The Brisbane Lions have strengthened their Gabba love affair by breaking their mid-season rut with a tense 16-point victory over a gallant Sydney on Friday evening.
With Lachie Neale and Zac Bailey main the way in which on Friday, the Lions took their time to shrug off the guests in an in any other case dominant second half to take care of their unbeaten house report with a 13.19 (97) to 12.9 (81) in entrance of 28,561.
Needing a win to maintain the faint finals hopes flickering, the Swans took it to their more-fancied rivals from the outset with fierce stress.
It took Brisbane till late within the final quarter to interrupt far free and consolidate their place within the high 4 with their forty first win from their final 44 common season matches on the Gabba.
With questions being requested of their premiership credentials after two defeats both aspect of their mid-season bye, the Lions’ victory was essential however will not persuade the doubters.
The Lions ought to have killed off the match earlier however kicked 6-14 after halftime as they dominated the within 50s however allowed Sydney to remain within the recreation, a lot to the frustration of coach Chris Fagan.
“No disrespect to Sydney but we should have won by a lot more,” Fagan mentioned. “It shouldn’t have been a game we won by 16 points, it should have been a five or six-goal win.
“We had been fairly a dominant crew … we had been utterly in management however could not end off.
“That was a little disappointing. Tonight we found a way to win but it should have been a bit easier.”
The massive constructive for Brisbane was the efficiency of father-son draftee Jaspa Fletcher on debut who regarded assured and produced some sensible touches off the wing.
Rubbing salt into the injuries for final season’s grand finalists Sydney, who’ve now dropped to 5-8 for the season, Sam Wicks was positioned on report for top contact.
Wicks is in scorching water for his second-quarter excessive shot on Ryan Lester when he leapt off the bottom and picked up the veteran defender along with his forearm.
Missing injured stars Isaac Heeney and Lance Franklin, the Swans began strongly and ensured the sport was performed on their phrases as they took an early two-goal lead into quarter-time.
James Rowbottom and Luke Parker had been pivotal across the stoppages and denied Brisbane any clear possession till late within the first half.
Milestone man Cam Rayner kickstarted the Lions in a five-goals-to-two second quarter, punishing Ollie Florent for taking him on out of the purpose sq..
The spotlight of the time period was a scintillating counter-attacking purpose by Fletcher who acquired the ball on the centre wing and side-stepped Aaron Francis earlier than nailing the end.
It gave Brisbane the lead for the primary time because the opening and was a savage blow to Sydney who had management after organising camp of their ahead 50.
Lions dangermen Charlie Cameron was stored quiet, restricted to only seven touches and no targets, by Harry Cunningham who acquired lavish reward from his coach, John Longmire
“Harry was just outstanding,” mentioned Longmire. “Charlie Cameron is a superstar, and it’s not an easy thing to do to play on a bloke like that.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
