Carlton’s Seven-Game Slide Meets Brisbane At The Gabba — Brisbane Vs Carlton
brisbane vs carlton at the Gabba arrived with two teams heading in opposite directions. Brisbane came in at 5-3 after moving into the top four for the first time this season, while Carlton arrived at 1-7 and already carrying seven straight defeats.
The gap in form was sharp before the first bounce on Friday night in round nine at 7.30pm AEST. Carlton had also led at half-time before fading in the second half for the sixth time in its losing run, a pattern that has left the Blues trying to stop the slide before it gets longer.
George Hewett Returns
George Hewett was named to play his first senior game after a month in the VFL. Billy Wilson also came into Carlton’s side, while Liam Reidy and Matt Cottrell were omitted.
That shuffle gave Carlton at least one midfield change going into a match where clean first-half work had not been enough in recent weeks. Hewett’s return was the clearest response in the selection mix, and it came as the Blues tried to reset after seven straight losses.
Brisbane Recalled Darragh Joyce
Brisbane made one change of its own, recalling Darragh Joyce to replace Ty Gallop, who was out with concussion. The reigning premiers entered the night with the steadier record and the stronger ladder position, and they had earned that with the win over Essendon that moved them into the top four for the first time this season.
Carlton’s own numbers made the task harder. The club had conceded six straight goals or more on six occasions this season, and that kind of leak has matched the second-half fades that keep showing up in the losing streak.
Gabba Pressure Mounts
The pairing asked the same question in a different way for both clubs. Brisbane needed to protect the position it had just climbed into, while Carlton had to find something that would break a run built on early leads and late collapses.
For Carlton, the immediate takeaway was simple: the line-up changes were built to interrupt a stretch that had already reached seven defeats, and Hewett’s recall was part of that attempt. For Brisbane, the home game against a 1-7 opponent was the chance to turn a top-four spot into something more secure.
