The Gabba will play host to Saturday's AFL game between Brisbane Lions and Carlton Blues. The game kicks off at 7:30 pm with Brisbane Lions heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Brisbane Lions vs. Carlton Blues game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday September 7, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Where: The Gabba

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Brisbane Lions vs Carlton Blues Odds

Brisbane Lions vs Carlton Blues Preview

Right back in Opening Round, these sides played out one of the most enthralling openers, as the Blues fought back from a 46-point deficit to win by a point at the Gabba.

Five months later, the Preliminary Final rematch takes place yet again at the Gabba, where the Lions will be looking to get revenge and kickstart the journey into September from outside the top four.

Form certainly isn’t on the Blues side, with wins against the bottom three sides after their big win against Geelong in June, although their injury toll hasn’t been in their favour.

Brisbane may have been overcast as the most in-form team in the competition until it all came crashing down against the Giants and Pies, losing opportunities to host a Qualifying Final.

The Blues could see the return of Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay, Zac Williams, Tom De Koning, Adam Cerra, Jordan Boyd, and stunningly, Sam Docherty.

It’s a massive list turnaround, but all these players are out-of-form so to speak given a lack of recent game time, although should be fresh.

On the contrary, the Lions are coming in quite full strength taking out those with season-ending injuries, and are simply trusting on efficiency to finally pull them through convincingly.

Goalkicking has become a genuine concern for the Lions, who sit fourth last in the competition for shot at goal accuracy and have kicked themselves out of games as recent as GWS and Collingwood, and luckily not the Essendon one.

That trend feels like Carlton’s ticket to victory if they were to pull through, and back in Opening Round, they capitalised to work themselves back into it.

Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay combined for seven goals that night, with no other Blue hitting the scoreboard more than once, which does depend on heavy reliance on those two to get firing.

Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood only managed one goal each in Opening Round, and it has been a common trend in previous meetings where Brisbane’s small forwards and rolling midfielders punish the Blues the most in quick transition.

Typically, the Blues lack speed at the Gabba, but the smaller ground suits them and doesn’t rely on pace so much, however, the Lions have been extremely sound defensively at home recently, not conceding over 100 points since their win over St Kilda.

The return of Will Ashcroft to the Lions midfield has added extra poise alongside Hugh McLuggage, Josh Dunkley, and Lachie Neale, which will likely run riot in offensive transition.

A lot of weight is yet again on the shoulders of Patrick Cripps to lead the way with his bullish nature, and with George Hewett and Sam Walsh the only real constants in the team the past month, it’s hard to see continuity being a factor that will help them get the midfield edge.

Despite two previous gutsy efforts from the Blues, defending fast-paced transition hasn’t been their forte, as proven against the Hawks, and although Opening Round looked pretty, they were smashed from the outset, and simply can’t afford for that to happen again.

Brisbane’s home form still stacks up, but if they waste opportunities, there is no doubt the Blues will punish with the talent they have on the park, and with the large travelling supporter base that will follow.

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Brisbane Lions vs Carlton Blues Tip

Brisbane Lions vs Carlton Blues Teams

LIONS

B: D.Zorko, H.Andrews, C.McKenna

HB: D.Wilmot, J.Payne, R.Lester

C: J.Fletcher, W.Ashcroft, H.McCluggage

HF: C.Rayner, J.Daniher, J.Berry

F: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, Z.Bailey

FOLL: O.McInerney, J.Dunkley, L.Neale – C

I/C: K.Lohmann, C.Ah Chee, L.Morris, B.Starcevich, N.Answerth

EMG: H.Sharp, D.Fort, D.Joyce

IN: J.Payne, B.Starcevich

OUT: D.Joyce (Omitted), H.Sharp (Omitted)

BLUES

B: Le.Young, J.Weitering, A.Saad

HB: S.Docherty, M.McGovern, N.Newman

C: O.Hollands, P.Cripps – C, B.Acres

HF: E.Hollands, H.McKay, Z.Williams

F: C.Durdin, T.De Koning, J.Motlop

FOLL: M.Pittonet, S.Walsh, G.Hewett

I/C: L.Cowan, A.Cerra, O.Fantasia, B.Kemp, M.Kennedy

EMG: J.Carroll, A.Cincotta, A.Moir

IN: S.Docherty, M.McGovern, H.McKay, Z.Williams, T.De Koning, A.Cerra

OUT: A.Cincotta (Omitted), M.Owies (Suspension), J.Carroll (Omitted), A.Moir (Omitted), J.Binns (Omitted), C.Lord (Omitted)