IT WAS a 37-point defeat when Carlton met the Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium.
The returning premiers led from start to finish under the roof, with the Blues unable to stand up under the Lions’ heat in the 9.12 (66) to 15.13 (103) defeat.
Marc Pittonet fought all night in the ruck while finishing with two goals, while George Hewett (33 disposals) and captain Patrick Cripps (26 disposals) attacked the contest all night.
However, the Blues couldn’t stifle the Lions’ options and run around the ground, making costly turnovers at pivotal times and unable to capitalise when the situation presented itself.
Brisbane raced out to the hot start, kicking the first three goals of the game - including a bizarre incident where Cam Rayner capitalised from a collision between Lachie Cowan and the central field umpire. The Blues were able to rally, kicking two goals but leaving a few more on the board with misses from gettable chances.
But Marc Pittonet produced one of the moments of the AFL season when - after winning a holding-the-ball free kick - he launched a torpedo from well beyond 50 to the raptures of the Marvel Stadium crowd.
The Lions started the better of the two sides in the second term again, but Pittonet was on hand again to mark and goal from close range to energise the Blues.
The second term saw some back-and-forth football, with the Blues drawing within two goals but unable to capitalise when they could put the pressure on. To make matters worse, the Lions kicked three in a hurry to end the term to open up a 30-point gap. In a term where inside 50s were even, the Lions managed six goals to the Blues’ three.
Brisbane hammered home their advantage in the third term with four unanswered goals, with the Blues only mustering six behinds from the halfway mark of the second term to the end of the third term to demonstrate their inefficiency.
Lachie Cowan continued his strong form since his return from injury, holding up well in the third quarter with eight disposals alone on the way to 22 for the night.
Cooper Lord was subbed into the game late in the third term for Orazio Fantasia, who - after a bright showing on the wing with 14 disposals and a goal - came from the ground with a hamstring injury.
The Blues added some goals in the final term but the damage was largely done on the scoreboard, with the Blues falling by 37 points under the roof.
CARLTON 3.3 6.6 6.10 9.12 (66)
BRISBANE 5.4 11.6 15.8 15.13 (103)
GOALS
Carlton: Pittonet 2, Cripps, De Koning, Durdin, Fantasia, Hewett, McGovern, Williams
