Coming into the season, Round 3 and Round 18 shaped up as very difficult matches for the Brisbane Lions. 

Port Adelaide and Adelaide have easily had the measure of the Lions in recent times, but in 2018, five-point losses to both teams can be considered as very solid results.

While the Lions had plenty of chances to win Saturday’s match against the Crows, the narrow loss was a good indicator of improvement when the recent head-to-head history between the two teams is looked at.

Leading into Saturday's match, the Lions' average losing margin against Adelaide in the past three matches was just over 100 points.

Last four matches: Lions v Adelaide
Round 18, 2018. 88 – 93. 
Round 9, 2017. 60 – 140.
Round 20, 2016. 177 – 39. 
Round 21, 2015. 131 – 44.

It was the Crows' six-goal second quarter that did the damage, Chris Fagan said post-match.

"We just had a poor patch for about 10 minutes in the second quarter where they got on top around contested ball and clearances and kicked four goals and took the game away from us," he said. 

They had nine more inside 50s in this period and the Lions’ pressure was lacking.

The Lions won contested ball in the first half (+8) but lost the second half (-13), which ended the streak of three consecutive contested ball wins.

With five matches to go, the Lions have now won 30 quarters of contested ball this season, which is the same number they won in 2017.

Ball movement was down on previous weeks.

From 36 midfield chains, the Lions went inside 50 22 times for six scores (3.3), while Adelaide had 37 midfield chains for 26 inside 50s and 13 scores (8.5).

In total, Adelaide had 63 inside 50s, up on the average of 55.9 the Lions have to defend each week.

After 18 rounds, the Lions are the AFL's most improved defence from 2017 to 2018. Scores against have improved 23.9 points (114.8 to 90.9). Defence at the Gabba has improved by 31.1 points per game:
2017 @ Gabba: 117.5pts against
2018 @ Gabba 86.4pts against

Darcy Gardiner (six spoils, 21 disposals), Alex Witherden (31 disposals, 7 rebounds 50s) and Nick Robertson (six spoils) all had great matches in defence. 

31 disposals was an equal-career high for Witherden who is charging into contention for the AFL's Rising Star award. 

Oscar McInerney was damaging in attack and took a game-high four contested marks to go with two goals. 

Stef Martin and Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacob both had 12 hit outs to advantage, but Martin's work rate around the ground saw him collect eight more disposals.