The Brisbane Lions are out of the race for the AFL finals after squandering a 32-point lead in the final quarter to lose by six points to Carlton.

The 18.7 (115) to 16.13 (109) win gave the Blues a mathematical chance of finals action themselves, although they will need other results to go their way.

The Lions trailed until early in the third quarter, when they suddenly kicked into gear to boot 9.3 to Carlton's 1.1.

But the tables were turned dramatically in the fourth, with the visitors booting 6.3 to just a solitary Lions point to claim a remarkable victory.

Carlton had 115 possessions to the Lions' 56 in the last, with Nick Stevens and Chris Judd leading the way for the Blues.

Cameron Cloke was a star for Carlton with four goals, while Ryan Houlihan and Brad Fisher each bagged three.

Lions forward Daniel Bradshaw kicked six in his 200th match, but the home side will rue missed chances with four more scoring shots than their opponents.

After being totally outplayed in the third quarter, Carlton responded as they had to in the fourth, returning to the dominance they showed in the opening exchanges.

The turnaround was capped just mid-way through the term when Lions debutant Pearce Hanley got pinged for a throw in front of goal.

Jarrad Waite provided the formalities, restoring Carlton's lead and, in the end, terminating the Lions' season in humiliating fashion.

The Lions' only score of the final quarter came with a behind in the 25th minute.

It was a desperate final term, illustrated by a sickening hit to Lion Jed Adcock in a contest for possession, that left him on the sidelines nursing a bloody nose.

Lions skipper Jonathan Brown said the loss was heartbreaking.

"Obviously the boys are devastated," he said.

"Probably the last quarter is a reflection of the year. The inconsistency I suppose, and losing another one when you're in front.

"Tonight we were a fair way in front at three quarter time so it's heartbreaking, and the double blow that you're out of September."

Coach Leigh Matthews described the third and fourth quarters as "chalk and cheese", and said his men just couldn't stem the Carlton tide without possession.

"Very disappointed, very dispirited," he said.

"After tonight, after 21 weeks, we tend to know that our season will end next week, so that's always a very hollow feeling when you get to that point.

"And when you are five goals in front at three quarter time and that happens I guess the feeling is a little bit more hollow."

Blues coach Brett Ratten said his side had a belief at the last break they could fight back for a win.

"I think we've had a lot of games where we've come from behind," he said.

"If we could get some score on the board we were maybe a chance to hit back quickly, and we did that, and with that we grew confidence and belief and we got a sniff."

The Blues face Hawthorn next weekend and are reliant on St Kilda losing their remaining matches to be a chance to make an unlikely finals appearance.

Brown said pride would be on the line when the lions face Sydney on Saturday.

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