The class of Travis Johnstone, Tom Rockliff and Aaron Cornelius proved the difference as the Brisbane Lions eked out a hard-fought 21-point win over a gutsy Aspley at Graham Road on Sunday.

The three listed players lifted their side every time it was challenged as the Lions rubber-stamped a Velocity Sports Cup finals appearance.

The Lions were in total control early and set up the victory on the back of a 5.2 to 1.2 opening term.

Aspley’s first goal did not come until after the quarter-time siren, when skipper Robert Copeland drilled a difficult set shot into the breeze from the boundary.

The Hornets made it two goals in 30 seconds of playing time when Josh Walker marked a Lucas Matthews pass courtesy of some strong work by Brendan Forbes.

The Lions booted two goals in a minute in reply to re-establish the five-goal break and a rout again appeared on the cards when Rockliff nailed his third.

Johnstone won plenty of hard ball from the outset, while Rockliff was creating havoc through the middle and up forward.

Cornelius gave veteran Brent Evans the run around in the first term, kicking 2.2, but the strong-marking Lion then had a keen battle with Adrian Williams after he was moved from full-forward.

Williams saved at least four goals with his defensive work in the second term and several dashes downfield inspired his teammates.

Aspley kicked three goals in six minutes through time-on to get back into the contest, only for Cornelius to step up and provide a four-goal lead at the main break.

Kicking back into the breeze, the Hornets kicked again early in the third term to get the margin back to 111 points, Forbes continuing his good work at the bounces and Matt Nickerson providing plenty of spark around the packs.

Evans gave his side plenty after being moved further down the ground and upset appeared on the cards.

It was just as quickly snuffed out by two super-strong marks and goals by Cornelius and a clever snap by Johnstone, who was finding life a bit more difficult against the tag of Matty Argus.

With a 35-point lead at the final break, the Lions appeared set for a comfortable victory, but the Hornets came again.

Three goals in the opening nine minutes had them right back in the contest, but the Lions countered with their clean run and disposal from defence from which Cornelius kicked his sixth.

Aspley pushed to the end, but failed to win their third game in a row and the Lions triumphed 16.9 (105) to 12.12 (84).

Aside from the trio of matchwinners, the Lions had good contributors in half-back Daniel Dzufer, and tall defenders Matt Tyler and Jason Roe.

Forbes threw himself hard at every contest and did a huge job against Joel Tippett and Daniel Murray, while Nickerson was lively and 17-year-old Adam Hughes was again impressive up forward.

“It was a good win although it should have been better,” said Lions reserves acting coach Chris Johnson.

“Our top three – Rockliff, Johnstone and Cornelius – are pushing for senior selection this week but with the 12 (listed) guys we had out there, we could have been a little bit better in some areas of our game.”

The win kept the Lions a game and 7% ahead of sixth-placed Mt Gravatt, while they are level on points and only 0.02% behind fourth-placed NT Thunder.

With the Lions’ seniors already assured of a finals berth, the reserves are keen for a taste of September action as well.

“It is very important – under the Vossy regime we feel the more games we can get into our younger guys at any level, the better off they will be,” Johnson said. “We will try to play as many finals as possible.”

SCOREBOARD

Brisbane Lions   5.2   9.4   13.6   16.9 (105)
Aspley                 1.2   5.4   7.7     12.12 (84)

GOALS - Lions: A. Cornelius 6, T. Rockliff 4, J. Roe, D. Dzufer, T.
Johnstone, S. Clouston, M. Austin, C. Sengstock. Aspley: D. Campbell 2, J. Walker 2, A. Hughes 2, R. Copeland, M. Argus, S. Rogerson, B. Evans, R. Toye, L. Edgecombe.
BEST - Lions: T. Rockliff, T. Johnstone, A. Cornelius, J. Roe, M. Tyler, B. Dalziell. Aspley: B. Forbes, A. Hughes, M. Nickerson, J. Nelis, B. Evans, L. Rutledge.

PREMIERSHIP TABLE

                         P      W    L    D     For      Ag         PC      Pts
Morningside      16    14     2    0     2218    1111     199.6   56
Southport          16    12    4     0    1685     1087     155.0   48
Redland            16    11    5     0     1871    1583     118.2   44
NT Thunder      16    10    6     0     1753    1509     116.2   40
Brisbane            16   10     6     0     1724    1486    116.0   40
Mt Gravatt        16    9      7      0     1520    1388    109.5   36
Labrador           16   7      9      0     1352    1367     98.9    28
Broadbeach      16    4     12     0     1212    1808    67.0    16
Aspley              16    3     13     0     1160    1918    60.5    12
Magpies            16    0     16    0     988       2226    44.4    0