'Hard to explain': Moment of 'stupidity' turns tide as Lions cash-in: 3-2-1

The Brisbane Lions saw off a plucky Sydney to remain in the top four with a 97-81 win at the Gabba on Friday night.

The 13.19 (97) to 12.9 (81) victory was soured by a third quarter report of Lion Jarrod Berry, who could not believe he was cited for rough conduct in a tackle on Will Hayward.

The moment left commentators stunned and confused, while the Match Review will have to determine whether “excessive force” was used.

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For Sydney, their 2023 season is essentially all but over after an eighth loss in 13 games.

“I don’t think Sydney can get in. They’re not going to participate in September,” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon warned.

It’s a sad tale for last season’s grand finalists who have battled a brutal injury toll – particularly in defence.

They will have their own Match Review woes with Sam Wicks reported for his crude bump on Lion Ryan Lester.

QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT

Brisbane may be the second highest scoring team so far this season, but neither the Swans or Lions could find a goal in the opening 12 minutes.

Deven Robertson sprayed a chance at one end while first Tom Papley (out on the full) and then Luke Parker missed with their opportunities.

It was a calamity of errors as Conor McKenna put the footy out on the full kicking out, but Swan James Rowbottom kicked it into the man on the mark in response.

“The Swans can’t get into a shootout,” commentator Matthew Richardson.

“They are happy with this style of game. Their contested footy is good.”

It took Sam Wicks to break the goal drought in the 14th minute when he got in front of the pack and snapped truly.

“Great start for the Swans,” Richardson said.

When Ryan Lester was caught in a Justin McInerney tackle, suddenly the Swans had two in a minute and Brisbane coach Chris Fagan had headaches.

“There were two or three Swans that could have finished the job there (on Lester),” Richardson said.

Brisbane had more issues when Jack Payne limped off after his ankle got caught in a marking contest.

But the Lions remained in touch through goals to Jarrod Berry and McKenna.

At quarter time it was Sydney holding a 26-14 lead.

When Ollie Florent tried to put a step on Cam Rayner in his back half, he got pinged holding the ball and the Lions converted.

But Tom Papley had the immediate reply with a quick snap and took off to celebrate.

“He went on the hunt for high fives!” commentator James Brayshaw said.

Payne tried to return but looked proppy on that injured leg before he headed back to the bench.

He was spotted going down into the rooms moments later.

And without the big body of Payne, Joel Amartey took his first grab inside 50 – but sent his set shot wide.

The momentum slowly started to turn when the Swans couldn’t find an avenue to goal despite having the second term played in their front half.

When Sam Wicks opted to leave the ground and lay a heavy hit on Ryan Lester – for which he was reported – it sparked the crowd to life.

“It’s hard to explain what he was thinking there!” Richardson said.

“That’s the action they’re trying to stamp out,” commentator Luke Hodge said.

Back to back 50m penalties saw the Swans cough up back to back goals as Brisbane levelled scores.

And debutant Jaspa Fletcher ignited his side as he took a bounce and kicked his first-ever goal.

At half time, it was Brisbane leading 47-42.

The Lions had plenty of chances in the third term to put Sydney away.

Zac Bailey and Joe Daniher (twice), Kai Lohmann, Darcy Fort, Eric Hipwood and Fletcher all missed shots on goals at a time when Brisbane were in complete control.

Swan Nick Blakey was forced from the field and into the rooms after a heavy collision with a goalpost.

Blakey’s neck and upper back took the brunt of the impact, and as a result he was taken down to the rooms for assessment. But luckily he was cleared to return.

Brisbane’s third term was soured when Jarrod Berry was reported for a dangerous tackle.

By the final change, it was the Lions leading 73-54 after a 3.8 quarter.

Joel Amartey gave the Swans a heartbeat in the last term as Luke Parker threw himself into the contest, with a crucial smother.

But once again the Lions had the response, with their goal made a certainty when an unaware Tom Papley walked through Eric Hipwood’s mark.

Will Hayward had a chance to narrow the Lions’ lead but stuttered in his run up and sprayed his set shot right.

And that moment summed up Sydney’s second half – they were close but not good enough to overrun Brisbane.

The Lions’ victory now ensures the side is 9-0 this season when scoring more than 80 points.

THE 3-2-1...

3. SWAN’S STRIKE LABELLED ‘STUPIDITY’ AS HE FACES BAN

Sydney had all the momentum in the second quarter until a moment of “stupidity” from Sam Wicks turned the match completely.

Wicks opted to come in for a late bump on Lion Ryan Lester – and collected him with a high elbow strike.

The controlling umpire could be heard telling remonstrating players that Wicks had been reported for the brainsnap.

“You shake your head, I’m still trying to work out why he jumped and why he raised his elbow,” Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis lamented.

“No matter how hard you hit, it’s a position on your body that’s not well protected.”

Garry Lyon and Jonathan Brown agreed Wicks would face at least a week’s ban, if not two for his bump.

“One, maybe two for stupidity,” Lyon said.

“It’s pretty cut and dry from where we sit.”

“You should get one for that,” Brown added.

“Potential to cause injury – it’s lucky he didn’t end up with a broken jaw.”

Luckily for the Lions, Lester was able to get to his feet and play on.

“This sort of incident with a raised forearm is usually graded as a strike,” Fox Footy’s David Zita explained.

“Even if it’s careless, (it’s) usually graded higher than low impact.

“That potential to cause injury is crucial when it comes to the impact grading.”

The moment floored Lester and coughed up one of the first penalties that led to a Lions’ score in the second term.

