In front of yet another sell-out home crowd, Brisbane allowed a 71-point lead to disappear as the Blues closed to within four goals of the three-time AFL premiers midway through the final quarter.
The Lions looked set to score a blowout win after piling on seven unanswered goals in a devastating 15 minute period during the third quarter but were left stunned when Carlton kicked nine of the next ten goals.
It took two goals to tenacious Lions midfielder Jason Akermanis late in the final quarter to seal the 21.14 (140) to 16.6 (102) win for Brisbane.
Akermanis and Daniel Bradshaw both kicked five goals to standout for the Lions who finished with 11 goal scorers.
After spending last week on the sidelines with a chronic knee complaint, Brisbane skipper Michael Voss added three majors at full-forward in place of the injured Alastair Lynch.
Blues trio Brad Fisher, Darren Hulme and Ian Prendergast all kicked three goals for the visitors, with Fisher a standout as the Blues bounced back after a disappointing first-half.
Voss booted home the Lions first goal with five minutes gone only to see the early lead cancelled out by a Nick Stevens’ major.
Bradshaw then single-handedly ripped apart the Blues’ defence with four goals in a devastating seven minute period that allowed Brisbane to escape to a 32-7 buffer.
Ryan Houlihan kicked Carlton’s second goal of the quarter before Voss kicked the home side 25-points ahead at the first break.
The Blues tightened their defence early in the second period and were rewarded with a goal to the strong marking Lance Whitnall.
Brisbane’s reply came almost immediately through rising star Richard Hadley before Carlton hit back with two successive goals during a scrappy period of play to narrow the margin to 14 points.
But two goals late in the quarter to Jonathan Brown and Akermanis saw the Lions take a 30-point lead into half-time.
Carlton began the third quarter positively with Prendergast kicking the period’s first goal before Brisbane ran riot.
Two sensational goals by Akermanis – including one that was brought upon by a rugby league-style fend – highlighted the passage.
The Lions moved the lead along from 23 to 71 points during a dominant 15 minute period before Carlton hit back with three quick goals to close the quarter.
Carlton substitute Fisher was outstanding in the final quarter as the Blues kicked six unanswered goals to send a scare into the Lions camp before Akermanis’ composure saw Brisbane home.
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews denied that the Lions took their foot off the pedal in the latter stages.
“Our last quarter wasn’t an exceptional part of the game, but we were a long way in front,” Matthews said after the win.
“Sometimes circumstances work out where the opposition get a run in the game, but I don’t know the answers to that.
“I know people use that term, but I don’t think taking the foot off the pedal is the right term.”
Matthews was pleased ruckman Clark Keating came through the game unscathed after missing five weeks with a shoulder injury.
However, heading back to Perth next week to play Fremantle, the Lions have two injury concerns with Justin Leppitsch the more serious from Saturday night’s game.
“Craig McRae seems to be a bit tight in the calf so we are hoping that won’t be much,” commented Matthews.
“Justin (Leppitsch) got a knock on the thigh early which got worse by the end of the night - we are hoping it is bruising and not tearing or straining.”
Carlton coach Denis Pagan said there were both pluses and minuses to come from the match.
“When you get beaten by 38 points you’re disappointed,” Pagan said.
“At the end of the day, the strength and power of the Brisbane Football Club and the talent overwhelmed us, but there were a lot of areas I was really pleased with.
“There are a lot of positives to come out of tonight because other teams will come up here and get smashed by a lot more than us.
“Here and Subiaco are the two toughest assignments for a young, growing, developing team and we’re certainly that,” he said.
Brisbane: 6.4 9.9 17.11 21.14 (140)
Carlton: 2.3 5.5 9.6 16.6 (102)
Goals: Brisbane: Akermanis 5, Bradshaw 5, Voss 3, Brown, McGrath, Hadley, Brennan, Charman, Pike, Scott, Notting
Carlton: Fisher 3, Hulme 3, Prendergast 3, Lappin 2, Whitnall 2, Camporeale, Stevens, Houlihan
Best: Brisbane: Power, Black, Akermanis, Charman Johnson, Michael, Bradshaw
Carlton: Camporeale, Fisher, Prendergast, Stevens, Lappin, Whitnall
Injuries: Brisbane: McRae (calf), Leppitsch (thigh)
Carlton: Deluca (cheek), Davies (hamstring)
Changes: Hawthorn Koutoufides (hamstring) replaced in the selected side by Kenna
Reports: None
Umpires: Davis, McLaren, Morris
Crowd: 34,368 at the Gabba
