Ruckman Matthew Leuenberger has made a successful return from injury as the Lions Reserves found themselves on the wrong end of a 51-point margin to the Aspley Hornets. The young Lions showed promise in the first half but the more experienced Hornets gained a tighter grasp on the match the longer it went on, the final score being 20.20 (140) – 14.5 (89).
Leuenberger moved well and had 12 disposals and 4 marks to half time before being rested for a majority of the second half.
The match, originally due to be held at Burpengary, was switched to the Gabba to act as a curtain raiser for the Lions’ Round 15 match against North Melbourne.
The teams battled it out in an even and entertaining first quarter, featuring three impressive goals from Jordan Lisle. However the fast tempo style of the match favoured Aspley, as the brown and gold boys from Brisbane’s north held an 8-point lead at quarter time.
Lisle added to his account with Brisbane’s first goal of the second term, hacking the ball out of the air in the goalsquare with a powerful strike Tim Cahill would have been proud of.
Most of the second quarter belonged to Aspley, but inaccurate kicking restricted them from storming ahead, at one point kicking 0.4 from four consecutive shots – a feat they duplicated again in the third term. The teams headed into the rooms at half time with the Hornets three goals up.
Nick Robertson (33 disposals) and Mitch Golby (29) steered the midfield, whilst Raines and Moloney accumulated possessions in heavy traffic.
The rain began to pour down at the start of the second half as Brisbane’s chances of staging a fight-back dwindled, the home team’s ability to transition the ball from their back half hampered by the slippery conditions. However Aspley again wasted their opportunities to put the Lions away, kicking 3.6 to 1.1 in the third term.
The Hornets well and truly broke away in the final term, amassing seven goals and leading by as much as 70 points before some consolation goals for the Lions reduced the margin to its final state.
Jack Crisp was impressive, collecting 34 disposals and kicking 3 goals, including an absolute purler from the boundary line in the second quarter.
Former Lions Robert Copeland and Cheynee Stiller were quiet for Aspley as Brisbane’s Patrick Wearden played solidly across the halfback line. The fleet of foot Zac O’Brien finished strong, making 26 of his 37 disposals in the second half.
The Lions were also without their usual academy top up players, relying on several underage debutants to cover for the absence of the Lions’ Queensland U18 team members.
Brisbane have now slumped to a win-loss record of 3-8 and will face the UWS Giants for the second time in three rounds next week at Spotless Stadium.
NEAFL LIONS 4.1 8.3 9.4 14.5 (89)
ASPLEY HORNETS 5.3 10.9 13.15 20.20 (140)
GOALS:
Lions: Lisle 4, Crisp 3, Michael 2, Hayes 2, Wearden, Freeman, Paine.
Aspley: Hughes 4, Nelis 3, Sansbury 3, Lucy 2, French 2, Holman, Joyce, Copeland, Grose, Toye, Payne.
LIONS BEST: Crisp, Golby, Robertson, O’Brien, Lisle, Raines.
The Gabba, Brisbane.