Brisbane kicked four of five goals in the space of 11 minutes to take the lead as ill-discipline hurt the Swans.

Wicks wasn’t the only player reported on Friday night, with Lion Jarrod Berry stunned to be told he was being reported for rough conduct.

Berry had Will Hayward caught in a tackle and after doing a 360, took him to ground.

What followed left the Lion in disbelief as he coughed up a free kick and was told he was being reported.

“The Match Review Officer will ask himself two questions: Was Will Hayward vulnerable and was there excessive force used by Jarrod Berry?” Fox Footy’s David Zita said.

“If the answer is no to both of those questions, Berry will be free to play against St Kilda next week.”

Commentators couldn’t believe Berry had found himself in hot water for that tackle.

“If we keep going at this rate, there’ll be no tackling by the end of 2024-25,” Brian Taylor lamented.

“When you play this game, surely you sign up for a dangerous game. You are not a tiler. Laying tiles in a safe environment.

“It is a dangerous, physically brutal, one-on-one sport and that is the most appealing thing about it.”

Matthew Richardson said “I give up on that one” when asked for his opinion.

“We know the ones we don’t want – the Nathan Broad one earlier in the year and he got four weeks for that. That was a clear tackle and sling and dump to the ground and we don’t want that,” he said.

“He’s a fierce competitor (Berry). In the moment, you’ve got to go from fierce competitor to being gentle in a split second – you can’t! You can’t switch your mindset like that so quickly.

“I don’t see that as a dump at all. They are both spinning around.”

AFL great Luke Hodge summed it up: “I‘ve got no idea”.

2. LIONS CASH IN ON SILLY SWANS’ ILL-DISCIPLINE

It’s no secret last year’s grand finalists have been hit hard by injury in 2023 – particularly in defence.

But they headed north to take on the Lions, knowing they needed a win to stay alive in 2023.

“They are running out of time last year’s grand finalists,” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said pre-game.

“Their expectations are nowhere near being met at the moment.”

The Swans started by getting the game on their terms – as a contest rather than a shootout, and it paid off handsomely as they claimed the early lead.

Their 4.2 (26) was their highest opening quarter score since Gather Round against Richmond back in Round 5 in promising signs.

They went at 40% from defensive 50 to inside 50 – when the AFL average is 21% – and from half back to inside 50 at 67% compared to the AFL’s 42% average.

“They owned everything,” Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis praised of Sydney’s opening term.

Jonathan Brown accused Brisbane of being “a little bit off” and allowing their concerns from the loss to Hawthorn to start “rearing its head” in the opener.

But Sydney became their own worst enemy in the second term as ill-discipline cost them dearly.

First Sam Wicks with the crude bump on Ryan Lester, and then Luke Parker who made late contact with Lester in a marking contest.

“It’s got them out of the lock that had them in their forward half of the ground,” commentator Brian Taylor said of the 50m penalty.

“The only time they’ve gone forward is from ill-disciplined acts,” Luke Hodge added.

Insufficient intent to keep the ball in play cost the Swans moments later as Jarrod Berry goaled.

“Two ill-disciplined 50s coughing up the territory they worked so hard to establish,” commentator James Brayshaw said.

And once Brisbane hit the lead, they never looked back – despite being outplayed for a lot of Friday night’s contest.

Statistics showed the match belonged the Brisbane after the 16-minute mark of the second term, with +27 contested ball, +11 clearances and +21 inside 50s.

The Lions also outscored the Swans from that point 10.15 (75) to 7.5 (47).

It means the Swans sunk to an eighth loss from their 13 games this season – effectively ending their finals hopes.

1. JASPA HITS THE JETS TO OUTDO DAD

Brisbane were thrilled to snap up father-son Jaspa Fletcher in the 2022 Draft. And on Friday night, the 19-year-old made his AFL debut in front of proud dad Adrian and his family and friends.

Fletcher received a big cheer from the crowd when he made his way into the action after starting from the bench.

And he had that crowd on their feet in the second term when he confidently strode into goal, took a bounce and backed himself to nail the six points.

“Oh boy, this is going to ignite them!” commentator Brian Taylor said.

“Great moment Jaspa Fletcher and they get right around him,” James Brayshaw added.

AFL great Matthew Richardson said he liked what he saw from the debutant.

“Straight away I look at that and the poise, the pace there, the bounce and finish, and I go, ‘yeah that’s a player’,” he praised.

“It shows his confidence, he took on the man, took a bounce and kicked a nice goal,” Luke Hodge added.

Brisbane favourite son Alastair Lynch said it was great to see someone like Fletcher excel.

“His first game of AFL footy, great to see him, the wingman,” he said on Fox Footy.

“He runs beautifully, got his old man covered in this aspect of the game no doubt.

“It took dad a couple of games to get on the scoreboard for the first time.

“Exciting for the whole family, and obviously the teammates at the Brisbane Lions.

“He looks like he’s got a bit of class.

“He’s got 96 (goals) to catch up to his old man and 230 games, but it’s great scenes.

“And very encouraging signs for the Brisbane Lions.”

It was Fletcher’s goal that put Brisbane in front for the first time in the match.

Fletcher was involved in a big moment in the final term as the Swans were pushing to close within two goals.

The debutant had a one-on-one contest on the wing and beat Swan Chad Warner, before keeping the ball in while hemmed in on the boundary and dishing out the hands to Rayner – who found Hipwood on his chest.

A late bout of cramp had Fletcher’s mum nervously watching on in the stands, but the youngster was able to see out the contest and sing the song with his happy teammates.

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