The Brisbane Lions have defended their home turf downing the Southport Sharks by 19 points at Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday.
The clash shaped to be a battle of two premiership-contending teams, with the Lions undefeated through three rounds and Southport looking to overcome an early-season form slump.
After two quick Southport goals to start the match, Tom Fullarton, who was outstanding throughout the contest, kicked the Lions first goal.
Brisbane wrestled back momentum and were able to convert that to scoreboard slotting six majors in the opening term.
Two goals from Nakia Cockatoo, Fullarton’s second and one each from Jaspa Fletcher and Wilson Barry allowed the Lions to take control of the contest and lead by 16 points at quarter time.
Cockatoo was a standout performer against the Sharks, kicking three goals for the match along with 18 disposals.
However, it was his physical presence, pressure and composure with ball in hand that caught the eye.
The Lions back six were also instrumental in the momentum swing as Darcy Gardiner made a successful return from injury.
Gardiner looked at home in the Lions defensive unit with eight marks and 14 disposals on managed minutes pushing his case to return to the AFL side.
The second quarter was locked in an arm wrestle early with Southport kicking the first goal before Wylie Buzza kicked two goals in five minutes along with Fletcher’s second to further open the margin.
Harry Sharp and Dev Robertson followed suit with some classy finishes to have the Lions leading by 34 points at the main break.
Noah Answerth and Rhys Mathieson were able to get on top through the middle of the ground putting plenty of pressure on Southport at the coalface.
Answerth finished with 30 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances while Mathieson was the leading possession winner afield with 37 touches to go with his seven clearances.
Southport came out firing in the second half kicking three of the first four goals inside 15 minutes.
The pressure index lifted early in the third term as the Sharks looked to mount a comeback on the back on an increased intensity level.
The Lions were able to kick the last three goals of the quarter as Kai Lohmann and James Tunstill got on the board while Fullarton booted his third.
Leading by 32 points at the final change, the Lions looked to hammer home their advantage in the final quarter.
Four goals were kicked inside 10 minutes with each side slotting two apiece, Cockatoo booted his third as did Buzza.
With two quick goals late in the term, Southport looked to amount an almighty fightback before Fullarton’s fourth put the game beyond doubt.
The win secured the Lions first victory over their Queensland rivals in a premiership season since before both sides’ inclusion in the VFL.
The Lions will travel to Sydney this week to take on the GWS Giants at Blacktown International Sports Park on Saturday at 11:05am.
Final Score
Brisbane 116 def Southport 97
Goals: Fullarton 4, Cockatoo 3, Buzza 3, Robertson 2, Fletcher 2, Tunstill, Sharp, Lohmann, Barry
Best: Cockatoo, Buzza, Fullarton, Mathieson, Answerth, Gardiner
