BRISBANE has produced a strong response to a difficult week after keeping itself in the hunt for a coveted AFLW top-two position with a 36-point thrashing of North Melbourne.
Severe flooding in southeast Queensland meant some Lions players had to fight to save houses in the days before their home game was moved from Maroochydore to Melbourne’s Whitten Oval.
The venue switch cost them an advantage but didn’t matter as the reigning premiers rode a wave of emotion to post a convincing 7.8 (50) to 2.2 (14) victory on Sunday.
Brisbane pair Emily Bates and Ally Anderson became the first AFLW players to reach 50 career games and were key contributors in their side’s win.
Sophie Conway, Greta Bodey and intercept defender Natalie Grider were also prominent, with Conway’s two first-half goals critical in the Lions’ ability to break the game open.
The result means Brisbane can still snatch a top-two spot on the ladder and earn direct passage to the second week of the finals with a win over the Western Bulldogs next Sunday.
But they must also rely on either Adelaide or Melbourne slipping up in the final home-and-away round.
On a dirty day for North Melbourne, Lexi Hamilton was reported for rough conduct when she flattened Conway during the second quarter.
Hamilton was one of several changes to the side after the previous round’s defeat to Melbourne, recalled in place of injured ruck Emma King.
The Kangaroos’ depleted tall stocks took another hit when Kim Rennie copped a blow to the ribs during the third quarter, but she returned to action later in the term.
North Melbourne ball magnet Jasmine Garner got away from minder Cathy Svarc to boot the opening goal of the day but Brisbane responded quickly, kicking the next three majors to build a handy lead by quarter-time.
The trend continued in the second term as the Lions took complete control.
They led by 28 points at the main break and were never seriously challenged in the second half despite the best efforts of Ashleigh Riddell, who had 11 disposals in the third quarter alone.
The Kangaroos star finished with a game-high 28 disposals, while teammate Emma Kearney had 19.
(C) AAP 2022
