Carlton star set for scans as untried pair shine against Lions

Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra's hamstring injury in Wednesday night's practice match continues a frustrating trend of soft tissue complaints, with the latest setback appearing certain to rule him out of Round 1 in just 15 days time.

Cerra failed to play out the game against Brisbane, and Carlton is likely to take the conservative route given his history.

"(He'll get) scans in the coming days to determine the severity of his hamstring and we won't know much more until then," forwards coach Josh Fraser said post-game.

Hamstring injuries kept him to just 13 games in 2024, before he bounced back to play 19 games last year, forming an important part of the Blues' midfield, averaging 25 disposals.

He has played 72 games since arriving at the club in 2022, and highlighting the Blues' investment in him, the 26-year-old signed a long-term contract extension ahead of last season, tying him to the club until 2030.

In positive news for Blues fans, first-year player Talor Byrne kicked three last-quarter goals, while Will Hayward and Ben Ainsworth combined for six to provide a glimpse of life behind Charlie Curnow in attack. 

Byrne's liveliness would have been particularly buoying for Blues fans starved of quality small forwards in recent times.

Since 2014, only Matthew Wright and Eddie Betts have had 30-plus goal seasons among Carlton smalls in an era where the role has exploded in importance.

The ground-level threat of Ainsworth and Hayward, alongside their aerial presence, also added bite to a Carlton attack that has long been reliant on taking marks inside 50 to generate scores.

"I think we've become quite dynamic in the front half: when you bring in players like Ainsworth and Hayward, and even the pre-existing guys, (Lachie) Fogarty and (Brodie) Kemp, they give you a different look," Fraser said.

"It's important we found different avenues to goal even tonight, we didn't connect on every play, but we need to explore what that looks like.

"Tonight gave us some really good feedback and to introduce Talor Byrne in the last quarter kick some goals as well (shows) we're starting to build some depth in the front half.

"I think (Hayward and Ainsworth) bring different skillsets to the side - they're multifaceted. They both have got a huge work rate, both pretty good in the air, both apply pressure at ground level."

Jagga Smith's composure and ball use was impressive, while for Brisbane, Will and Levi Ashcroft and Zac Bailey were among the standouts.

Meanwhile, Ryan Lester and recruit Oscar Allen both suffered concussions for the Lions and will enter the protocols, ruling them out of the reigning premiers' official practice match against Gold Coast.