The Brisbane Lions have outlasted North Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday evening, pulling away late to record a 23-point victory.
It wasn’t the best tune up for the Lions, who will come up against the rampaging Cats next week, but Chris Fagan's men did enough by kicking five of the last six goals of the game.
The Kangaroos looked a chance to pull off yet another huge upset at half time, entering the rooms with a two-point lead. Youngster Luke Davies-Uniacke was leading the way before fading out after halftime, while Jy Simpkin and Ben Cunnington looked to have control over their counterparts in the centre.
But the Lions hit back hard with the last two of the third quarter before kicking on with the job in the last. Lachie Neale proved last year’s Brownlow form was no fluke, finishing with 30 disposals and 10 clearances after going quiet for the majority of the first half.
Brisbane won the clearance count by 10 post half time, after being down early, highlighting Neale’s improved effort as the game wore on.
The Lions might have a Brownlow contender who’s name isn’t Lachie Neale, and Saturday’s game was eerily similar to the two teams’ clash last year.
Here’s everything you need to know!
Jarryd Lyons is on fire
Who would have thought a player delisted by the Gold Coast Suns could become a Brownlow fancy just three seasons on? Now at his third club, Lyons has cemented himself as one of the first picked in the Brisbane line up in a team stacked with stars, with today’s performance reminding those why he’s among the game’s elite.
Lyons finished with 36 disposals - 14 of those contested - and 12 tackles, his ferocity and intensity standing up in the first half when the Lions were up against it.
He often has a tough time getting the recognition he may deserve, sharing the midfield with out and out stars Hugh Mccluggage, Dayne Zorko and Lachie Neale.
However, he’s top 20 in the AFL coaches votes this season and finished with 13 Brownlow votes in 2019, with clear improvement since then.
The 28 year-old is still in his prime, so don’t be surprised to hear the name more and more as the pointy end of the season approaches.
Not just a flash in the pan for Roos against Lions
The conditions and result were eerily similar to the last two times these teams faced off, which resulted in a cracker on the Gold Coast last year.
It was a similar scrap to the one we saw on Saturday evening, with good hard footy the norm as Brisbane emerged winners by a singular point.
They also went into that game hot favourites, sitting second on the ladder to North Melbourne’s 17th.
Perhaps Brisbane didn’t learn from their mistakes in that match, with lacking energy almost costing them last year as well as giving the Roos a serious shot this time round.
It’s easy to write off North Melbourne for most games this year, such was their poor form last year and quiet start to season 2020.
However, perhaps given North’s decent form of late and the last time these two teams met, one could have expected a closer match like the one seen on Saturday evening.
What’s next?
Both teams have had their bye, but it’s polar opposites in terms of their opponents next week.
Brisbane will take on a Geelong side who are on fire, but at the Gabba they’ll be hopeful of snaring an important win to keep them inside the top four.
The Roos, however, have a much different task on their hands in taking on the hapless Gold Coast Suns. Despite still sitting on the bottom of the ladder, it’ll be a clash where North may well start favourites given their strong form of late.
FULL SCORE
North Melbourne: 1.2, 4.3, 5.6, 6.9. (45)
Brisbane: 2.4, 3.7, 6.9, 9.14. (68)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Larkey 3, Zurhaar 2, Stephenson
Brisbane: McCarthy 2, Cameron 2, Neale, Bailey, Daniher, Hipwood, Robinson
BEST
North Melbourne: Simpkin, Cunnington, Ziebell, Larkey, Davies-Uniacke
Brisbane: Lyons, Neale, McCarthy, McCluggage, Bailey
INJURIES
North Melbourne: nil
Brisbane: nil
Stay up to date with all the latest news from SEN. Sign up HERE.