The Blues jumped out of the blocks with the first four goals to the delight of the home crowd at Carlton headquarters, and was still 12 points in front early in the third term before the listless Lions finally burst to life with nine of the next 11 goals to win 16.15 (111) to 10.6 (66).

For the bulk of the first two-and-a-half quarters the Blues established a premiership season blueprint: they won the ball well, moved it cleanly, caused some headaches with their mobile attack and applied a strong brand of team defence that the Lions found difficult to penetrate.

When Chris Fagan's men began to hunt the ball and move it with purpose and regained their composure, the 2019 preliminary finalist overwhelmed the Blues and the floodgates opened.

While Eddie Betts set the Blues alight with two of his team's first three goals, at the other end Brisbane star Charlie Cameron put on a clinic, scoring a game-high five goals in a typically electrifying display.

Our first 2019 draft pick, Dev Robertson had his first taste of AFL level footy racking up 11 disposals and 5 tackles. Grant Birchall also finished the game with his first goal in Lions colours.

Lions stars in skipper Dayne Zorko and Lachie Neale were well held in the first half before breaking clear after the break, leading the way for a wave of runners that also included Hugh McCluggage, Jarryd Lyons and Jarrod Berry, whose two goals at the start of the last quarter virtually put the game beyond Carlton's reach.

Both teams took the opportunity to use 26 players in a full-scale dress rehearsal for round one.

It was a symbolic occasion for the Blues given it was the first time co-captains Patrick Cripps and the returning Sam Docherty had led the club on the field in an official AFL game. 

CARLTON         5.3   7.4    9.6   10.6   (66)
BRISBANE       3.4   6.5    10.11   16.15   (111)                            

GOALS

Carlton: Betts 2, Gibbons 2, Casboult, Newnes, Curnow, Silvagni, Setterfield, De Koning
Brisbane: Cameron 5, Zorko 2, Berry 2, McStay 2, McCluggage, Ah Chee, McInerney, Berry, Birchall

BEST 

Carlton: Cripps, Walsh, Setterfield, Docherty, Martin, Newnes
Brisbane: Cameron, Zorko, Martin, McCluggage, Berry, Gardiner

INJURIES 

Carlton: Nil
Brisbane: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Johansen, Hosking, Broadbent
Official crowd: 7148 at Ikon Park