The NT Thunder handed the Lions Reserves their second loss of the season last Saturday afternoon in a rematch of the 2012 NEAFL Grand Final.

The Lions narrowly won each of the first three quarters and maintained a 14-point advantage at the final change, before the Thunder stormed home with the only three goals of the fourth term to run out seven-point winners.

Although the Lions ultimately ran out of legs in the end, Reserves Coach Leigh Harding said the team’s performance in the first quarter was just as costly.    

“We didn’t come out to play the way we would’ve liked in the first quarter and allowed them to control the footy,” Harding told lions.com.au.

“Even though it was a tight game the whole way through, (that first quarter) came back to bite us in the end.

“We didn’t apply enough pressure early on. By half-time we had only laid 25 tackles, and we generally average 20-25 in the first quarter alone.

“By the last quarter we had run out of petrol tickets and the boys were out on their feet. The run we had just wasn’t there anymore, and we looked pretty flat.”

Jack Crisp and Jesse O’Brien continued their rich vein of form in the midfield, while Patrick Karnezis was the Lions’ most dangerous forward with four goals.

“Crisp and O’Brien were our best on-ballers and battled hard all day, while Richard Newell also gave us some good drive from the wing,” Harding said.

“With Billy Longer and Michael Close not playing, and Jordan Lisle getting a late call-up to the senior team, we probably lacked the tall forward line that we’re used to having.

“So we moved Patty Karnezis up there as a target and he was terrific with four goals. He also had a run in the midfield at times.”  

At the other end of the field, the NEAFL’s leading goal-kicker, Darren Ewing, booted a game-high six goals – half of the Thunder’s total score – including the sealer in the dying minutes.  

“Niall McKeever had Ewing for most of the day,” Harding said.

“Ewing had four up until half time, but to Niall’s credit, he battled away in the second half and held him to just a couple more.”

The Lions are still two wins and percentage clear on top of the NEAFL Northern Conference ladder, although Southport can edge one game closer with a win over Mt Gravatt this Saturday.

The NT Thunder, meanwhile, find themselves back in the top five, and are starting to show the sort of form that delivered them the 2011 NEAFL title.

“They’re one of the better teams we’ve played,” Harding said.

“They’re a hard-running side with a good midfielder and one of the best key forwards in the competition.”

The Lions will have an extra week to stew over their latest defeat, with a scheduled Bye awaiting them in Round 19.

“(The Bye) probably comes at a good time,” Harding said.

“The boys will get a bit of a break this weekend, and then face Sydney in Round 20 – so it won’t get any easier for them.

“It will be a good challenge to see how the boys respond, particularly considering we’ve been on top of our opposition for the past 5-6 weeks.”

SCOREBOARD

Brisbane Lions   4.4    7.10   11.15  11.17 (83)
NT Thunder         4.3    6.8     9.13    12.18 (90)

GOALS – Lions: Karnezis 4, Cornelius 2, Rutledge, Paparone, Banfield, Hammelmann, Bartlett. Thunder: Ewing 6, Wonaemirri 2, Motlop, Staunton, Dunne, Lockwood.

BEST – Lions: Crisp, Newell, O’Brien, Karnezis, Wearden. Thunder: Wilson-King, Wills, Rioli, Beugelaar, Staunton, Ilett.