The following is a list of some of the highs - and lows - of the Lions’ 2009 season which remain etched in our Club’s history:
* The Lions were kept to their lowest ever score as a merged Club in Round 5 against Geelong at Skilled Stadium. The Cats kept the Lions to a paltry final score of 5.3 (33) - two points less than the Club’s previous low of 35 points which was also achieved against Geelong in Round 12 of 2007. In fact, each of the Lions’ three lowest ever full-time scores have been in matches against Geelong at Skilled Stadium (in 2009, 2007 and 2006).
* The Lions’ eight scoring shots against the Cats in the their Round 5 clash at Skilled Stadium was another team low, surpassing the previous low of 10 scoring shots against Geelong back in 2007. The final 93-point margin also proved the third biggest loss in the Lions’ 13-year history.
* Former Lions spearhead Daniel Bradshaw became Brisbane’s greatest ever goal-kicker after booting five goals against Adelaide in Round 8 at the Gabba. His third goal for the night took him past former premiership team-mate Alastair Lynch’s previously held record of 460 goals with the Brisbane Bears and Lions. Bradshaw’s career tally of 496 goals remains the most by any Brisbane player - however Lynch still holds the Club’s all-time goal-kicking record (incorporating Fitzroy, Bears and Lions) with 633.
* Despite falling to St Kilda by 16 points in their Round 9 clash at Etihad Stadium, the Lions came close to breaking another Club record. The straight-shooting Lions booted 13.3 (81) which was the team’s second most accurate performance ever in front of goal. The Lions’ feat of 15.3 (93) against Fremantle at Subiaco in Round 8 of 1997 still remains the Club’s most impressive goal-kicking performance.
* In torrential West Australian conditions, the Lions overcame a spirited Fremantle side by 15 points in a low-scoring affair at Subiaco Oval in Round 16. The Lions’ final score of 9.8 (62) was the Club’s lowest ever winning score, surpassing the previous best of 8.18 (66) against Hawthorn in similar conditions at the MCG in 2004.
* Lions Captain Jonathan Brown’s first of three Club goal-kicking records for 2009 came in Round 12 against Hawthorn in Tasmania. The skipper helped lead his team to a famous victory over the reigning premiers with five majors - the most kicked by any Lions player at Aurora Stadium. Admittedly it was only the Lions’ second ever visit to the Tasmanian venue for premiership points, but it was an impressive feat nonetheless.
* Lions members and supporters helped achieve another record in Round 15 against Geelong at the Gabba. The vocal crowd of 34,274 people not only helped get the Lions over the line against the eventual premiers, but also broke the Club’s Gabba attendance record for a match against the Cats. It edged out the previous best of 34,107 people who watched Club greats Chris Scott and Chris Johnson play their last games when the Lions met Geelong in Round 22 of 2007.
* Brown’s eight goals against North Melbourne in Round 17 at the Gabba also became the most goals ever kicked by a Lions player against the Kangaroos. The previous best of six majors had previously been achieved twice by both Brown and Bradshaw.
* Lions fans helped break another Gabba attendance record in Round 20 when 33,421 people turned up to see their team take on the Western Bulldogs. It eclipsed the Club’s previous high of 30,639 against the Bulldogs which was achieved back in Round 7 of 2005.
* Brown’s third record-breaking goal-kicking effort for the year was further evidence that the Lions Captain enjoyed arguably the most consistent season of his career to date. He kicked a merged Club record 85 goals to finish a close second in the Coleman Medal behind former Carlton full-forward - and new team-mate - Brendan Fevola. Brown’s feat surpassed Alastair Lynch’s previous best of 78 goals kicked throughout the 2003 season.
* The Lions’ first AFL Final in five years - against Carlton at the Gabba - was made even more memorable following an historic and record-breaking fight back. The Lions prevailed in their Elimination Final by seven points over the Blues after trailing by as many as 30 points early in the final quarter. It was the greatest ever comeback during the last quarter of an AFL Final and - more importantly - kept the Lions’ 2009 campaign alive.
* However, the Lions bowed out the following week against the Western Bulldogs in their Semi-Final at the MCG. The 51-point defeat was the Club’s second biggest Finals loss since the merger.
While 2009 proved eventful, the Lions are now looking to make more history next year in what promises to be an exciting 2010 AFL season.
Click here to view a full list of the Brisbane Lions Club records.
