VFL Match Report: Lions surge home against Swans for Eight Straight
The Brisbane Lions VFL have won their eighth straight game overcoming a spirited Sydney outfit by five points at Brighton Homes Arena.
The Brisbane Lions VFL have won their eighth straight game overcoming a spirited Sydney outfit by five points at Brighton Homes Arena.
On a windy Saturday afternoon, the Lions trailed at every break only to surge home in the last quarter running out 15.7 (97) to 13.14 (92) winners.
After trading goals early in the opening term, the Swans ran riot booting eight goals to four to lead by 25 points at quarter time.
Harry Sharp, Brandon Ryan and two goals from mid-season draftee Will McLachlan, kept the Lions within striking distance but it was Sydney’s slick ball movement which did the damage.
Despite kicking with the wind, the Lions were unable to capitalise on Darcy Fort’s ruck dominance and were left to play catch up in the second term.
A Sydney goal within 30 seconds to start the second quarter was a less-than-ideal start but from there the Lions were able to rally, courtesy for draftee Logan Morris.
Zac Derksen commenced the Lions comeback mid-way through the second term before Morris stole the show.
Morris booted three goals in seven minutes to breathe life into the contest to give the Lions a chance going into half-time, trailing by nine points.
Fort’s ruck dominance continued as he finished with 47 hitouts and 23 disposals to be among the Lions best.
Defender Jaxon Prior who assumed a key leadership role in the absence of Darragh Joyce was enormous, collecting 33 possessions with all of them coming by foot as he amassed 33 kicks for the contest.
Sydney started strongly in the third term kicking the first two goals before the Lions were able to wrestle back momentum.
It was the Lions younger brigade which stood tall as Darcy Craven, Reece Torrent and McLachlan’s third brought the deficit back to less than a goal.
Jarryd Lyons led the Lions resurgence through the midfield with his 25 touches, six marks and eight clearances.
Trailing by only three points at the final break, the Lions gave up the first goal but responded quickly as Morris booted his fourth to bring the margin back to three points.
It was Lyons goals which had the Lions hit the front for the first time since the five-minute mark of the first quarter.
Ewan Macpherson and Luke Beecken put the Lions up by 14 points with the game looking beyond Sydney’s reach as the Lions took control of the contest.
A late Sydney goal gave Lions fans a scare as they came with a flurry in the last five minutes but the Lions defence stood tall to move into outright third on the Smithy’s VFL ladder.
Noah Answerth also made a strong return from injury off half-back, collecting 25 disposals and making five tackles.
A date with local rival Gold Coast is the next challenge for the Lions who travel down the highway next weekend in a QClash curtain raiser.
Final Score
Brisbane 97 def Sydney 92
Goals: Morris 4, McLachlan 3, Torrent, Sharp, Ryan, MacPherson, Lyons, Beecken, Derksen, Craven
Best: Morris, Prior, Fort, Sharp, Manly, Lyons
