AFL: Brodie Grundy dominated in an ominous statement from the star ruckman to help the Swans down Melbourne by 22 points in the season opener, 12.14 (86) to 9.10 (64).
Carlton faces arguably the toughest road trip in footy when it returns to the Gabba to face the Lions in a blockbuster Friday night preliminary final rematch to open their seasons. Brisbane goes into 2024 full of confidence after a strong pre-season and is perhaps as well placed as ever under Chris Fagan for a flag tilt following a heartbreaking grand final loss to Collingwood.
The Blues are meanwhile out of for prelim revenge over the Lions in a game that ended their season, however they’ll be without several big guns to start the season due to injury including Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh. The only place to watch every game of AFL’s Opening Round is Fox Footy, available on Kayo. New to Kayo?There were no late changes for either side, with Kai Lohmann and Jack Carroll named the starting subs. The Lions owned territory early in the game, with Keidean Coleman eventually finding Hugh McCLuggage in the pocket to kick his side’s opener of the night. In a confidence booster to start the at times wayward kicking Harry McKay’s 2024 season, he marked in front of goal and nailed the set shot before pumping both fists in celebration.The bad news continued for the Blues, with Sam Docherty exiting the field with what appeared to be a leg/knee complaint. He was assessed by medicos before going down to the rooms. In a huge sigh of relief for Carlton, Docherty returned later in the term with his right knee heavily strapped.The goals kept coming for the Lions in a scintillating and ruthless start including two to Dayne Zorko, opening up a 38-point advantage. So dominant was Brisbane that Michael Voss moved Charlie Curnow behind the ball to try and stem the bleeding. The Blues got a crucial late goal throughLachie Fogarty after he pinned Oscar McInerney for holding the ball deep in Carlton’s forward line.“ were embarrassing – seven tackles and Brisbane had 17 tackles. For every tackle Carlton had, Brisbane kicked a goal,” Lions legend Jonathan Brown told Fox Footy at quarter-time. “‘Vossy’ would be absolutely disappointed in that after a full pre-season of expectation and hope.” Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis meanwhile thought Carlton “missed a trick” by taking too long to move Charlie Curnow to try and slow down the Lions onslaught in the opening term. The Blues suffered another injury scare to one of their superstars early in the second term, with Cripps appearing to knock his knee in a friendly fire contest with Matt Kennedy. Lincoln McCarthy kicked Brisbane’s first two goals to open the second quarter and continue the home side’s onslaught. Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, the Blues were able to fight back momentum later in the period and get repeated inside 50s. David Cunningham kicked a much-needed goal before Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow opened his 2024 account with a finish from point-blank range.In a major injury scare for Brisbane soon after the half-time siren, Coleman came from the field in the hands of medicos with an unknown injury after getting taken down in a tackle. “This is a few worrying scenes right now for the Brisbane Lions, one of few problems they’ve ha ... this is a concern here,” Demons skipper Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.It was a whole new Carlton in the second half, coming out with even more intensity than how it started the second term. All momentum was going the Blues way as they got on a roll and couldn’t be stopped – Curnow kicked three of his side’s first four goals to open the half to completely swing the game.Freshly activated sub Carroll put through another to make it seven-straight Blues goals and get the visitors within two points in a shock turnaround.Before you knew it, Carlton was in front by four points, with Matt Cottrell kicking the next goal to make it eight-straight Blues majors in unthinkable scenes – marking a 50-point turnaround.Daniher finally ended the deadlock with a huge hanger and goal – ending a 46 minute drought without a Lions goal where Carlton banged on 8.5 – to give Brisbane the lead back. Suffice to say, the Lions needed that one. In exchange between Lachie Neale and George Hewett could be looked at by the MRO, with both players appearing to strike the other.Zac Bailey kicked the opener of the fourth term to give Brisbane back the lead ahead of a thrilling finish at the Gabba. Cripps, who’d been enormous in leading the Carlton comeback from the midfield, gave his side the lead back with a mark inside 50 for a true captain’s goal. It meant the last five goals were all lead changes, with Brayshaw noting: “This has gone from feeling like a pre-season game to a final.” Who else but Charlie Cameron to put Brisbane back ahead with eight minutes left, pouncing on a Saad dropped mark in a one-on-one contest and kicking a goal on the run to ignite the Lions fans.Watch it live on Fox Footy from 6.30pm AEDT.
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