THE BRISBANE Lions continued to put pressure on the top four with a 22-point win over Fremantle at the Gabba this afternoon.
While at times scrappy and by no means their best performance, the Lions' engine room marched them to their fourth straight win and seventh of the season.
They won 14.12 (96) to 10.14 (74).
Simon Black continued his sublime form in the middle of the ground, notching 28 possessions, while fellow midfielders Travis Johnstone, Michael Rischitelli and Jared Brennan, along with rebounding defender Joel Macdonald (30) were also among the most influential players afield.
Jonathan Brown booted three goals for the winners, as did Johnstone.
The Lions had a couple of scares in the third quarter with Scott Harding (knee) and Daniel Bradshaw (hamstring) both going off and not returning.
However, Bradshaw's early removal seemed precautionary, while Harding continued to cycle and warm-up on the bench.
It was another case of well played, but not well enough for Fremantle, who reduced a 40-point third quarter deficit to 19 early in the final term but could not go on with it.
Captain Matthew Pavlich lifted in the second half, booting three goals to lead the comeback.
Rhys Palmer was brilliant for Freo, the first-year player shaking a Justin Sherman tag in the first half before going on to rack up 30 possessions.
But for Brisbane, the victory moved them to 7-4 at the halfway mark of the season and completed a hat-trick of wins at the Gabba ahead of next Saturday's huge test against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
They trailed by three points at the first change, but slammed on six goals to one in the second quarter and never looked back.
It was not the most impressive performance of the season by the Lions, but they again showed hard work would win the day.
Even with Bradshaw outplayed by Luke McPharlin, they found other avenues to goal.
Brown came up the ground plenty to find the ball in the first half, and gave Brisbane breathing space with two goals late in the second quarter.
His 15 marks and 22 possessions ensured he was among Brisbane's best.
The first half was marred by poor disposal from both teams as they struggled for an efficient route into the forward 50m.
But after trading goals for the first quarter-and-a-half, the Lions gave themselves a 28-point lead at the main break with a three-goal burst in four minutes.
The big turning point of the second quarter came late in the piece after Brown was awarded a 50m penalty for Dean Solomon overstepping the mark.
Brown was shooting from 45m until the goal was made a certainty with Solomon's indiscretion.
The Brisbane Lions captain then backed up 60 seconds later with a strong mark and goal from 50m, and when Michael Rischitelli snuck in for a rare contested mark and goal from the same distance, the Lions were away.
Travis Johnstone took over in the third quarter, with a running goal in the fifth minute and a clever square-up to Scott Harding who ran into an open goal extending the Lions' lead.
However, Freo burst back to life with four of the last five goals of the quarter, including Palmer's effort after the siren with a brilliant kick from the right-hand boundary line to drag them back to a 25-point deficit.
Brisbane Lions 2.1 8.5 11.10 14.12 (96)
Fremantle 2.3 3.7 7.9 10.14 (74)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Brown 3, Johnstone 3, Black, Notting, Rischitelli, Notting, Corrie, Sherman, Charman, Leuenberger, Harding
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Farmer 2, Palmer, Mayne, Carr, Tarrant, Sandilands
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Black, Macdonald, Brown, Johnstone, Rischitelli, Brennan
Fremantle: Palmer, Johnson, Pavlich, McPharlin, Bell, Mundy
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Drummond (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Leuenberger. Bradshaw (hamstring); Harding (knee).
Fremantle: Drum replaced in selected side by Thornton
Reports: Black (Fremantle) reported for wrestling with Selwood (Brisbane Lions); Selwood (Brisbane Lions) reported for wrestling with Black (Fremantle); Black (Fremantle) reported for striking Selwood (Brisbane Lions)
Umpires: Stewart, Ellis, Jeffery
Official crowd: 24,506 at Gabba
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
