‘Don’t think there have been any better’: ‘Momentous’ win has potential to set up one epic wild Blues ride

Jubilant Carlton coach Michael Voss has rated his side’s thrilling one-point win over Brisbane as the best regular season victory during his tenure at the Blues as AFL greats declared the win could set the tone for the club this season.

Trailing by 46 points in the second quarter on Friday night at the Gabba, where the Lions had not lost since August 2022, the Blues fought back to win the Opening Round clash 13.8 (86) to 12.13 (85).

“Finals always rate quite high but in terms of being able to deliver in a home and away game, I don’t think there have been any better (wins),” said Voss, who has just started his third season as Carlton coach.

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“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.”

Four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis was left stunned by Carlton’s fightback.

“I sit here and I’m trying to work out how they did it,” Lewis told Fox Footy post-match.

“Brisbane were so dominant in that first quarter and a half. This is a young side missing a couple of leaders … It was an extraordinary comeback. I don’t think it’s too far to say this is their best win under Michael Voss, bar finals.”

Fans and commentators were left stunned by Carlton’s achievement.

From the 19-minute mark of the second term, the Blues had the better of the Lions. Not only did they score more points (+47), but they won the contested possession (+7) and inside 50 (+7) counts, while they also applied an impressive 193 pressure points, according to Champion Data.

The Blues’ pressure vastly improved from the first quarter where they only laid six tackles.

Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown told Fox Footy it appeared the Blues “didn’t want to get dirty”, while five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon said the Blues “didn’t want to fight in that first quarter”.

“The backmen weren’t involved, they weren’t engaged and playing off their man and there were so many easy balls to be won (for Brisbane). And then all of a sudden they said: ‘Nah that’s not us, let’s get back in and fight and engage,’” Lyon told Fox Footy.

Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley said Brisbane’s first 40 minutes was “as good a footy as you’ll see any team play”, which made Carlton’s turnaround even more impressive.

“What we did see from Carlton was what we saw from the second half of last year – and that’s real fight and endeavour. They don’t give up,” Buckley told Fox Footy.

“They changed the way they moved the ball, which created more contest opportunities, which is what brought the game towards them.

“They tried to go really fast off turnover in the first quarter and I think it actually exposed them. They basically emptied out the back half because the defenders were trying to run and carry. But then on turnover (after quarter-time), they set the ground up and were prepared to go long to contest.

“Carlton definitely played a more structured game after quarter-time. Brisbane are good at that too, but Carlton were just able to outlast them.”

Lyon said Carlton’s comeback win on Friday night could set the standard for the team in 2024.

“Brisbane gave up the five goals in the prelim (last year) in the blink of an eye then showed the maturity of a side that announced themselves and said: ‘Hey, we’ve arrived’ – and I think there were elements of that tonight (from Carlton),” he said.

“When you’ve given up seven goals to two in the first quarter, 46 points down and you find a way to win in the first game of the year, how many times can you draw on that for the rest of the season?

“That’s why Michael Voss will be so proud of this group. He can say: ‘This is what it looks like when we go away from what we are and what makes us good – and this is what we’re capable of when we get back to it.”

Voss said his group would have to “move on from this game in 48 hours”, but also stressed “we’ll actually remember this day as a team”.

“It certainly gives us a lot of belief. They’re things that you look back in retrospect and say that was a really significant moment, but what we will do is enjoy it for what it actually is,” Voss said.

However, as impressive as the victory was, Voss said the Blues had some problems to fix before their meeting with Richmond on Thursday night.

“There’s obviously things that we need to work on from that game. We didn’t start very well,” the Blues mentor said.

“We were just making so many mistakes and almost giving the ball back to them and clearly when you get stuck in your back half, that’s a hard night to be able to defend, especially with Brisbane’s firepower.”

— NCA NewsWire