Grading every player as Hipwood's career game downs Bulldogs

A six-goal haul for Eric Hipwood has helped the Brisbane Lions to a resounding 43-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.

The Lions, looking to kickstart their finals hopes after the bye, could hardly have played better in dominating the corridor and fixing their kicking woes to record their 5th win of the year.

Hipwood hadn’t kicked six goals in a game since 2019 but worked hard to break out the back on several occasions and attacked the footy with a hardness rarely seen from the 26-year-old.

He also racked up a team-high seven inside 50s and four contested marks in combining strongly with Joe Daniher up forward.

On the flip side, the Bulldogs as a whole struggled to get going. Marcus Bontempelli was largely tagged out of the clash by Jarrod Berry and the Bulldogs to pick up the slack were few and far between.

Here’s how we graded every player.

BRISBANE

Eric Hipwood: A+

Played like a man possessed. Attack on the ball, shots at goal, plenty of aggression, it was a performance Lions fans have been crying out for. An equal career-high six goals, the first time he’s managed that feat since 2019.

Oscar McInerney: A+

Comprehensively beat Tim English, a statement not many across the competition can say.

Lachie Neale: A+

The Lions skipper was at his brilliant best, using the ball as sweetly as he ever has and booting two goals to go with it.

Jarrod Berry: A+

Had the big task on Marcus Bontempelli for much of the night and did a better job than most this season locking down the Dogs captain. Plenty of impact going back the other way, too.

Hugh McCluggage: A

Give McCluggage a contract extension every week if he’s going to play like that. Played like a bull on Friday night, breaking tackles while still using the ball better than all but a few on the Marvel Stadium surface.

Joe Daniher: A

Missed the easy ones and was at his brilliant best when up against the odds, in traditional Daniher form. Was particularly hot early before playing second fiddle to the Hipwood show.

Cam Rayner: B+

Harris Andrews: B+

Certainly had the better of Rory Lobb but wasn’t as prolific an interceptor as he would have liked.

Darcy Wilmot: B+

One of the Lions who consistently torched the Bulldogs through the midfield. His pinpoint right boot seriously hurt.

Logan Morris: B+

“We’ve got our Rising Star for this week.”

That quote was from Gerard Healy on AFL Nation after another display of footy smarts from Morris to set up Kai Lohmann’s first goal. Morris was electric and boasts the agility of a small forward, despite standing at 191cms.

Jack Payne: B+

Spent most of the night on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and was certainly aided by the Dogs’ lack of inside 50s, particularly in the first half.

Brandon Starcevich: B

His first game since a calf injury in Round 7, Starcevich gave Rhylee West a complete bath and looked back to his best.

Dayne Zorko: B-

Had a big role to play in cutting the Dogs to ribbons up the corridor.

Connor McKenna: C+

Got going big time in the second term, but his ball use was questionable throughout the night. Subbed out in the final term.

Ryan Lester: C+

Bruce Reville: C+

It was easy to mistake the calls of ‘Brrrruuuuuuuccceeeeee’ for ‘Booooooooo’, with the Lions fan base finding plenty of voice at Marvel. Reville grew into the clash after hitting Ryley Sanders with one of the hardest spear tackles seen in 2024 early on.

Zac Bailey: C+

Lacked a bit of touch in what was just his 2nd game since Round 5. Two late goals was a minor reprieve.

Kai Lohmann: C+

Felt like an ‘almost’ night for Lohmann, who in a different world could have easily kicked four or five. Still a fine performance from a player in just his 20th game.

Jaspa Fletcher: C+

Over 200 metres gained with just five kicks in the first half and went on to finish with 15 possessions.

Callum Ah Chee: C

A stunning one-handed mark to set up a Lions goal in the third term was a highlight in an otherwise quiet night for Ah Chee.

Charlie Cameron: D

Just could not get near it. Cameron has torn games apart before with nine touches. On Friday, he couldn’t have had less impact from those figures.

Noah Answerth: N/A

Came on as the sub midway through the final quarter.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Bailey Williams: B+

The best of the Dogs on the stats sheet, Williams finished with eight intercepts from his 24 touches playing off half-back.

Marcus Bontempelli: B+

Struggled to handle the Jarrod Berry tag early in the contest but worked through it by pushing forward. Not his best game but far from the Dogs’ worst and gave the home fans a nice rise with his minor speccy in the final term to finish with three goals.

Adam Treloar: B+

A trademark effort from Treloar as one of the few Dogs who always turns up. Felt like he was always swimming against the tide in picking up 30 touches.

Bailey Dale: B+

Gave the Lions their first goal of the night through a turnover off a kick-in, but was flawless from there.

Tom Liberatore: B

Not at his brilliant best in the game he returned from concussion issues. Was part of a Dogs midfield that was well beaten but had a fair crack.

Taylor Duryea: B

Only the 10 touches, none of them memorable. However, did spend time on Charlie Cameron, who was remarkably quiet.

Riley Garcia: B-

Probably Garcia’s best game for the Dogs. Five inside 50s and some classy touches for the 23-year-old.

Lachlan Bramble: B-

James O’Donnell: B-

Swung forward to start the game after spending most of his career in defence. Two goals was a pass mark.

Caleb Daniel: C+

It's not easy to play on the wing when your side is getting crucified, a fact Daniel found out the hard way. Laid a few strong tackles and used it well on the rare occasion he found some uncontested footy.

Ryley Sanders: C+

Copped a searing tackle from Bruce Reville in the first quarter and struggled for the next two terms. Got going a bit in the last.  

Alex Keath: C+

Started on Eric Hipwood but came off in the first term for a concussion test. A sliding doors moment, who knows what could have happened if he played a full game on Hipwood?

Jack Macrae: C

Hard to tell just how Macrae is going in his new role as a connector between the midfield and forward line. Struggled with his ball use and didn’t record an inside 50.

Tim English: C

Joel Freijah: C+

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan: C

Two majors but just the seven touches tells the story of how Ugle-Hagan didn’t impact in the way fans know he can.

Liam Jones: C

Spent most of the night on Eric Hipwood, who was the best player on the ground. Jones led the game for intercepts but outmarked far too often by his direct opponent to have had a positive impact.

Harvey Gallagher: C-

Four clangers from nine touches in the first half and didn’t get much better.

Logan McNeil: C-

Laitham Vandermeer: C-

Couldn’t impose himself on the game in any way rotating at half-forward.

Rhylee West: C-

Was given a Tribunal reprieve to play on Friday night but couldn’t make it count.

Rory Lobb: D

Put up the type of performance that justifies Luke Beveridge’s decision early in the season to play Lobb in the reserves. Eventually finished the game with an ankle injury.

Buku Khamis: N/A

Came on late as the sub.