The Brisbane Lions have shut down Carlton’s twin towers to safe a vital 26-point win over the fast-finishing Blues at Marvel Stadium and transfer prime of the AFL ladder.
Renowned for his or her attacking aptitude, the Lions did it at each ends on Friday night time as Blues spearheads Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay have been restricted to only one objective every.
After matching Brisbane with 5 targets in an opening-quarter shootout, the Blues then carried out dismally by kicking only one main through the subsequent two phrases because the Lions set-up a commanding 15.10 (100) to 11.8 (74) victory.
With the outcome all however assured within the closing quarter, the Lions’ depth dropped off and Carlton whittled down the lead with 5 targets.
After beginning the season 1-2, the Lions have gained five-straight matches to place their premiership credentials on show and seize prime place on the ladder.
However, Collingwood, Melbourne and St Kilda will all overtake the Lions in the event that they win their respective round-eight matches.
Superstar small ahead Charlie Cameron booted 4 targets to make it 23 from his final 5 video games, whereas the dynamic Zac Bailey joined him with a season-best 4 majors.
Coming off a nine-goal outing in opposition to lowly West Coast final week, Curnow was saved to only one by unheralded Lions defender Jack Payne.
Dual All-Australian fullback Harris Andrews was some of the influential gamers on the bottom, limiting McKay’s output and patrolling the back-half with command.
McKay spent a while off the bottom within the second quarter after he was bleeding from his proper eye following a collision with Andrews.
However, the Lions co-captain must be critically unfortunate to be cited by the match assessment officer for the incident as each gamers had eyes just for the ball.
Star recruit Josh Dunkley continued his excellent begin with the Queensland membership, selecting up an equal game-high 33 touches, whereas Hugh McLuggage made a welcome return to type.
Last week’s 108-point thrashing of the Eagles bought critics off the Blues’ again however followers will probably be demanding solutions after a largely listless effort led to them shedding a 3rd match from their final 4.
As the siren sounded for three-quarter-time, a refrain of boos echoed across the stadium as Carlton trailed by 40 factors.
The Blues gained the ultimate quarter however the closing rating flattered them in a disappointing outing for coach Michael Voss in opposition to his former membership.
This match was the primary of a troublesome run for Carlton, with the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Sydney and Melbourne to observe within the subsequent month.
After falling wanting the top-eight in heartbreaking vogue final 12 months, the stress is on the Blues to play finals for the primary time since 2013.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
