CARLTON’S incredible ride in the 2025 season has come to an end at the preliminary final, falling by 35 points to Brisbane.

On a night where the finals-hardened Brisbane was too strong, the Blues were unable to quell the Lions’ game in the 10.7 (67) to 5.2 (32) defeat.

After two straight finals wins in the Blues’ first campaign since 2020, Mathew Buck’s side headed to Michael Voss Oval looking to build on their incredible momentum, but ran into a Lions outfit that locked in a third straight AFLW Grand Final.

The Blues triumphed the last time these sides met at the venue in Round 3, and it was the best player on the ground that night - Dayna Finn - who opened proceedings in the preliminary final.

Surging forward from the wing, slick ball movement from the back half saw the McKays link up and Finn get on the end of the opening goal to give the Blues a lift.

However, it was the only time in the opening term Carlton was able to generate the ball movement which has been the hallmark of their game.

The Blues’ backs stood up brilliantly under increasing Lions pressure, with Ciara Fitzgerald - lining up against the dangerous Courtney Hodder - putting her body on the line on a number of occasions.

Carlton kept Brisbane goalless in the opening term to take a three-point lead into the first change, but it wasn’t long before the home side broke through.

The play lived in the Lions’ half at the start of the second quarter as the Blues conceded three goals, but fortunately, first-year Blue Poppy Scholz stood up at the other.

With two goals, Scholz’s impact ensured the Blues went into the half-time break only five points in arrears.

While the Blues would’ve been hoping for a third-quarter burst which has been a hallmark of their previous two weeks, it was the Lions who surged, breaking the game open to take the game away from the Blues.

The Lions piled on six goals - two of them incredible finishes from the boundary line - while the Blues could only respond through Sophie McKay as a 36-point margin was opened up at the final change.

To the Blues’ credit, they never gave in, willing themselves to the line in the final term despite the contest being over on the scoreboard.

But in the end, it was the experience of a Brisbane outfit which proved too good on the day, as the Blues had to settle for a preliminary final defeat after a campaign in which they rose from 14th to 4th.

BRISBANE       0.3     3.5      9.6        10.7 (67)

CARLTON        1.0      3.0      4.0        5.2 (32)

GOALS

Carlton: Finn 2, Scholz 2, S.McKay