Carlton's pre-season victory over Brisbane was bittersweet, as the Blues' 15.13 (103) to 13.10 (88) win was marred by an injury to Adam Cerra, who is now in doubt for the opening round. The game saw a strong performance from the Blues, with three of their four goals scored by 18-year-old Talor Byrne, who is pushing for a debut. However, the result was not without controversy, as the Blues' trade recruits, Will Hayward and Ben Ainsworth, also shone, with Ainsworth finishing with three goals. The game also saw the return of Keidean Coleman and Lincoln McCarthy, who had been out with injuries, and the emergence of Jagga Smith, who looked comfortable playing against AFL bodies in his first unofficial appearance for Carlton. The Blues' new-look attack set to give fans hope in the post-Charlie Curnow era. The Lions, on the other hand, tried different positional strategies, with Oscar Allen making his debut, but his impact was minimal. The game also saw the emergence of key defender Harry Dean, who impressed with his solid positioning and free kick wins. The Blues' victory was a positive start to the pre-season, but the injury to Cerra is a concern for the team's opening round prospects.
