AFL Round 2 – Brisbane v Carlton: Lions win leaves unanswered questions

by Josh Barnstable

This was the day to mark on your calendar. Brendan Fevola running out on the Gabba turf against his former side for the first time, and Lachie Henderson returning to Queensland, pitted against his old teammates. It was a day to look forward to for many people, but myself and my family and extended family were left reeling on this day with the news that my Nana’s husband had passed away after a long fight with cancer, one day before his 60^th birthday. But life must move on, and for me it does in the form of a replay of the Elimination Final of 2009.

Still without skipper Chris Judd, the Blues are still undermanned but it doesn’t show with Setanta O’hAilpin snapping the first goal before Jonathon Brown kicks the Lions’ first. Henderson snaps his first after some great skill by Eddie Betts, but the Lions round out the quarter with goals through Brendan Fevola (2) and lively youngster Todd Banfield, Brisbane leading by nine points at quarter time, 4.3 to 2.6.

The second quarter starts and Brown marks and goals, taking the margin out to 13 points. Henderson goals from a free kick, but the Lions fire away with goals through Fevola, Brent Staker and Brown to lead by 22 points at the main break, 8.3 to an inaccurate 3.11.

The second half starts and Carlton jumps out of the blocks with goals through Kade Simpson, O’hAilpin (2) and a long running goal from Brock McLean, giving the Blues the lead by two points. Mitch Clark goals from a free kick but Henderson and Marc Murphy reply quickly, taking the margin out to eight points before Brown kicked his fourth from a long way out. Mitch Robinson snapped a goal from a Ruck contest to give Carlton a slim seven point lead going into the last break, 10.14 to 10.7.

Rethinking my tip of Brisbane by 35 points, I start to wonder if the Lions are tiring after just five days break compared to Carlton’s seven. Simon Black kicks the opening goal of the last quarter, but Bryce Gibbs, playing like a silent assassin, kicks a big goal from outside 50. Brown made things even with the goal of the night from a tight angle, before Banfield converts after a terrific pass from Josh Drummond. Michael Rischitelli snaps his first after Banfield stayed composed under pressure, the margin out to 12 points, before Brown marks and goals to put the Lions out to an 18 point advantage, sealing the game. O’hAilpin marks at the tip of the goalsquare and kicks his fourth goal. Fittingly it was Brown who nails the final goal of the game, sending through his seventh in emphatic style, the Lions winning by 19 points, 16.11.107 to 12.16.88.

This game left me with some questions. Can Brown win the Coleman medal for the second time in his career? Can he even win a Brownlow medal? Is O’hAilpin the main target Carlton will kick to after seven goals in two games? Will Henderson prove to be a worthy pick up or just part of ‘that’ deal that saw Fevola head north? And how does a ‘sell-out’ crowd manage to be only the fourth biggest Gabba attendance in its AFL history?

Brisbane 4.3—8.3—10.7—16.11.107

Carlton 2.6—3.11—10.14—12.16.88

Goalkickers:

Brisbane- Brown 7, Fevola 3, Banfield 2, Clark, Black, Rischitelli, Staker,

Carlton- O’hAilpin 4, Henderson 3, Simpson, McLean, Murphy, Robinson, Gibbs

Best:

Brisbane- Brown, Drummond, Power, Johnstone, Raines, Patfull

Carlton- Murphy, Jamison, Scotland, Gibbs, McLean, O’hAilpin

Crowd:

36,780 at the Gabba

Votes:

3: Jonathon Brown (B)

2: Josh Drummond (B)

1: Marc Murphy (C)