AFL: Lions sink brave Blues to keep season on track

The Brisbane Lions are into the top eight for the first time this season after defeating the Carlton Blues at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

The Lions have put together back-to-back wins

Brisbane has seen off a plucky Carlton outfit to come away with an 18-point win at Marvel Stadium.

In a physical affair, the Lions were able to wrestle control after a slow start, booting 7.6 to 2.2 in the second-term and keeping the Blues at an arm’s length for the remainder of the game.

Hugh McCluggage (33 disposals) was superb in the middle as Charlie Cameron and Eric Hipwood made the most of his delivery booting three each.

The Lions will lick their wounds as they lost Darcy Gardiner (concussion) while Lachie Neale (head, ankle), Dan McStay (head) and Mitch Robinson (eye) battled on with respective niggles.

Carlton’s brand of attacking football broke open the Lions defence but ultimately turnovers plagued them in key moments – an all-too familiar hallmark of their 2021 season to date.

Harry McKay won the battle against Harris Andrews kicking 6.2 while Sam Walsh (33 disposals, nine marks) and Ed Curnow (29 disposals) were among the Blues best in the middle.

Carlton willingly took the game on early and put the Lions defence under-pressure – tallying 18 inside 50s to the Lions’ nine but were wasteful in-front of goal (3.5 to 2.3).

However, Carlton’s first quarter groove quickly died off as two completely different outfits emerged from the quarter-time huddle.

The Lions flipped the switch completely, as the Blues’ fluidity off half-back became stagnant and turnovers began to accumulate – all while Brisbane assumed control of the inside 50s (24-9 in second quarter).

The Blues roared back into the game after halftime, finding their first-quarter dare and McKay was the ultimate benefactor kicking three to cut the margin to seven.

Despite David Teague’s side starting to create inroads back into the game, turnovers settled in and the Lions made them pay – kicking the final three of the third quarter.

A Joe Daniher bomb sealed the result as Brisbane were able to maintain control in the final

term and come away with their third win of the season.

The Blues showed huge signs of improvement on Saturday night.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

The Brisbane medicos were busy as the casualties mounted for the Lions.

Darcy Gardiner’s day was over before it could barely get started, being subbed out with concussion in the opening quarter while Lachie Neale battled on with a niggling ankle injury for the majority of the game.

Former Blue Mitch Robinson was cut open by a heavy Harry McKay bump while Dan McStay and Harris Andrews were rattled by head-knocks in the second-half – and thankfully were able to see out the game.

MCKAY WINS BATTLE

It was the all-important battle of the bookends.

Fresh off a disappointing outing against Port Adelaide, Harry McKay was busy early, taking it right to Andrews who had his hands-full with the Blues spearhead – who made the most of the Blues quick ball movement and in turn a massive headache for Harris Andrews.

McKay ended up with six for the game and won the match-up against the two-time All-Australian defender – taking him to a tie-on top of the Coleman Medal with 22 goals.

WRONG WAY, LIAM

Liam Stocker kicked one of the great goals in Carlton’s season – except it just didn’t count for six.

Stocker, who returned to the team this week, picked up the ball from a tight angle in his defensive half and instead of turning around and launching the Blues into attack, he kicked it straight through the Lions big sticks for a behind.

Despite it being a ‘deliberate’ shot for goal, the umpire had the wherewithal to not penalise the 21-year-old’s gaff.

BLUES 3.5, 5.7, 9.11, 12.13 (85)

LIONS 2.3, 9.9, 13.12, 15.13 (103)

D’URBANO’S BEST

BLUES McKay, Walsh, Curnow, Weitering, Cripps

LIONS McGluggage, Rich, Hipwood, Robertson, Zorko, Lyons, Neale

GOALS

BLUES McKay 6, Murphy 2, McGovern 2, Walsh, Curnow

LIONS Hipwood 3, Cameron 3, Robertson 2, McStay, McInerney, Zorko, Ah Chee, Lyons, McCarthy, Daniher

INJURIES

BLUES nil

LIONS Gardiner (concussion), Neale (ankle/head), Robinson (eye), McStay (head), Andrews (head)

VENUE: 29,576 @ Marvel Stadium

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

D’URBANO’S VOTES

3: Hugh McCluggage (Bris)

2: Harry McKay (Carl)

1: Sam Walsh (Carl)