JONATHAN Brown has celebrated his 200th AFL match in style, as the Brisbane Lions flogged a dispirited Essendon by 27 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Brown was unstoppable in the first half, but it was hard to blame his direct opponent Michael Hurley, who worked hard but was given no help from up the field, with the Brisbane Lions midfield being put under no pressure by the Bombers. Brown finished with 16 marks and four goals.

But there was bad news for the Lions out of the game, with Troy Selwood taken to hospital after a collision with Bomber Kyle Hardingham left him writhing on the ground with chest problems.

The Lions cleared out early in the game, kicking the first four, then kicked all five in the second have the game over as a contest at the long break. The Bombers were better in the second half, but the sting was well out of the game by then, despite a few junk time goals in the last, with the Lions winning 14.11 (95) to 10.8 (68).

Other Lions to do well were young ruckman Matthew Leuenberger, who not only competed well at bounces but also worked hard around the ground, while Michael Rischitelli, Daniel Rich and young Tom Rockliff all stood out.

There were plenty of Essendon players missing - only seven Bombers players had played 50 or more AFL matches - but the lack of energy, run and urgency was obvious to even the casual observer, and the complete lack of desire must make coach Matthew Knights despair.

In next week’s final game of the season the Lions take on the rampaging Swans at the Gabba.

Essendon             2.1  2.4  4.6   10.8 (68)
Brisbane Lions    5.3  10.5 12.9  14.11 (95)

GOALS
Essendon: Reimers 2, Marigliani, Carlisle, Monfries, Howlett, Stanton, Neagle, Myers
Brisbane Lions: Brown 4, Banfield 3, Rischitelli 2, Clark, Brennan, Adcock, Polkinghorne, Redden

BEST
Essendon:  Howlett, McVeigh, Hurley, Watson, Carlisle, Hille
Brisbane Lions: Brown, McGrath, Leuenberger, Rockliff, Rischitelli, Redden

INJURIES
Essendon: Paddy Ryder (virus) replaced in selected side by Michael Quinn
Brisbane Lions: Selwood (chest)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stewart, Grun, Chamberlain

Official crowd: 28,785 at Etihad Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs