Brisbane take care of Carlton to set up historic Collingwood Grand Final showdown

The Brisbane Lions have taken care of business against Carlton to book their place in a historic AFL Grand Final next weekend.

Lions roar into 2023 AFL Grand Final. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Brisbane Lions have booked their spot in the 2023 AFL Grand Final after taking care of business against Carlton on Saturday at the Gabba.

Brisbane fans revelled in the action as Blues fans looked on shattered as the contest completely flipped after a scintillating first quarter.

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After 20 minutes it was one-way traffic for the travelling Blues as the slammed home the opening five goals of the contest.

The Lions looked stunned in front of their home crowd and were struggling to deal with the pressure being applied.

Those watching on simply couldn’t believe what they were seeing unfold at the venue where the Lions hadn’t lost all season.

‘Extraordinary scenes at the Gabba,” Luke Darcy said on Channel 7’s coverage.

“What is going on at the Gabba,” Hamish McLachlan added. “This is one of the more extraordinary terms I’ve seen Carlton play.”

That’s as good as it got for the Blues.

Over the next three quarters the Lions flipped the script and put the clamps on the Blues.

Carlton’s scoring completely dried up as they managed to kick only one more goal for almost an hour.

The Lions had no such issues as they continually peppered the goals and put their rivals to the sword.

Carlton put some life into the contest with two quick goals in the fourth quarter but the Lions responded as they ran out the contest.

In the end it was a 46-point swing as the Lions set up a tantalising Grand Final showdown against Collingwood at the MCG.

The Lions are into the Grand Final. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Grand Final will be the third time the two sides have squared off on the biggest stage of all, making them the first two teams to meet at three AFL Grand Finals.

Their previous two meetings came back in 2002 and 2003 when the Lions emerged victorious and claimed their historic three-point.

Collingwood will enter the Grand Final as the favourite on the markets with the Lions record at the MCG a glaring piece of evidence.

The Lions have lost 14 of their past 15 games at the home of football with their most recent outing coming against Melbourne in round 18.

A worrying sign struck the Lions late in the third quarter when superstar midfielder Lachie Neale was seen clutching his right shoulder.

All eyes turned to him but he showed it wasn’t an issue in the final term and said after the game it was nothing more than a “stinger”.

The Lions are roaring to the G. Photo by Michael Klein.

7.40pm - The Blues have a pulse

They went almost an hour without a goal but the Blues have slotted two in as many minutes to bring the margin back to within 16-points and a tick over eight minutes on the clock.

Surely not, right...

7.20pm - Lions one quarter away from the big dance

After conceding the opening five goals of the contest, the Lions put the clamps on the Blues and surrended just one since.

The Blues have looked helpless as the Lions have flipped the script and ran riot with a three goal to none third quarter handing them a 20-point lead with one quarter to play.

In what is potentially the only worrying sign for the Lions, star midfielder Lachie Neale was seen clutching his right shoulder after landing on it after a tackle.

The Lions are flying. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

7.05pm - Blues look completely lost at sea

It’s only a 17-point margin on the scoreboard but it feels like so much more as Brisbane amplify the heat on the Blues.

All over the turf of the Gabba the Blues are struggling to get any momentum going as they wilt under the pressure.

The Lions are controlling the footy and not giving the Blues a second to breathe anytime they manage to get their hands on the ball.

6.55pm - Lions roaring now at home

The crowd has done a complete reversal. It was all Carlton fans in the opening quarter, since then it’s been euphoric Brisbane fans.

They started the third term on absolute fire with Oscar McInerney kicking the first goal after a free kick and 50m penalty at the first bounce.

It was then Charlie Cameron who pounced for their second after a horror miss at the other end from Charlie Curnow.

The lead has surged out to 16 points and the Blues fans have gone quiet with the players being stunned by the turning tide.

It's John Denver time 🎶#AFLLionsBluespic.twitter.com/Gw8WGYQcKH

— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 23, 2023

6.30 - Unbelievable footy at the Gabba

For those watching on from home, it’s one way traffic to the left side of the screen.

Carlton burst out of the gate in the opening term with the first five goals of the contest as they raced away to a 31-point advantage before the Lions struck late.

In the second quarter it was Brisbane’s turn as they slammed home five goals to one to enter the main break with a three point advantage.

The Lions roared back to life. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

6.20pm - Blake Acres strikes again on review

The Blues utility is becoming the ultimate star with the score review system. This time he stopped a Lions goal ... with his hair.

Yes you read that right, Acres claimed he got a touch on the ball and replays confirmed it as his hair was brushed upright by the ball.

“If he’s bald, that’s a goal,” commentator Dwayne Russell told AFL Nation.

Despite the moment of magic from Acres, it wasn’t enough to slow down the momentum from the Lions.

Moments later they were back in front of goal and slotted their fourth goal of the quarter to bring the game back to within five points.

6.05pm - Lions have found their teeth

Brisbane were blown away in the opening quarter as the Blues slammed home the first five goals of the contest.

But they setlled late in the term to get on the scoreboard before starting the second quarter in stunning fashion.

The Lions have kicked the first two goals to bring the margin back to only 12 points after at one point being behind by 31.

5.40pm - ‘Extraordinary scenes at the Gabba’

What are we witnessing.

The Blues look unstoppable and the Lions look like they have forgotten how to play footy.

It’s one-way traffic inside the Gabba as the Blues run absolute riot.

Thousands of Carlton fans have packed into the stadium and are right now drowning out the Lions having kicked the opening five goals of the contest.

‘Extraordinary scenes at the Gabba. A shellshocked Brisbane Lions,” Luke Darcy said on Channel 7’s coverage.

“What is going on at the Gabba,” Hamish McLachlan added. “This is one of the more extraordinary terms I’ve seen Carlton play.”

This is right now looking like a choke of epic proportions. FMD, is it really going to be five years in a row Lions prove not to have the mettle required when it counts? #AFLLionsBlues

— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) September 23, 2023

Carlton home game or? This is unhinged #AFLFinals

— Kane Cornes (@kanecornes) September 23, 2023

5.30pm - Blues have burst out of the gate

The Brisbane Lions look shellshocked on their home turf with Carlton running riot early at the Gabba.

The Blues have kicked the opening two goals of the contest with Matt Cottrell and Harry McKay kicking the first two goals.

In what has been a dominant opening 10 minutes the Blues have gone inside 50 on 11 occasions while the Lions have only gone forward twice.

5pm - No late changes

Both teams will go in as named with Jarryd Lyons (Brisbane) and Matt Kennedy (Carlton) named as the starting subs.

4:30pm – Blues out to break Gabba curse

Carlton will enter the Gabba cauldron attempting to do what no team has been able to do so far in 2023, emerge victorious.

The Lions have turned their home venue into a den of destruction as they’ve obliterated every team that has entered.

They do it in offensive fashion as they light up the scoreboard and put their opponents to the sword.

The Blues will have their hands full defensively against the Lions forward line with a rejuvenated Joe Daniher and Charlie Cameron leading the way.

The Blues will have their hands full at the Gabba. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The biggest battle however will in the middle of the ground, an area where Carlton have shown they’re the best in the competition.

Led by skipper Patrick Cripps, the Blues have become the number one clearance side and the AFL leaders at scoring from clearances.

Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow has had a quiet finals series and coach Michael Voss will be hoping he can stamp himself on the contest.

He’ll be helped up forward with the return of Harry McKay and Jack Martin.

Originally published as Brisbane take care of Carlton to set up historic Collingwood Grand Final showdown