Lions end Carlton’s season as Blues hit 50-yr low in Gabba horror show

Brisbane will face GWS in next week’s semi final after eliminating Carlton with a first-half beat down that looked like a “training run” at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The Lions piled on nine straight goals before claiming the 28-point win, as they resigned the Blues to a 50-year low as the first side scoreless in a final at quarter time since 1974.

Staring down a 60-0 deficit late in the second term, Carlton did find some fight in the third before falling away 14.15 (99) to 11.5 (71).

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Questions over Carlton’s match committee will likely be asked after Matt Kennedy was subbed out just 11 minutes into the second term to get Tom de Koning into the contest.

At that point, the side was already seven goals to none down.

A five-goal burst either side of half time gave Carlton some hope, but Brisbane refused to wilt to book their semi final ticket.

Late goals added respectability to the scoreline for the Blues despite the one-sided nature of the contest.

The only sour note for the Lions is a knee injury to defender Jack Payne, who was subbed out at half time.

Carlton’s Nic Newman is set to face scrutiny for high contact that dropped Lion Lachie Neale in a spiteful final term as tempers threatened to boil over.

QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT

Carlton hit a horror 50-year low when they failed to land a single blow in their scoreless start at the Gabba.

Not since North Melbourne back in 1974 has a side failed to score in the opening term of a final – until the Blues on Saturday night.

And down the other end, Brisbane jumped out to a five-goal lead at the first change.

It had been a messy start to the elimination final as the Lions peppered but chances went begging before Cam Rayner landed the first goal after 12 minutes.

And from there, the floodgates opened as Brisbane nailed four more goals – including one to Joe Daniher who was allowed to walk into goal.

Quarter time couldn’t come fast enough for the Blues, who were accused of not “coming to play”.

At the first change, Michael Voss’ men were staring down a 35-0 deficit.

“Carlton’s worst fears are being realized right here in this elimination final,” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said.

And the night didn’t improve for the Blues early in the second as Harry McKay and then Brodie Kemp both put shots out on the full while teammates missed easy targets.

Matt Kennedy was subbed out after just 11 minutes in the second term in Voss rolled the dice to get big man Tom de Koning into the contest as his side trailed seven goals to none.

And the Lions continued to pile on the pain.

Only an injury to Jack Payne soured Brisbane’s opening half as the defender limped from the ground after clutching at his knee. He was later subbed out of the contest.

Staring down the unwanted record as the first side to ever be scoreless at half time in a VFL/AFL final, it took skipper Patrick Cripps to deliver for Carlton in their time of need.

At the main break, it was Brisbane leading 61-13.

“It’s all one way traffic,” Fox Footy’s Jack Riewoldt said.

“This is a training drill for the Brisbane Lions.”

“It was embarrassing for most of that first half,” Lyon added.

But things started to unravel for Brisbane in the third term as Carlton mounted a charge.

After kicking the last two goals of the second term, the Blues had three more in the space of four minutes as Voss looked to take advantage of Brisbane’s defence missing Jack Payne.

The Lions couldn’t buy a goal as Logan Morris hit the post from point blank range before a calamity of errors saw them butcher an easy chance.

Callum Ah Chee finally broke Brisbane’s 30-minute plus goal drought to re-establish a 40-point buffer at the final change.

McKay gave the Blues a glimmer of hope with the first goal of the final term before Blake Acres cut the margin to 29 points.

But just as Carlton looked to be gaining momentum, Kai Lohmann landed his second goal – and only Brisbane’s second goal of the second half – to essentially end any hopes of a fightback.

Cam Rayner iced the victory only seconds later.

Tempers threatened to boil over late in the final quarter after Lion Lachie Neale was knocked down.

Late goals made the match appear closer than it was as Carlton kicked the final three goals of the contest.

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