The Brisbane Lions Reserves had a scare from Mt Gravatt – and a couple of injury scares – before a scintillating second half saw them run out convincing 81-point winners at Yeronga on Saturday afternoon.
The Vultures reprised their stellar Round 20 form – where they were pipped at the post by Morningside – in the early stages of their clash with the reigning cross-conference premiers, leading by eight points at the first change, and one point at the main break.
But there was an inevitable sense that the Lions would find another gear to blow off the boys in blue and white, and that’s what happened after half-time, Brisbane piling on 15 goals to four to turn a potential upset into a formality, triumphing 23.17.155 to 11.8.74.
Highly-rated SA product Jared Polec went down with an ankle ailment early in the first quarter, and he was joined on the sidelines by Cal Bartlett, who hurt his shoulder in the third term, with the extent of the injuries unknown at the time of writing.
“We were 5-10% off our game in the first and second quarters, and a man down with Jared’s injury, and to Mt Gravatt’s great credit they took advantage of that,” said Lions coach Leigh Harding.
“I implored the players to up their intensity – particularly tackling pressure – at half-time, and it was pleasing that they responded so emphatically.”
Midfielder James Polkinghorne was moved to a sweeping role across half-back in the third quarter, and along with Patrick Wearden, was an integral part of the Lions’ second-half dominance, spring boarding from defence into attack.
Ash McGrath was also outstanding with 31 disposals, nine tackles, and two goals, along with ruckman Billy Longer, and key forward targets Michael Close and Jordan Lisle, who kicked seven goals between them.
Despite the unflattering final margin there were plenty of positives to take out of the match for Mt Gravatt, including the continued hot form of Adam Eckermann (five goals), Andrew Scott, and Daniel Mowat, and the fact the Vultures have climbed above Labrador into ninth spot; probably avoiding the wooden spoon in the process.
SCOREBOARD
Brisbane Lions 3.2 8.6 17.12 23.17 (155)
Mt Gravatt 4.4 8.7 10.7 11.8 (74)
GOALS: Lions - Close 4, Lisle 3, Cornelius 3, Gribble 3, McGrath 2, Bartlett 2, Pendlebury, Newell, Cameron-Reeves, Conway, Longer, Polkinghorne. Vultures - Eckermann 5, Scott 2, Estall, Scott, Green, Yoshiura
BEST: Lions - McGrath, Polkinghorne, Close, Longer, Lisle, Conway. Vultures - Eckermann, Scott, Lavey, Mowat, Johnson, Hamill
