The following events will soon be consigned to Club history as the Lions gear up for another assault on the AFL Premiership in 2012.
The Lions will count down the 10 significant moments from 2011 throughout December, with the final instalment featuring on Friday 23 December - prior to the Club’s official closure for the New Year period.
MOMENT #8: QCLASH REVENGE
CLICK HERE to watch the video highlights from QClash 2
One of the Lions’ most satisfying wins for the season, also brings with it memories of probably the Club’s biggest disappointment of 2011.
It was a night that every Lions fan would rather forget.
The Lions were hot favourites to notch up their first win of the season heading into the inaugural QClash against Queensland neighbours the Gold Coast Suns, but were ultimately upstaged by the AFL’s newest franchise who claimed an upset eight-point victory. To rub salt into the wound, former Lion Jared Brennan was unanimously voted as best-on-ground against his old club and became the first ever recipient of the Marcus Ashcroft Medal.
The Lions had to wait more than three months before getting an opportunity for redemption, when they hosted the Suns in Round 21 at the Gabba.
It was a vastly different story the second time around, with the Lions dominating from the outset and going on to secure a 62-point win - the Club’s most emphatic for the year.
The Lions shared the scoring among 12 players - with six players kicking multiple goals - while midfield General Simon Black led from the front with 31 possessions to claim the Marcus Ashcroft Medal.
It was a worthy reward for Black, who added the latest accolade to his already remarkable football resume which includes just about every individual honour available in the AFL competition.
Meanwhile, ruckman Matthew Leuenberger played one of his finest matches for the Club with 19 disposals, two goals and a personal-best 42 hitouts in a dominant display.
Acting Captain Jed Adcock accepted the perpetual QClash Cup on behalf of the team, who celebrated the arrival of the Club’s first new piece of silverware since claiming the 2003 AFL Premiership.
The moment was bittersweet, however, with the Lions still languishing at the wrong end of the AFL ladder.
Sadly it was the Lions’ final taste of success for the 2011 season, and went only a small way to helping ease the pain from that first defeat at the hands of their ‘little brothers’.
While the Lions were able to extract some revenge on the Suns, that initial loss will continue to hurt and serve as motivation in future seasons.
But one thing is for certain, 2011 was just the beginning of what promises to be a long rivalry between Queensland’s two AFL teams.
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RELATED LINKS
Revenge is sweet
Lions roar returns against Suns
Young brigade gives hope
“It’s payback time”
QHeist (video)
PREVIOUS MOMENTS
#10: CELEBRATING GREATNESS
#9: BLOODING YOUNG CUBS
#8: HISTORY ON SHOW
