The Kangaroos have capped a memorable 250th senior game for skipper Adam Simpson with a 17-point victory over Carlton in a pulsating AFL clash on the Gold Coast.

'Roos tyro Shannon Grant booted five goals to spearhead the 22.15 (147) to 20.10 (130) victory - his team's fifth on the trot - in front of 11,649 fans at Carrara.

Lindsay Thomas and Leigh Brown chipped in with three goals each to ensure the 31-year-old Simpson had a night to remember.

Carlton trailed by just 11 points at three-quarter time but faded in the final term, while showing glimpses of a comeback, to lose their fifth straight encounter.

The effectiveness of their star forward Brendan Fevola was blunted after the AFL's leading goal-scoring suffered a corked leg late in the second quarter.

He still managed to kick five goals to increase his impressive season tally to 30 although it wasn't enough against the ruthless Kangaroos.

The next best for the Blues were Brad Fisher, Kade Simpson and skipper Lance Whitnall, who all nailed three goals apiece.

Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley said he was proud of his players' effort in holding the Blues at bay in the final quarter when Carlton threatened to launch a comeback similar to their NAB Cup semi-final this year, when they won after trailing by 37 points.

"We've been able to do that in the last five games," said Laidley.

"Teams have had a run at us and we've been able to just hold sway for three or four minutes and then get the ball rolling again.

"Carlton came to play and you could see that in the way they started off.

"They ... won the contested ball early. To our boys' credit they won it back and in the end I think they still pipped us but we were a lot better in the second half."

Pagan pointed out the Blues won the stats in the tackles, uncontested balls and clearances but lost out where it counted - on the scoreboard.

"We gave some silly frees away," he noted. "It's not an excuse, just the reality of the game.

"We couldn't quell Shannon Grant and Brent Harvey."

Pagan heaped praise on Fevola after the big forward played the second half with a badly corked leg.

"It was very courageous for him to keep battling and kick five goals on one leg," Pagan remarked.

"You've got to take your hat off to Brendan."

In a further blow to the Blues, Betts suffered a hamstring tear while Jason Saddington hurt an ankle.

Simpson said he was relieved to bag the victory after a massive build-up to his 250th game.

"It's been a big week," the skipper said. "I'm not really used to the back-slapping and lots of people giving me calls.

"It's just been overwhelming the amount of support I've had this week and even after the game."

In a see-sawing encounter, the Kangaroos scored three of their four goals in the first quarter through free kicks, Corey Jones bagging two.

Carlton kicked four consecutive goals in a devastating seven-minute period late in the second quarter to lead 12.6 (78) to 8.10 (58) at the major break.

With Fevola lacking his usual spark, the Kangaroos capitalised in a clinical fashion to kick three straight goals and trail by just one point.

Whitnall stemmed the flow with a goal before a left-foot snap from 'Roos half-forward Matt Campbell locked the scores at 85-85.

The 'Roos led 15.14 (104) to 14.9 (93) at the three-quarter break and dominated the final term, although the Blues showed patches of good form in an entertaining match.

Brent Harvey controlled the midfield superbly for the Shinboners, booting three goals and having 32 disposals.

The Kangaroos veteran defender Glenn Archer was a late withdrawal because his daughter is sick in hospital while Brad Moran pulled out with a virus.

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