SUMMARY
Could this be the battle for the wooden spoon? It's a match-up of 17th against 18th, but both teams would be happy with their form in recent weeks. The Lions are fresh from hammering Fremantle in Perth at the weekend, while the Blues have pushed Collingwood and Port Adelaide in the past fortnight without getting a victory. Brisbane has had a strong season despite its lack of success, and against the Dockers everything came together. Veterans Dayne Beams and Stefan Martin dominated and young stars Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry and Eric Hipwood all played leading roles. Berry did a great tagging job on Nat Fyfe before the Freo superstar went off with a hamstring injury and might be in line for a similar role against Carlton bull Patrick Cripps this week. For the Blues, Charlie Curnow has been white-hot, and with Harris Andrews out injured, looms as a difficult match-up for the home team. The Lions will be desperate to make it back-to-back wins and should do so on their home ground.
WHERE AND WHEN: the Gabba, Saturday, July 7, 1.45pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R18, 2017, Brisbane Lions 17.10 (112) d Carlton 11.16 (82) at the Gabba
R21, 2016, Brisbane Lions 15.9 (99) d Carlton 13.17 (95) at the Gabba
R11, 2016, Carlton 16.6 (102) d Brisbane Lions 9.10 (64) at Etihad Stadium
R20, 2015, Brisbane Lions 20.11 (131) d Carlton 9.13 (67) at the Gabba
R6, 2015, Brisbane Lions 12.12 (84) d Carlton 11.9 (75) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Lions could have won by a lot more when the teams last played, crushing the Blues in disposals (381-292) and marks (137-79). The two Daynes - Zorko and Beams – starred, combining for 56 disposals and six goals.
2. A possible advantage for Brisbane could be in scoring. Despite just two wins, the Lions are averaging 79 points a game compared to Carlton, which is the lowest-scoring team in the competition with 63 points a game.
3. Brisbane has dominated Carlton recently winning five of the past six contests - three of those have been by less than 10 points though. The Lions hold a 12-7 advantage in matches at the Gabba.
4. It will be a contest between the two worst first-quarter teams this season; the Lions winning just one of 14 opening quarters for minus 172 points, while the Blues are only marginally better, winning three for a combined minus 139 points.
5. No team has tackled less this season than the Lions, averaging 59.1 per game. Carlton has been strong in this area, averaging 64.9 a game to be equal eighth.
6. The two teams contain a combined total of two players inside the top 50 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings. Lion Dayne Zorko is ranked fourth, while Blue Patrick Cripps is 18th.
IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Lewis Taylor. The lively Lions small forward plays his 100th game and enters it in excellent form. The 2014 NAB Rising Star winner is fresh off his best season in the AFL and is building nicely in 2018. Taylor kicked three goals among his 17 disposals against the Dockers to be one of the Lions' best.
PREDICTION: Brisbane by 26 points
