Brisbane might’ve walked away with the win, but a rejuvenated Carlton walked away with more admirers after a season-best Blues blitz gave the reigning premiers an almighty scare that narrowly fell short of victory.

The Blues produced a cracking second-half performance, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their eighth loss from nine games this season on Friday night at the Gabba.

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Trailing premiers Brisbane by 49 points early in the third quarter, the Blues discovered some much-needed fight to at one stage reduce the Lions’ lead to just 10 points before eventually losing 14.16 (100) to 13.11 (89).

While the ultimately fruitless fightback will be little consolation after another defeat, it will at least give besieged Carlton coach Michael Voss hope that there are better times ahead.

For the Lions, whose performance was underpinned by 33 disposals from Robert Walls Medallist Lachie Neale and four goals from Logan Morris, the second-half scare will be a reminder that they can’t take their foot off the pedal.

It was perhaps a sense of complacency brought about after Carlton conceded six or more straight goals for the seventh time this season,

However, after copping six on the trot, the Blues responded with six consecutive majors of their own, including two from Mitch McGovern, to seemingly revive their hopes

Having trailed by 49 points early in the second-half, the Blues reduced the deficit to 20 points by three-quarter time.

It was only the fifth time this season that Carlton had won a second-half quarter.

A Harry McKay goal early in the final quarter further eroded Brisbane’s lead before LIons forward Kai Lohmann booted his second six-pointer of the night to stop Carlton’s run.

However, Carlton wasn’t done, with McKay adding two more goals to ensure the Blues at least won another quarter, if not the game.

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