THE BRISBANE Lions have cemented their position inside the top eight with a comprehensive 46-point win over St Kilda at the Gabba.
In glorious Queensland sunshine, the Lions were by far the brighter side from the outset, thrashing the lacklustre Saints through the middle two quarters en route to a 21.15 (141) to 14.11 (95) victory.
Lions coach Leigh Matthews would have been delighted with his side’s effort in putting together consecutive wins for the first time in 2008 – particularly with a spread of 10 goal-kickers and a scoreboard that showed 14 goals to three through the second and third quarters.
Daniel Bradshaw and Jonathan Brown led the way with six goals each, while Simon Black was typically industrious around the stoppages.
Fittingly, in Indigenous Round, it was two of the Lions’ indigenous players, Rhan Hooper and Anthony Corrie who supplied the first three goals of the match.
To their credit, the Saints did hit back with goals to Brendan Goddard and Justin Koschitzke.
However the Lions’ narrow quarter-time lead of eight points was ultimately a reflection of the home side’s inability to capitalise on opportunities, along with some error-riddled attempts to convert defence into attack.
The errors didn’t stop in the second quarter but the Lions were able to significantly extend the margin as dominance of possession was accompanied by several spots of good fortune.
Mitch Clark’s tumbling effort from 50m wasn’t pretty but it split the big sticks, while a Scott Harding miskick fell to the advantage of Bradshaw, who duly converted.
The Lions kicked six goals to one in term two, with St Kilda’s only major coming from Koschitzke following some good set-up play from Lenny Hayes.
The third quarter was just as lop-sided. Having entered half-time with a 40-point lead, the Lions went to three-quarter-time a massive 69 points to the good.
Although St Kilda doubled its goal tally with three goals in the third quarter, the far greater balance of play was headed in the other direction, with Brown and Bradshaw leading the way.
Valuable bit players in the first half, the two key forwards exploded into life in term three. Brown booted four goals and Bradshaw capped off a pair of sensational marks with two of his own.
At the other end, Koschitzke, who was battling valiantly despite a concerted lack of supply, kicked his third and fourth goals to at least ensure some semblance of scoreboard respectability.
While the game was all over headed into the last quarter, Saints fans did at least have something to smile about during the final 30 minutes.
Brown and Bradshaw each kicked their fifth and sixth goals, but St Kilda outscored the Lions eight goals to four in the final term, including two goals from the previously unsighted Stephen Milne.
For the Lions, Black accumulated 28 quality possessions, with Jed Adcock, Luke Power and Tim Notting also prominent in the midfield.
The contributions of Brown and Bradshaw were pivotal, while Joel Macdonald and Josh Drummond generated plenty of run from defence. Clark had one of the best games of his young career, backing up Jamie Charman in the ruck.
The Saints didn’t have enough four-quarter contributors but Hayes worked hard for his game-high 33 possessions, which included 10 clearances.
Robert Harvey, Luke Ball, Leigh Montagna and Shane Birss also battled away and Koschitzke looked dangerous despite limited opportunities.
MATCH DETAILS
Brisbane: 3.6 9.10 17.11 21.15 (141)
St Kilda: 2.4 3.7 6.8 14.11 (95)
GOALS
Brisbane: Brown, Bradshaw 6, Hooper 2, Black, Power, Clark, Roe, Corrie, Sherman, Harding
St Kilda: Koschitzke 4, Birss, Dal Santo, Milne 2, Montagna, Goddard, S.Fisher, Reiwoldt
BEST
Brisbane: Black, Adcock, Brown, Bradshaw, Power, Macdonald
St Kilda: Hayes, Ball, Birss, Harvey, Koschitzke, Dal Santo
INJURIES
Brisbane: nil
St Kilda: nil
Reports: nil
Umpires: McLaren, Chamberlain, Head
Official crowd: 27,566 at Gabba
