The Brisbane Lions VFL have come back from 24 points down midway through the third term to defeat Williamstown on Saturday afternoon.
Despite an inaccurate day, the Lions rallied in the fourth quarter booting seven goals to two running out 19.16 (130) to 18.5 (113).
Four goals from Brandon Ryan and three to both Harry Sharp and Will McLachlan helped the Lions to their equal biggest score for the year.
A blistering opening quarter saw the Lions boot five goals with McLachlan hitting the scoreboard twice along with majors from Ryan, Bruce Reville and Luke Lloyd.
While the Lions had the majority of momentum, Williamstown were able to kick four goals of their own to hold pace, trailing by nine points at quarter time.
Jarryd Lyons had a day to remember collecting a game high 38 possessions, along with six marks and 10 clearances in a best on ground performance.
Not to be outdone, Deven Robertson had 34 touches of own and a game-high 11 clearances to form a lethal one, two punch with Lyons in the middle of the ground.
A seesawing second quarter, saw the Lions kick the first goal, only for Williamstown to boot the next four to take the lead midway through the term.
Daniel Lloyd’s first and Ryan’s third swung momentum back in the Lions favour as they took a four-point lead into half-time.
Williamstown came out firing in the second half booting six of the first seven goals inside 16 minutes to blow the game open and take a 24-point lead.
The Lions comeback started slowly through Darcy Craven and Ewan Macpherson but the Seagulls kicked the last of the quarter to hold a 14-point advantage at the final break.
It was the defenders who turned the tide in the third quarter, Darragh Joyce took 11 marks as did Jaxon Prior to arrest momentum going into the deciding fourth quarter.
This time it was the Lions turn to be the aggressor kicking the first five goals of the quarter to cut the lead entirely and take, what turned out to be, a match winning lead.
Three fourth quarter goals to Sharp did the damage along with goals from McLachlan, Ryan, Ewan Macpherson and a goal of the year contender from Luke Beecken.
The Lions now turn their attention to Werribee next weekend in a rematch of their 2023 Preliminary Final.
Final Score
Brisbane 130 def Williamstown 113
Goals: Ryan 4, Sharp 3, McLachlan 3, Macpherson 2, Smith, Reville, D. Lloyd, L. Lloyd, Hude, Craven, Beecken
Best: Sharp, Lyons, Robertson, Prior, McLachlan, Torrent
