Two fan bases with enormous expectations clash at the Gabba on Saturday in their first finals meeting since 2009.

The Lions have had their fair share of question marks throughout the course of the year, but they went a long way to silencing some of their doubters with a convincing 48-point win over Port Adelaide a fortnight ago.

Carlton wrote another chapter in their fairytale run last week with another nail-biting victory over the Dees, setting up a fascinating battle for coach Michael Voss against his former team.

Blues fans have had their pulses raised over the last fortnight, but with young players like Blake Acres and Sam Walsh stepping up when it matters most, there’s no telling how far the Carlton freight train can roll.

Playing at the Gabba is a different beast though, as most teams have found out the hard way this season.

The Lions boast an impressive 13-game winning streak at home, and although the Blues will have plenty of traveling support, you can expect to hear the full voice of Brisbane’s 50,000+ members.

At the same time, Chris Fagan’s men have been on this same stage previously and failed to perform.

Last year’s bitter disappointment against Geelong will be fresh in the minds of the players, and with a healthy list outside of Rising Star favourite Will Ashcroft, there are genuinely no excuses for Brisbane not to be advancing.

If there is one chink in the Lions’ armor on the field, it has to be goal-kicking.

Brisbane has been its own worst enemy in front of the sticks this year, but it’s worth noting they’ve averaged nearly four more goals at home than they have on the road.

As for Carlton, it’s all about starting on time.

Slow starts have nearly cost the Blues twice over the last two weeks, a massive danger sign against a Brisbane team that actually leads the league in most first quarters won.

For what it’s worth, the Lions have also been an excellent third quarter team this season, making them even tougher to back against if Joe Daniher can pick up where he left off with four goals against Port Adelaide.

Harris Andrews is also a huge key to this game if he plays on Charlie Curnow, but with Brisbane fresh and the Blues only just squeaking by in recent weeks, the Lions look a nice bet to finally advance to the big dance.

The post Brisbane Lions vs Carlton Blues Tips and Odds – AFL 2023 Preliminary Final first appeared on JustBetting.com.au.