Goalkickers: E. Betts 3, J. Garlett 3, D. Armfield 2, L. Casboult 2, M. Kreuzer 2, A. Walker, B. Gibbs, A. Carrazzo, J. Waite, T. Bell 1.

Umpires: J. Dalgleish, R. Findlay, H. Ryan

Injuries: E. Betts (calf)

Ladder: 11th

Game Review

Carlton's precarious path towards September continued when they met the Brisbane Lions under the lights and the roof of Etihad Stadium. With another loss almost certain to rule them out of contention the stakes were understandably high for the Blues. The Lions on the other hand, with September action already ruled-out, had little to play for but pride. Carlton were understandably red-hot favourites with the book-makers despite both first choice key defenders being unavailable to stand beside Brisbane captain Jonathon Brown.

The loss to the Swans in round 19 had come at a higher cost than plain old defeat for Michael Jamison having strained his hamstring into the bargain. Others paying a more mentally painful penalty were Aaron Joseph, Andrew Collins and Marcus Davies all copping the axe. Receiving a warm welcome back into the side after a longer absence than anticipated were Mitch Robinson and Andrew Walker, both having recovered from niggling calf injuries. Matthew Watson got another chance after a few weeks in the VFL, while the almost forgotten Rhys O'Keeffe got the long awaited call up for his second game after injury trouble had plagued him during much of the time since his debut in round 14 last season.

The game started almost as if the teams' roles were reversed. Brisbane were into everything with high intensity and enthusiasm, while the Blues were almost catatonic in their approach. Jumping out of the blocks with the first two goals the Lions had the Blues on the backfoot early and I'm sure Simon White feared he was in for a long night on Brown. Fortunately for Carlton, Brisbane's early dominance never translated to much on the scoreboard with some wasteful kicking and occasional over possessing netting them a frustrating 2.4 before the Blues finally got on the board. Carlton's score was a mere behind coming from a free-kick to Levi Casboult (whose unfashionable style brings back memories of Earl Spalding) but it did seem to get the ball rolling. It took the little magician Eddie Betts to really stir things up. His beautiful ball in to Jeff Garlett orchestrated the first goal after a deadly finish from Garlett tight in the pocket. He then claimed Carlton's second with a nice finish on the run to bring the Blues within a goal nearing quarter time. Carlton's four point deficit at the break didn't accurately reflect how the quarter had played out and only time would tell whether their poor opening was an omen or merely a blip on the radar.

The radar appeared to have cleared of blips as the second quarter began largely on Carlton's terms. Dennis Armfield continued in his rich vein of form finishing truly after Marc Murphy found him lurking inside 50 to give Carlton the lead for the first time. Armfield was instrumental again in Carlton's second for the term finding Betts just a few steps from goal with a delicately weighted pass after a series of quick handballs found him on the burst. Bryce Gibbs and Heath Scotland were directing much of Carlton's attack from their customary roles across half-back with Gibbs in particular being allowed to play the role in which he seems most comfortable. The Lions clawed a goal back to reduce the margin to a few points before the Blues reacted. Consecutive majors to Walker and Armfield (in everything with his second) stretched their lead again before the Lions answered late in the term leaving Carlton seven points clear at the break.

Having done little to make one sit up and take notice during the first half it was pleasing to watch the Blues churn out a traditional premiership quarter in the third. After a long goal to Gibbs (making amends for a bad miss in the second) to open the term the big Blue machine finally clicked into action. First Garlett snapped a beauty around his body for his second and then the relatively subdued Jarrad Waite leapt high for a mark which he appeared to claim having already re-entered earth's atmosphere and safely set foot back on the ground. It was a rare highlight in the game nonetheless. Carlton's speed and running game (which had left its devastating mark on Brisbane in round two) was starting to take its toll. Andrew Carrazzo had been dominant around the stoppages and was constantly involved in the link-up play around the ground got on the board too. He casually strolled into goal and calmly slotted through the Blues fourth for the term. Finishing off the quarter with a bang Garlett and Betts both goaled again before Betts found Matthew Kreuzer (toiling hard all night against the physicality of Hudson) dead in front for the seventh and final goal of the term. The Lions had been left wanting when the Blues found another gear and could only manage 1.2 for the term and trailed by 46 points at the final change.

Needing a percentage boost to compete with the other teams near them on the ladder the Blues squandered a great opportunity to win convincingly. When a 10+ goal victory seemed on offer the Blues fizzled out during the last and allowed the Lions to outscore them five goals to four. That said Casboult offered some encouraging signs with his first, a deftly delivered banana from the boundary line which seemed to surprise even himself. His second came later in the term after Chris Yarran gave a glimpse of just how damaging his run, carry and deadly kicking can be. Yarran drilled one to the square which Casboult marked strongly and finished from point blank. Between Casboult's last term brace Kreuzer snagged his second, roving beautifully to O'Keeffe's tap, and Tom Bell marked strongly and goaled from 50m to finish off his solid month of footy. With the job done by six goals, albeit somewhat disappointingly in the end, Brett Ratten and his Blues switch their focus to the MCG and a classic 8 point game against the Bombers in the fight for eighth place and a finals berth.

Subs: Rhys O'Keeffe replaced Eddie Betts early during the last quarter.

Team

Brownlow Votes

3. Bryce Gibbs, Carlton
2. Kade Simpson, Carlton
1. Heath Scotland, Carlton

Best & Fairest Votes

Bryce Gibbs 38, Dennis Armfield 32, Heath Scotland 29, Simon White 29, Eddie Betts 26, Jeffery Garlett 25, Marc Murphy 22, Andrew Carrazzo 20, Ed Curnow 10, Brock McLean 6, Levi Casboult 5, Matthew Kreuzer 5, Kade Simpson 5

Ladder