Brisbane Lions and GWS Giants have produced the first draw of the 2018 season in a see-sawing contest at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon.
The Giants had the ascendancy for most of the day but were unable overcome the fast-finishing Lions in the 14.15 (99) to 14.15 (99) finish.
Claye Beams booted the Lions first goal of the game with a snap before the Giants steadied with two of the last three goals of the first quarter.
Trailing by 13 points at quarter-time, Brisbane began to swing the momentum in their favour with 6.0 to 4.5, cutting the deficit to five points at the main break with a Ben Sloan goal on the siren.
However, the Giants hit back in the third with three goals in a row pushing the margin out to a game-high 19 points at the 27-minute mark.
The Lions hit back late with Liam Dawson – who was impressive down back – kicking an important goal and Sloan booting another major on the siren.
Down by seven points at three-quarter time, Lions Academy member Jai Kennealy reduced the margin to a point before Zach Sproule kicked his fourth for the GIANTS, and Daniel Lloyd booted a monster goal from the middle to extend the lead back out to 12.
The Lions Academy players almost got the Lions over the line with Cody Stackelberg and Kennealy again reduced the margin back to a single point entering time on.
Brandon Starcevich had the opportunity to snatch victory from the Giants but instead kicked a behind and drew the score.
For the Lions, Corey Lyons (22 disposals) and Kennealy (14 disposals, two goals) were among their bets with Tom Bell collecting 31 disposals and eight inside
With Gold Coast beating Sydney at the SCG, the SUNS now jump to sixth on the ladder with the Lions and Giants equal seventh, two points outside the top six.
Despite making the fight for
“I couldn’t be prouder
“We lost (Matt) Flynn before the game and (Matt) McGrory in the second quarter with
“I was just so proud of the boy’s character to hold on at the end, against
“The Suns winning (yesterday) hurts us. We had the opportunity to beat the Gold Coast (last week), and we probably should have won, but instead were very disappointing,” Schneider said.
The Lions will play the Suns next week at Metricon Stadium, and the Giants take on Sydney University at Spotless Stadium.
BRISBANE 2.4 8.4 11.11 14.15 (99)
GIANTS 4.3 8.9 12.12 14.15 (99)
GOALS
Brisbane: J Kennealy 2 R Bastinac 2 B Sloan 2 R Bewick T Wooller C McFadyen B Keays L Dawson C Beams C Stackelberg C Ballenden.
Giants: Z Sproule 4 D Buckley 3 J Peatling 2 A Bonar 2 T Banuelos D Lloyd J Finlayson.
BEST
Brisbane: C Lyons J Kennealy S Mayes C Ballenden.
Giants: A Bonar J Peatling Z Sproule D Buckley I Cumming D Lloyd.
