The Brisbane Lions VFL side, courtesy of another Jarryd Lyons bag of goals, handed Footscray their first loss of the season.
On breezy afternoon at Mission Whitten Oval on Friday, the Lions took advantage of their experienced line-up, fielding 17 AFL-listed players, running away 17.11 (113) to 14.11 (95) victors.
The Lions shot out of the gates, booting six goals to two to start the game, taking a 23-point lead into the first break.
Two goals to Academy product, Tristen Meekin along with majors to Brandon Ryan, Henry Smith, Jarryd Lyons and a miraculous goal from mid-season draftee, Will McLachlan, helped the Lions take control early.
It was Lyons stole the show through all four quarters, the reigning J. J Liston Medallist booted three goals for the game to accompany his 32 disposals, five tackles and nine clearances.
This follows his last outing where be booted four goals against Box Hill in another best on ground performance.
Deven Robertson and Jaxon Prior both started well and continued their good form, finishing with 26 and 28 touches respectively giving the Lions supremacy in the contest and in the back half.
Lions mid-season rookie, Luke Beecken, showed plenty of dash off half back impressing with his 22 possessions.
Henry Smith produced one of his best games in Lions colours, seemingly unable to drop a mark, taking two strong grabs in the goal square to kick two of his three majors in the second term.
To go along with his strong day in front of goal, Smith took seven marks while giving the Lions midfield first use, with 25 hitouts.
Running against the breeze in the second quarter, the Lions were still able to win the term as Ryan booted his second for the afternoon.
Holding the 27-point advantage at the main break, the Lions defence was able to keep the Dogs to only four goals to half-time.
Despite not having a designated tall defender, the combination of Prior, Beecken, Joel Budarick, Zane Zakostelsky and James Madden were able to stone-wall Footscray’s forwards.
Despite losing both the third and fourth quarter, the Lions were able to continue to keep the Dogs chasing for the remainder of the match.
Kyle Dunkley bombed one from outside 50 after a burst from centre clearance to kickstart the third term.
Dunkley put in another strong performance with 23 touches, six tackles, seven clearances and a goal, to finish among the Lions best.
While Harry Sharp and Lyons kept the Bulldogs at bay going into the fourth quarter.
Despite Footscray being able to arrest momentum in the last term, the Lions consistently found the answers to come away with their sixth win in 2024.
Luke Lloyd and mid-season draftee, Darcy Craven nailed their opportunities in front of goals while Ryan and Lyons third, along with McLachlan’s second major, ensured the Lions would return to Brisbane with the chocolates.
Playing their third games in Melbourne in as many outings, the Lions came away with a perfect record and have a built a platform to charge up the VFL ladder through the back half of 2024.
The Lions will now return home in Round 12 to take on Sandringham at Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday at 11:05am.
Final Score: Footscray 95 def by Brisbane 113
Goals: Smith 3, Ryan 3, Lyons 3, Meekin 2, McLachlan 2, Sharp, Lloyd, Dunkley, Craven
Best: Lyons, Beecken, Prior, Smith, Robertson, Dunkley
