Fresh from a stirring win over Sydney at the SCG - 16.7 (103) to 17.20 (122) - the Brisbane Lions Reserves now hold the best record of any team in the entire NEAFL competition - across both the Eastern and Northern Conferences.
The Lions have won 11 of the 13 matches so far in 2012 to sit atop the Northern Conference ladder - one game and almost 50 percentage points clear of their nearest rival, Southport.
The win also all but guaranteed that the Reserves will participate in the 2012 finals series.
Remarkable really, considering the same team finished last in 2011, taking home their first ever wooden spoon after securing just four wins for the season.
But their latest accomplishment has no doubt been their finest so far.
Never before had the Lions defeated the Swans Reserves, and their last meeting in Sydney resulted in a forgettable 150+ point defeat.
But last Saturday, the white-hot Lions Reserves overcame a slow start to overrun the Swans by 19 points.
Sydney had taken the early ascendency by kicking four of the first five goals, but the Lions responded with seven second-half goals to take a narrow lead into half-time.
The margin was cut back to just two points at three quarter-time, before the Lions steadied in the final term to run out three-goal winners.
Even though the Swans led midway through the final quarter, the Lions always looked the better side and probably should have put the result beyond doubt if not for some wayward kicking in front of goals.
In fact, the Lions had 14 more scoring shots than the Swans, but scored just one more goal than their opponents.
Aaron Cornelius was the game’s most dominant forward with six goals, while James Hawksley was given best-on-ground honours after a terrific all-round performance which reaped three goals and plenty of disposals.
A full review of the game will be posted on lions.com.au this Tuesday as part of the regular Reserves Wrap with Nathan Clarke.
