Lions hold off improving Kangaroos for Barossa AFL win
Roger Vaughan |
Brisbane have kicked clear in the last quarter, surviving a big scare from North Melbourne to win their Barossa AFL clash by 26 points.
The improving Kangaroos lost no friends on Saturday, but they paid for repeat turnovers and Brisbane kicked the last three goals of the game to win 13.14 (92) to 9.12 (66).
Lions onballer Lachie Neale had 30 disposals and 10 clearances, while North young gun Harry Sheezel also racked up 30. Oscar Allen kicked three goals for Brisbane.
Last week’s Rising Star nominee Cooper Trembath took a candidate for mark of the year at a critical moment for North.
Likewise, Brisbane forward Lincoln McCarthy kicked a stunning goal when the game was in the balance in the final quarter.
North were pressing, nine points down late in the last term, when a dubious free kick was paid to Sam Draper at a ruck contest.
Draper kicked his first goal as a Lion and Cam Rayner kicked another moments later to seal the win.
In blustery conditions, Brisbane kicked the first two goals and the signs were bleak early for North.
Co-captain Harris Andrews, recalled for this game, was prominent early with his intercept marking.
But after a strong mark and goal from Trembath, the Kangaroos rallied with the next four goals and took a 12-point lead into quarter-time.
Jy Simpkin and Will Ashcroft were clashing repeatedly as the former North captain paid the two-time Norm Smith Medallist close attention.
The problem for North was that while the older Ashcroft was being tagged, that freed up Neale.
Veteran defender Dayne Zorko gave away a dumb 50m penalty at the end of the term, hitting Paul Curtis in the midriff and gifting him a goal.
While Zorko will come under match review scrutiny, it is probably irrelevant because he limped off in the second quarter with a game-ending calf injury.
The Lions copped “angry grand-dad”, with coach Chris Fagan animated at the break.
An even second term had North four points ahead at the main break, before the Lions threatened to kick clear.
Feasting on Kangaroo turnovers, Brisbane kicked five goals in the third quarter.
The damage would have been much worse if not for Luke Parker, who took a succession of defensive marks.
Brisbane broke out to a 23-point lead before Trembath took a massive contender for mark of the year, soaring over the pack in the goal square, in the process hurting his leg.
His second goal kept the game tight, with the Lions 16 points up at the last change.
Adding to the game highlights, McCarthy bounced through a superb goal from the boundary line early in the final quarter.
AAP