Marc Murphy (25) were valuable contributors.
Brendan Fevola gave away a couple of goals to teammates, the best of those a perfect lob to Nick Stevens in the third quarter, and kicked three of his own in a great team display.
Just 10 minutes of the game had passed for the Blues to hold a 21-point lead. Carrazzo had roved at the back of a pack, Matthew Kreuzer ran through half-forward for a booming kick and Houlihan snapped a goal after intercepting a Jason Roe handpass.
Houlihan had 11 disposals in the first quarter as Carrazzo, Judd, Bryce Gibbs and Murphy also found plenty of the ball.
Jeff Garlett was a welcome inclusion, goaling after a dashing run and bounce, and when Betts soccered one through the margin again stretched to three goals.
Paul Bower was opposed to Bradshaw and made a couple of quality early spoils but the Lion soon took ascendancy, marking strongly and booting 2.1 for the first half.
Fevola was well held by Daniel Merrett, forced under the ball and restricted to one goal among Carlton's first eight individual contributors.
It took Fevola until the 18-minute mark of the second term to register it and it came from a one-handed grab in the goal square.
Bret Thornton had the unenviable task of trying to curtail Brown, who kicked 2.2 in the first half and was forced from the field at one point after opening his brow on Heath Scotland's shoulder.
Consider too that Bradshaw and Brown were receiving some pinpoint passes from Rich and Ash McGrath that were difficult to defend.
The Lions' one-point margin at the main break could have been greater with accuracy while Cloke also hit the post.
The Blues' chances weren't helped when tagger Aaron Joseph went down in the first quarter with an ankle injury, however, he returned to the field in the third term.
His absence freed up opponents like Michael Rischitelli and Justin Sherman, who booted a goal from inside the square off three paces – one of two he slotted during the first half.
Judd did the same after a pass by Kreuzer, who was engaged in an enthralling ruck duel with Mitch Clark with both big men winning quality possessions across the ground.
Carlton gained the upper hand straight after half time with Murphy kicking a goal within 30 seconds.
But it was a couple of moments of brilliance that really struck a chord. Stevens swooped on a Betts handpass and kicked a goal on his left foot from the pocket to give the Blues a 17-point lead.
Nine minutes later, Cloke scissor-kicked the ball out of mid air in the goal square.
It was then that Fevola started having a major impact, with his second goal coming from a desperate tackle on Joel Patfull.
While the outcome didn't go Carlton's way, the club can take many positives from a 13-win season that generated its first finals appearance since 2001.
Brisbane Lions 4.4 8.7 10.10 16.15 (111)
Carlton 5.4 8.6 14.10 15.14 (104)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 5, Brown 4, Sherman 2, Johnstone 2, Rich, Redden, Hooper
Carlton: Fevola 3, Cloke 2, Stevens 2, Betts, Carrazzo, Garlett, Houlihan, Judd, Kreuzer, Murphy, Russell
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Black, Bradshaw, Brown, Clark, Sherman, Power
Carlton: Judd, Murphy, Kreuzer, Fevola, Stevens, Carrazzo
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Drummond (quad) replaced in selected side by Hooper, Macdonald (TBA) replaced in selected side by Hawksley
Carlton: Joseph (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McLaren, Wenn, Jeffery
Official crowd: 32,702 at the Gabba
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
