FUELLED by six goals from star forward Jonathan Brown, the Brisbane Lions coasted to a sixth victory of the season, accounting for Melbourne by 44 points at the Gabba on Saturday night.
The Lions went eight games between wins four and five, but they needed only seven days to add to last week’s upset of West Coast, building on a six-goal to one opening quarter in a 18.18 (126) to 12.10 (82) triumph.
While Brown’s efforts were telling, the Lions had contributors all over the park, including the tireless Nigel Lappin in the midfield and Joel Patfull, who kept star Demons forward Russell Robertson to a single goal.
Some 22,708 fans braved the Brisbane cold for Melbourne’s annual home game at the Gabba, and those in attendance were treated to a Lions opening quarter that sometimes resembled a training drill.
Capitalising on the run of Nigel Lappin and Luke Power, the Lions had 16 inside 50s in the first term, with four of them resulting in goals to Brown.
Opposed to native Queenslander Brad Miller, Brown was close to unstoppable in the early going and benefited from some top-drawer delivery to rack up 11 disposals, six marks and 4.1.
At one stage it looked like Melbourne might be scoreless at quarter-time. A Nathan Brown major ensured that wasn’t the case, but the Lions still had a commanding 35-point lead the first change.
The second quarter was a more dour affair, with the Lions mustering only 1.7 as the Demons found their rhythm and Nathan Carroll played tighter on Brown.
Melbourne, however, were only able to cut the margin back by three points at half-time, giving the Lions the opportunity to blow the game wide open in the third quarter.
And that’s exactly what Leigh Matthews’ side did. The first 17 minutes of term three netted two goals apiece, but the Lions booted five in the 11 minutes that followed, including four in the five minutes leading up to three-quarter-time.
When Josh Drummond snuck forward to convert a set shot after the siren, the Lions were 60 points in front and in no danger of being beaten.
Melbourne outscored their “visitors” seven goals to four in the final stanza but it was merely window-dressing, and Brown’s sixth – a 50m roost with only seconds to go – provided a fitting finale for the Lions.
Lappin, who has arguably been the Lions’ best player over the last month, finished with 25 possessions and five inside 50s. His creativity was matched by Drummond, who had 26 disposals and an equal team-high seven inside 50s in another influential backline display.
Patfull was outstanding in his marking job on Robertson, continually finding a way to spoil the Demons spearhead, even when seemingly not in position to do so. Quicksilver Melbourne forward Aaron Davey looked dangerous at times during the second half but was effectively corralled by Troy Selwood when it mattered in the first half.
Simon Black spent time off the ground after an opponent fell across his leg in a smothering attempt. The Brownlow medallist, however underscored his class with two brilliant pieces of third term delivery on his return to the field – one to Jonathan Brown with his trusty left foot and another to Robbie Copeland with his non-preferred right peg.
Copeland’s three-goal cameo and the accompanying goal celebrations were well received by the pro-Lions crowd, while there was a flash forward into the promising future when second-gamer Matthew Leuenberger marked strongly and kicked truly late in the third quarter.
BRISBANE LIONS 6.5 7.12 14.14 18.18 (126)
MELBOURNE 1.0 3.4 5.8 12.10 (82)
Goals
Brisbane: J Brown 6 R Copeland 3 J Brennan 2 J Drummond M Rischitelli T Notting L Power M Leuenberger A McGrath J Adcock.
Melbourne: A Davey 4 J White 2 N Brown R Robertson S Godfrey N Jones C Sylvia B McLean.
Best
Brisbane: J Brown L Power N Lappin R Copeland J Drummond.
Melbourne: A Davey N Brown B McLean J White P Wheatley.
Umpires
M Ellis K Nicholls T Pannell.
Official crowd
22,708 at the Gabba
