A hard-fought 11-point win over the UWS Giants at Yeronga has handed the Brisbane Lions Reserves the minor premiership at the end of the 2013 NEAFL regular season.

In fact, the Lions ended up finishing two games and more than 20 percentage points clear of second-placed Southport, who were defeated by Redland over the weekend.

The Lions’ reward for finishing on top of the ladder is a free pass to the Semi Finals on Saturday 31 August, where they will host the winner of this Saturday’s Qualifying Final between Southport and Aspley.

“It’s definitely an advantage finishing on top,” Reserves Coach Leigh Harding told lions.com.au.

“It’s been a long year, and we’ve earned the right to get a week off. It means the boys will get a chance to re-load and do it all again in a fortnight’s time.

“We’ll probably head down the highway on Saturday and watch the game between the Sharks and Hornets to assess our opposition. Both are experienced NEAFL sides, so I’m expecting a physical encounter.”

Last Saturday’s clash at Yeronga proved a good tune-up for the Lions on the eve of the Finals, with an inspired second half from the Giants giving the Reserves’ coaching staff more than a few anxious moments.

Nonetheless, Harding was pleased with how his team were able to hold on against the fast-finishing UWS side.

“We’d worked hard to be 5-6 goals up at half time, but they came back at us. They were kicking with the aid of a strong breeze in the final quarter, so it was good that we could withstand that,” Harding said.

Jordan Lisle was recognised as best afield, with the former Hawthorn big man dominating in the air both up forward and around the ground.

“Jordan finished with three goals, but could have had a lot more. I think we’d kicked 1.4 by quarter time,” Harding said.

“He provided a great target all day, and then in the last 10-15 minutes, we put him behind the ball, where he was very influential in getting the game back on our terms.”

Along with fellow tall forwards Michael Close and Aaron Cornelius, Lisle is doing no harm to his chances of returning to senior AFL action before the end of the season.

“Jordan’s really put his best foot forward with a good all-round game,” Harding said.

“(Michael Close) is also putting his hand up. He’s still got a lot of things to work on, but I think it would be good for him to get a taste of senior football at some stage late this year.

“It would be good to see him get rewarded, but realistically he’s a developing tall forward and will benefit from having another pre-season under his belt.”

SCOREBOARD

Brisbane Lions    6.6   11.6   14.11   15.15 (105)
UWS Giants         3.4    5.8     10.9     14.10 (94)

GOALS – Lions: Lisle 3, Crisp 3, Karnezis 2, Polkinghorne 2, Wearden, Cornelius, Close, O’Brien, Bourke. Giants: O’hAilpin 3, Growden 2, Schulz 2, Redfern 2, Barrett 2, Plowman, Jaksch, Ugle.

BEST – Lions: Lisle, Polkinghorne, Close, Newell, O’Brien, Wearden. Giants: Schulz, Bruce, Stewart, Miles, Darley, Edwards.