IT WAS a goal-kicking master class just one week after suffering a bad case of the yips - and Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews has no idea how his side turned it around.

Matthews was still scratching his head after the Lions at one stage kicked 18.1 before running out 21.10 (136) to 18.16 (124) winners over Carlton to get their AFL season back on track.

It was in stark contrast to the previous round's 8.15 effort in a 24-point upset loss to the Kangaroos.

Matthews was still buzzing over the "freaky" display as he counted down to a round six showdown with a revitalised Fremantle at the Gabba on Sunday.

But the four-time premiership coach was the first to admit he had no magic goal-kicking remedy.

"Freaky is the right word. We kicked goal after goal and they weren't just gimmes," he said.

"Every man and his dog thinks they have the theory about how to convert better but I can tell you no one has.

"One player one week can kick six straight and the same player the following week can kick 0.6 - his technique hasn't changed.

"(But) it was very important that Jamie Charman kicked the first two goals (against the Blues).

"That's very important in the psyche of the whole team.

"We had a bad goal-kicking day the week before so those first couple of shots were really critical - you forget about last week when that happens."

Key ruckman Charman was impressive used up forward and veteran Chris Johnson continued to shine as a small forward in the absence of Daniel Bradshaw who is out for the season with a knee injury.

Matthews said all he did before the Carlton clash was not mention the previous week's poor kicking effort.

"We didn't talk about it deliberately because the last thing you want to do is put more pressure on the players' minds - the players know they have to convert," he said.

Meanwhile, Matthews was still at a loss as to when triple premiership player Nigel Lappin (thigh) would return.

Lappin, 30, has been out since the Lions' round one victory over Hawthorn.

Matthews said Lappin had quad muscle "issues" that stemmed from his initial corked thigh complaint.

"Bad muscle damage has been eliminated but he has still been a bit tender to kick hard," he said.

"He's still a possibility for this week, but it's uncertain too."

Matthews said Troy Selwood (back) was another reserves game away from returning and Josh Drummond - who has overcome shoulder, hamstring and elbow injuries - was "in contention" for the Dockers.