BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss has rubber-stamped Carlton as a genuine premiership threat after his side was belted by the Blues on Thursday night.

Voss described Carlton's pressure as equal to any team he had seen in the previous few seasons after the Blues’ thumping 91-point win.

The Lions coach said disappointment was not a strong enough word to describe his feelings post-match, and was more inclined to heap praise on his opponents.

"We know we've been smashed," Voss said.

"They were spectacular at times with some of the things they were doing. They were clinical with their ball movement and some of the individual brilliance they had."

Voss said his side had received a nasty reality check after a strong opening-round victory over Melbourne at the MCG.

"They were too powerful and too quick and pretty much dismantled us," Voss said of the Blues.

"They back each other (and) their foot skills are exceptional. They've got guys with genuine express speed, not just speed. They cover the ground really well and put you under pressure all the time.

"I thought their pressure at the contest was as good as I've seen over the last couple of years."

Vice-captain Jed Adcock agreed, saying the Blues' pressure was "exceptional" and a standard the Lions could not match for long enough.

After the Lions free-wheeled to a two-point quarter-time lead, Voss said it was not a case of his men giving in, but Carlton's relentless approach wearing them down.

Carlton kicked 18 goals to three after quarter-time.

"They were very precision-like in their set-ups, the way they moved the ball, the way they ran and supported each other," Voss said.

"That's something for us to take away, and we got a really cold hard reality of what it takes to get to the next level.

"We found out that when you play with the big boys, we've got to be able to execute the same sort of pressure over a long period of time."

Voss refused to blame the Lions' short turnaround that saw them get just five days' rest after playing Melbourne as opposed to Carlton's seven days between its two matches.

Voss said the truncated break did not excuse the Lions’ poor stoppage work (47-37 in clearances) or propensity to concede free kicks (20-16 against).

"I don't think you can blame five-day breaks for that," he said.

Michael Whiting covers AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.