Goalkickers: S. O’hAilpin 4, L. Henderson 3, B. Gibbs, B. McLean, M. Murphy, M. Robinson, K. Simpson (1)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Meredith, S. Ryan, Vozzo

Injuries: P. Bower replaced in selected side by D. Armfield

Ladder: 8th

Game Review

The dress rehearsal at Visy Park in February had gone well. The Carlton versus Fevola palaver had been played out in the media and the race had been run and won (by the good guys). So when the time came to pay a visit to the Gabba for premiership points all Carlton people were hopeful that the Fevola demons had already been safely exorcised.

This time around the media hype had been kept to relatively civilised levels largely due to Fevola’s self-imposed media ban. Most pundits were expecting a close fought tussle in much the same way the last few clashes between the two had panned out. Both sides had started the season with a win in round one and both were confident of a repeat performance in round two, though the Lions got the nod from the bookies.

The Blues named an unchanged side for their second consecutive Thursday night clash. Speculation surrounding the well being of Paul Bower’s leg had been bubbling away in the online media much of the week and sure enough come Thursday night he was a late withdrawal. Dennis Armfield came in as his replacement playing his first for the season.

The game started in somewhat humid and dewy conditions and many players struggled to come to grips with the ball’s seemingly soap-like texture. Despite the initial slips and fumbles both sides managed a couple of goals in the first part of the term (O’hAilpin and Henderson for the Blues) and but for some early inaccuracy the Blues could well have opened up a handy break. As it was the Lions were cleaner and finished better when their opportunities arose and took a nine point break into quarter time as the shadows of Brown and Fevola loomed large under the Gabba lights.

During the second term it was Lachlan Henderson as Carlton’s only goal scorer, exorcising some demons of his own on his first trip back to his old home in navy blue. The Lions continued to finish better and poor Bret Thornton and Michael Jamison must have wondered why holidays in Queensland were so popular with Victorians. The Blues continued to struggle to make the most of their ample forward thrusts, finishing with a frustratingly inaccurate 1.5 for the quarter and trailing by 22 points at the long break.

I wonder what Brett Ratten said in the sheds during half time? Whatever it was must have sunk in as the game made a definite momentum shift and the Blues quickly pruned the half time deficit. Nine minutes; four goals; two point lead - how quickly things change. Kade Simpson got the ball rolling with one of his own and a hand in one of Setanta O’hAilpin’s two, while Brock McLean chimed in with the fourth. The slick movement through the midfield and clean finishing that had been sadly lacking in the first half got the Blues back into the game and saw them arm-wrestle the lead out to seven points by the final break.

The last quarter was all about one man, but sadly, he wasn’t in blue. Fortunately, that man wasn’t Brendan Fevola, but that was where any good fortune ended. It was very much a “cometh-the-hour, cometh-the-man” scenario and Jonathon Brown showed just why he is that man. Bret Thornton was powerless to quell him and everything Brown touched turned gold, including three of his seven game winning goals.

On the night the Blues were well served by Mark Murphy, Brock McLean, Heath Scotland and Matthew Kreuzer through the midfield, while Setanta O’hAilpin and Michael Jamison proved solid book ends, but their collective powers couldn’t manufacture enough kryptonite to stop Brown and his Lions from claiming a 19 point victory. I never thought I’d say it, but I actually think the Blues may have missed Paul Bower more than Chris Judd on this occasion, though both would have been handy. I guess we’ll never know.

Team

Milestones

200 Games (AFL) : Heath Scotland
Acting Captain : Kade Simpson, in Chris Judd's absence.

Brownlow Votes

3. Jonathan Brown, Brisbane
2. Luke Power, Brisbane
1. Jared Brennan, Brisbane

Best & Fairest Votes

38 Matthew Kreuzer, 36 Marc Murphy, 35 Heath Scotland, 33 Michael Jamison, 30 Setanta O’hAilpin, 27 Brock McLean, 11 Bryce Gibbs, 4 Lachlan Henderson, Jordan Russell

Ladder