Harry McKay magic leads Blues to one-point thrilling win, ends Lions’ Gabba streak
Zac Williams has revealed his doubts about ever returning to football after paying an emotional tribute to his late sister following his first match since 2022.
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Emotional Carlton defender Zac Williams broke from his own tradition in his first AFL match in 18 months in an emotional pregame tribute to his late sister, Sam, who died of cancer last year.
Williams has always written the name of his father Steven — who died when the Blues player was only six — on his wrist before games.
But as he sat on the bench overlooking the Gabba on Friday night before his first game back from a knee reconstruction, he knew he had to go with his sister’s name instead.
“I hadn’t played in 18 months, so I just had to get used to the scenery again up at the Gabba,” Williams said.
“Usually, I write my dad’s name on my wrist, but it has been well documented that my sister passed away (from cancer) last year, so I put her (name) on my wrist.
“It was a bit of a weird feeling putting her on there, probably something that I was uncomfortable doing, but she was out there (with him on Friday night).”
Williams, 29, revealed how nervous he had been before his first game since round 23, 2022, and how he wondered during the dark times of his knee issues if he would make it back.
But Carlton’s extraordinary come-from-behind one-point win on Friday made it worth all the aggravation.
“There were periods of time in the last 12 months when you always question whether you are going to get back to the level,” he said.
“But I had great help in my rehab and plenty of support around me.
“Even leading into the game there was always that little mindset of ‘Can I get back’? So once I got out there and the ball (was) bounced, I felt comfortable and ready to go.”
Williams had 19 disposals in his return game as the Blues staged one of the great comebacks, turning a 46-point first half deficit into a stunning one-point win over the Lions.
One of the only negatives for the Blues was a jarred knee suffered by Sam Docherty which came after a Cam Rayner tackle.
He tried to make a return, but eventually had to be subbed out.
The Blues are sweating on the result of scans, with a result likely to be known on Sunday or Monday, as Docherty faces time on the sidelines.
Williams gave forward Harry McKay a massive tick, not only for his match-winning goal, but for the way he had worked tirelessly on his goalkicking routine.
“There has been a bit of talk … about his kicking, but he (McKay) showed … he is pretty good at goalkicking, so I think people can sort of leave him alone now for a few weeks,” he said.
“He has been in electric form in the preseason games and he stood up (against the Lions) when we needed him.”
MCKAY HOLDS NERVE TO SEAL BLUES’ INCREDIBLE COMEBACK
Marco Monteverde
Carlton have left doubt about their premiership credentials, staging a remarkable comeback to end Brisbane’s 14-match winning-streak at the Gabba with a thrilling one-point victory on Friday night.
Down by 46 points early in the second-quarter, the Blues came back from the dead to win 13.8 (86) to 12.13 (85) and become the first team to beat the Lions at the Gabba since Melbourne achieved the rare feat in round 23 of the 2022 season.
The “Opening Round” win also gave the Blues revenge for their 16-point preliminary final loss to the Lions at the Gabba last year.
Star full-forward Charlie Curnow led Carlton’s revival with four goals, with his fellow forward Harry McKay kicking the game’s winning goal with just over a minute left.
Carlton’s win was made all the more meritorious considering they lost Sam Docherty to a jarred knee.
Docherty didn’t come out after half-time, while the Lions also suffered their own injury blow, with Keidean Coleman also taking no part in the second half after hyper-extending his left knee in a clash of legs with the Blues’ Lachie Fogarty late in the second quarter.
FAST START
Any hopes the Blues had of repeating their first-quarter blitz from last year’s preliminary final between the same two sides at the same venue were well and truly dashed by a rampant Lions side.
Desperate to avoid another slow start against the Blues, who kicked the opening five goals of the finals battle last year to lead 31-8 at quarter-time, the Lions started the new season in an epic manner.
The ruthless hosts kicked seven of the game’s first eight goals to lead by 32 points at the first break.
The evergreen Dayne Zorko led the way early with two first-quarter goals, while Callum Ah Chee saluted the crowd following a brilliant right-footed snap that typified Brisbane’s opening-quarter class and dominance.
“They (Brisbane) looked like a team that had been preparing for 18 weeks against a team (Carlton) that had preparing for 18 days,” Demons great and Fox Footy expert Garry Lyon said.
CHAMPION CHARLIE
Just as the Lions responded to Carlton’s fast start in the preliminary final, the Blues hit back in emphatic style in an amazing blitz that left the hosts shellshocked.
Trailing by 46 points early in the second-quarter, Carlton suddenly found a new gear against a Lions team that perhaps thought the hard work had been done.
The Blues kicked the game’s next eight goals, with star full-forward Charlie Curnow kicking four of them.
Less than 15 minutes into the third quarter, Carlton grabbed the lead for the first time in the contest.
Having kicked eight behinds in a row, the Lions finally stopped the rot when Joe Daniher kicked Brisbane first goal since early in the second-quarter when he booted his first of the contest at almost 24 minutes into the third quarter.
LIONS, BLUES LOSE KEY COGS AT THE HALF
— Callum Dick and Max Stainkamph
Both Brisbane and Carlton have lost key playmakers in their Opening Round clash at the Gabba, with Sam Docherty and Keidean Coleman subbed out at half time.
Docherty received a knock to his knee early in the game and came from the field, but returned in short order.
However, at half time the Blues subbed their skipper out of the game, bringing young midfielder Jack Carroll into the game.
Brisbane defender Coleman suffered an apparent left knee hyperextension in the dying stages of the second quarter.
FOLLOW LIVE: CARLTON AND BRISBANE CLASH IN BRISBANE
With less than 10 seconds remaining in the half Coleman scrambled a kick out of defensive 50 and his left leg crashed into the Carlton defender’s body.
Coleman immediately hit the deck and looked in significant pain. He was on the ground for more than a minute after the siren sounded, during which time Lions trainers came to his aid.
He was carried from the ground in the arms of the trainers, favouring his left leg.
The club later confirmed he would be subbed out.
Coleman, one of the Lions’ best performers during last season’s finals series, had eight disposals and two score involvements in the first half as the hosts opened up a 31-point halftime lead over the Blues.
Kai Lohmann will enter the game for the Lions in Coleman’s place.
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