A second-half fadeout has left the Kangaroos wondering how they wasted a 37-point third-quarter lead and means the Blues will now host next weekend's NAB Cup final against the Brisbane Lions.

The Roos, playing in front of a 7,728 crowd at their second home on the Gold Coast, just had no answer to Brendan Fevola and the Blues as they turned around a seemingly unassailable deficit to win 1.13.13 (100) to 1.12.4 (85) on Saturday night.

The visitors kicked 10 goals straight - and kept the Kangaroos to just two scores in the final term - to reply with interest the eight straight the hosts booted either side of half-time in a see-sawing battle.

Fevola, seemingly the only player standing between the Kangaroos until the final term kicked eight goals including five-in-a-row for Carlton and a supergoal to open his account in an eye-catching individual display.

Glenn Archer, playing his 36th pre-season game to join Wayne Carey in equal second on the all-time list, kicked three and Shannon Grant four for the Kangaroos.

Carlton dominated a low-scoring first quarter even though they finished without scoring a six-pointer after kicking four behinds as well as Fevola's supergoal, the first of the contest, which gave Carlton an early lead.

But the Roos had forced themselves ahead by half-time despite Fevola adding two more for the visitors and Marc Murphy shrugging off the attentions of Jess Sinclair and Shannon Watt to slot home.

Diminutive on-baller Brent Harvey started the fight back when he cut inside from the left and confidently split the posts to give Kangaroos the lead.

Then, Grant took over with three goals in five hectic minutes which gave the hosts a six-point buffer going into the long break before completing running away with proceedings early in the third.

Five more majors including Archer's double and Nathan Thompson's supergoal made the advantage 37 before Fevola broke the sequence, then held onto a leaping contested mark above Michael Firrito before adding his fifth of the night.

With the Blues now just 13 points behind heading into the fourth, the Kangaroos still couldn't halt their charge and when Fevola booted home from in front, the visitors had retaken the lead.

And when Nick Stevens split the middle from the sideline, Carlton had the 12 goals required to host the final and held on to complete an unlikely win.

KANGAROOS: 0.1.2, 0.6.4, 1.10.4, 1.12.4 (85)CARLTON: 1.0.4, 1.3.7, 1.7.9, 1.13.13 (100)

NINE POINT GOALS: Kangaroos:ThompsonCarlton: FevolaSIX POINT GOALS: Kangaroos:Grant 4, Archer 3, Thomas 2, Campbell 2, Harvey Carlton: Fevola 7, Betts 2, Murphy 2, Stevens, FisherBEST: Kangaroos:Simpson, Grant, Archer, Pratt Carlton: Fevola, Stevens, Murphy, ClokeINJURIES: Kangaroos:Nil Carlton:NilREPORTS:NilUMPIRES: Vozzo, Stevic, Grun, ChamberlainCROWD: 7,228 at Carrara Stadium