The Brisbane Lions travel to Ikon Park this weekend to take on the Carlton in Round 7 of the VFL.
The Lions will come into the match well-rested after a bye in Round 6, while Carlton enters the clash fresh off a five-point loss to the Footscray Bulldogs.
It has been a blistering start to the year for the Lions’ winning five games from five starts.
After a preliminary final loss last season, the Lions have taken 2023 by storm to be one of two undefeated teams through six weeks of football.
Carlton has three wins and three losses but still sits just inside the top eight.
The Lions early season success has been off the back of finding ways to win and a team first attitude, according to VFL Head Coach Ben Hudson.
Two come-from-behind wins in the first two rounds have been followed by three clinical performances as the Lions stake their claim to early premiership favouritism.
Last time we met
Carlton and the Lions faced off in Round 1 of the 2022 VFL season at the same venue they are set to met at this time around.
The Blues ran out 42-point winners that day courtesy of two four-goal quarters in which the Lions could only manage one and two majors respectively.
Ryan Lester was the Lions best that day, collecting 28 touches, along with Rhys Mathieson who had 24 disposals and six clearances.
This time around
The Lions have been a team in the last three rounds who have scored heavily on their opponents kicking over 100 points with a winning margin of 56 points.
In defence, the Lions have only allowed over 90 points once, against the Southport Sharks.
The stingy defence has been led by towering key backmen Harry Arnold and aided by rebounding half-backs James Madden, Jaxon Prior and Cal Ah Chee.
A strong back six has allowed the Lions to score heavily and tall forwards Tom Fullerton and Wylie Buzza have taken full advantage.
The forward line as a whole has been functioning like a well-oiled machine, Buzza and Fullerton are both averaging multiple goals per game.
While small forward Kai Lohmann and midfielders Jimmy Tunstill and Deven Robertson have consistently been hitting the scoreboard.
The Lions will be looking to Saturday’s game as another opportunity to push their premiership credentials against a side looking to bounce back after a close loss.
