Not even an amazing 48 disposal game from returning skipper Tom Rockliff was enough to stop the Brisbane Lions slipping to a 38-point loss to Carlton in Melbourne.

In his first game back from a hamstring injury, Rockliff led from the front with 18 contested possessions, 13 clearances, nine tackles and a goal as his side won the contested footy count 129-113 as well as clearances 42-25.

But the visitors paid a heavy price for ineffective use of the ball, particularly going into their forward 50 - the inability to finish their good work around the rest of the field allowing Carlton to hold a comfortable lead for much of the game.

To win the contested possession count for the second week in a row - something that has been the Club's biggest problem for the past decade - but fail to convert that advantage will be a major frustration for Justin Leppitsch and his coaching staff.

Adding to the Lions' woes was a shoulder injury to Allen Christensen, who did not return after being collected by Andrew Walker in a solid bump during the second term.

Post-match Justin Leppitsch confirmed Christensen has suffered a broken collarbone and will miss at least four weeks.

Apart from Rockliff's heroics, the strong debut of Jarrad Jansen was another highlight for the Lions, the big-bodied midfielder collecting 20 possessions -13 contested, five tackles, 4 clearances and his team's opening goal.

Mitch Robinson performed an outstanding run-with job on Bryce Gibbs, holding the Blues star to just 12 possessions while racking up 25 himself, 15 of them contested, and laying eight tackles.

Usual suspect Dayne Zorko (25 touches, 6 tackles) was also good, as was Ryan Harwood (20 possessions, 6 marks) at the back while Daniel Merrett held Levi Casboult to one goal.

The Lions briefly threatened to get back into the match in the third term.

With Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer failing to reappear from the rooms after becoming ill at half-time, the Lions took control in the midfield and kicked four of the first five goals after the main break to cut the Blues' lead to 21 points.

However, the Blues killed the contest by kicking the next five goals of the game and then cruised to a 16.6 (102) to 9.10 (64) victory.

The Lions' day was summed up by a passage of play late in the second quarter. Former Blue Tom Bell took a courageous mark inside the Lions' forward 50 running back with the ball and, instead of taking a set shot from 35m, elected to play on.

Bell only took a couple of steps before he stumbled and fumbled the ball, which fell to teammate Christensen, who was immediately pounced on by a pair of Carlton defenders and pinged for holding the ball.

The Lions return home for a clash with Fremantle next week - the Gabba producing much better form from them on whole in 2016. The Lions' most recent win against Freo came in round 16, 2009, at Domain Stadium.

CARLTON                4.3   8.4   12.4   16.6   (102)                  
BRISBANE LIONS   0.3   1.7   5.7    9.10   (64)

GOALS
Carlton: Armfield 3, Lamb 3, Cripps 2, Wright 2, Casboult, Tuohy, Gorringe, Rowe, Kerridge, Curnow
Brisbane Lions: Rich 2, Freeman, Jansen, Cutler, Keays, Rockliff, Martin, Schache

BEST
Carlton: Weitering, Tuohy, Curnow, Cripps, Kerridge, Armfield, Simpson
Brisbane Lions: Rockliff, Robinson, Zorko, Merrett, Jansen, Harwood

INJURIES
Carlton: Gorringe (knee), Kreuzer (ill)
Brisbane Lions: Christensen (right shoulder)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kamolins, Edwards, McInerney

Official crowd: 30,722 at Etihad Stadium

Find out what Justin Leppitsch had to say after the game: