VICTORIOUS Carlton coach Brett Ratten said the Brisbane Lions’ habit of blowing final-quarter leads gave him reason for optimism, despite his side’s 32-point deficit at the last change on Saturday night.

The Blues staged a remarkable comeback at the Gabba to finish with a six-goal-to-none quarter and run out six-point winners.

Ratten said after seeing the Lions squander a similar second-half lead against Richmond, and another late collapse against North Melbourne in recent weeks, he never gave up hope.

"We'd seen through the Kangaroos game and the Richmond game, even with a lead they'd keep playing quick footy and you had a chance to get the ball back if you pressured them up,'' Ratten said.

"So we thought, `They'd scored quickly against us, we might be able to score quickly against them', but you don't want to give teams that big a lead and try and reel them in because it will give me a heart attack.

"They were in front of the Kangaroos by a couple of goals with two-and-a-half minutes left and they lost that game. So if you can get the ball in your hands you can score on them because they want to play quick momentum footy."

Ratten said the Lions' insistence on playing an up-tempo style, no matter what the score or state of play, coupled with Carlton's penchant for final-quarter comebacks, all led to the remarkable victory.

"I think our players have shown over the last 10 weeks that if we're a chance we can come back and hit the scoreboard and they grow very quickly," he said.

The Blues mentor saved special mention for midfielders Nick Stevens and captain Chris Judd, who both gathered 13 final-quarter possessions.

Carlton had twice as many disposals as the home team in the final term.

Ratten also said a number of lesser lights responded to three-quarter-time challenges.

"(Brett) Thornton had a few goals kicked on him (six by Daniel Bradshaw), comes out and plays on Brown and helps win us the game.

"(Paul) Bower goes off with a corkie and we put him back on to Bradshaw and he outmarks him.

"You look at some of the kids, Joey Anderson's last mark, (Bryce) Gibbs was down a bit but he really had an impact in that last quarter from a half forward flank and then you had Judd and Stevens winning 13 possessions each."

While Ratten said his side had made great strides this season, particularly with their three out of four interstate victories, he was loathe to make any predictions for next season.