CARLTON showcased some key pre-season lessons when it triumphed by 15 points against Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena.

With nine uncapped Blues and 10 players aged 22 or under, the Blues overcame a slow start against the reigning premier to triumph 15.13 (103) to 13.10 (88).

Rotating 28 players throughout the game, it was well and truly a new forward line on display, with Ben Ainsworth (four goals) the main beneficiary.

The different feel about the Blues was evident at the opening bounce, with Ollie Florent and Zac Williams lining up at half-back, while Ainsworth, Will Hayward and Jagga Smith were across half-forward.

It was Smith who got the Blues going, with the No.3 pick from 2024 streaming inside 50 and kicking truly in his first hitout for 12 months.

00:38

Practice Match v Brisbane | Young Blue’s early goal gets fans buzzing

Jagga Smith wastes no time showing his class with a superb major on the run during the first quarter of match simulation

Carlton had more than a few looks going forward, but the polish was lacking, kicking two goals from a number of forward entries while Brisbane punished the Blues’ inefficiency.

Kicking with the breeze in the second term, the Blues dialled up their offensive game, piling on five goals to get right back into the contest.

Lachie Fogarty set the tone with his forward pressure while Ainsworth and Hayward soon followed, as the Blues - with Marc Pittonet and Liam Reidy in the ruck - started to get ahead in the midfield battle.

01:05

Practice Match v Brisbane | Ainsworth kicks two

Ben Ainsworth impresses in his first hit out as a Blue and kicks two in a quarter.

 
At the other end, Lewis Young stood up constantly against new Brisbane recruit Oscar Allen, with Mitch McGovern and train-on player Wade Derksen supporting him.
At half-time, the Blues trailed by five points, a margin that was maintained at three quarter-time after a topsy-turvy term.

Harry Dean, Jagga Smith and Sam Walsh came out of the game at three-quarter time as planned, but the blemish for the Blues was when Adam Cerra (hamstring tightness) came from the ground and didn’t return.

Still in February, the last quarter provided the chance for both teams to put their scenarios to the test as fatigue set in, with a goalless 15 minutes to start.

01:28

Practice Match v Brisbane | New Blue tracks down great Dayne in ruthless chase

Carlton recruit Will Hayward sets the tone, forcing the error from Dayne Zorko and making him pay with a cool finish

It was an unlikely hero for the Blues who stood up, with draftee Talor Byrne kicking three goals in eight minutes to give the Blues a 15-point win.

Carlton will have its final dress rehearsal next Wednesday against Geelong at IKON Park, before heading to the SCG to take on Sydney in the season opener on Thursday, March 5.

BRISBANE         6.1     7.4     12.6        13.10
CARLTON          2.3     6.5     11.7        15.13 (103)

GOALS: Ainsworth 4, Byrne 2, Hayward 2, Cerra, Fogarty, Hayward, McKay, Moir, Smith