Blues’ best win under Michael Voss? How Carlton’s Gabba win redeemed preliminary final loss

The Blues crashed out of finals at the Gabba in 2023, now six months later, Charlie Curnow and his partner-in-crime Harry McKay have led the Blues to an historic win in the Lions’ den.

For 40 minutes the Lions were flawless.

Forty-six points up; Carlton on the canvas.

The Coleman medallist, Charlie Curnow, with two marks and a sole goal.

Twenty-five minutes later the Blues blitzkrieg had taken hold.

Curnow had booted four, Carlton eight-straight and, incredibly, they led a suddenly lethargic Lions.

Brisbane’s seven-goal opening salvo had tongues wagging in the Gabba concourse – “some of the best footy in years”, mused one fan queuing for a quarter-time beer.

Then the Blues and Curnow said hold mine.

Carlton’s spearhead played like a man with a chip on his shoulder.

The Blues’ season was slammed shut at this venue last September and Curnow labelled the culprit.

The game’s best forward suffered through a quiet finals series and was widely panned for his lack of impact in the big games.

On Friday night it was from his boot that the visitors dragged themselves back into a contest that looked lost midway through the second term.

On the lead, in the pack and off the ground. Curnow could suddenly do no wrong.

Michael Voss waves to Carlton supporters after Carlton’s stunning win over Brisbane at the Gabba, the ground he captained the Lions on in his playing days. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Then at the death it was his partner in crime with the sealer. Harry McKay, whose four-game absence late last season had some questioning his place in the side. With 90 seconds to go his third goal put the Blues one point ahead.

Is this the best Blues win under Michael Voss? Perhaps.

Voss was understandably jubilant post match.

“It was an amazing win. You’re talking about (the) different conditions, you’re talking about the ground, they haven’t lost here for (14) games, to have the scoreboard against you, and then the quality of the opposition that you’re working (against) - we had to overcome a bit.

“To be able to finish in front was just incredibly impressive.

“We’ll move on from this game in 48 hours. That’s us as professionals. We have to do that, but we’ll actually remember this day as a team.

Voss was delighted for the often-maligned McKay, who kicked the match-winning goal.

“He took his moment, and he wanted it,” Voss said.

“When you find yourself in those situations, you want guys who want the ball in their hands and he well and truly presented that way the whole night, and at the end he was involved in that contest and he finished the play.

Harry McKay became the hero for Carlton with his match winning goal in the final 90 seconds. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Harry works on his game enormously hard. He’s had a fantastic pre-season. He’s been in some unbelievable form and I think we should be talking about that.

“I’m very proud, and it’s not just him, it’s all the players to be able to hold their nerve. They stick to what they want to offer the team and they stay connected as a football team through really tough moments.”

The secret to success was speed. Carlton hit the gas and Brisbane could not keep up.

Between the end of the first and third quarters, the Blues had plus-30 uncontested possessions – an almost unheard of stat for a visiting team at the Gabba.

Brisbane’s backline, among the best in the competition in 2023, was under siege.

Losing Keidean Coleman on the stroke of halftime did not help.

The running defender was hobbled by an apparent left knee hyperextension and subbed out during the main break.

Fagan post-match revealed there were fears Coleman had suffered an ACL tear. If true, one of Brisbane’s best ball users will miss the entire season.

The Blues sing the team song after their thrilling win at the Gabba on Friday night. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Suddenly, the most stable back six in the AFL last season could be without one of its most important pieces.

Conversely on Friday night, a Blues backline without Jacob Weitering stood tall in the face of 62 Brisbane inside 50s.

If he is forced to miss time it will test the Lions’ depth, only a season removed from fielding the most stable back six in the AFL.

This was a statement victory for Michael Voss’ Blues – and a major wake-up call for the Lions.

After 14 consecutive wins at the Gabba, including a blemish-free record in 2023, the Lions’ fortress has fallen.

The Blues’ blitzkrieg will be a concern to Chris Fagan and co. But not the end of the world.

The last time a side kicked seven-straight goals against Brisbane was … the opening round of the 2023 season, when Port Adelaide romped to a 56-point win at Adelaide Oval.

That defeat sparked a major defensive response from the Lions.

Fagan has the blueprint. He has recent history to point to. But the difference this time was the 46-point head start his side gave up.

Originally published as Blues’ best win under Michael Voss? How Carlton’s Gabba win redeemed preliminary final loss