BRISBANE has broken a decade-long AFL drought against Sydney, beating the Swans by 22 points in wet conditions at the Gabba.
The Swans overcame a poor first quarter to threaten the Lions throughout the match, but Brisbane held firm to run out 14.19 (103) to 112.9 (81) winners in front of 20,075 fans.
George Hewett’s contest on Lions’ ball magnet Lachie Neale was a highlight, with the Swan’s midfielder racing to a team-high 34 disposals in his run-with role.
Neale was still influential for the Lions, driving his team forward with 29 disposals, while Dayne Zorko shared the same amount of possessions in a best on ground performance.
Swans forward Tom Papley kept Sydney in striking distance at various stages of the game with a four-goal performance, but it wasn’t enough to rein in the home team.
Brisbane had multiple goal kickers in Eric Hipwood, Daniel McStay, Charlie Cameron and Hugh McCluggage, who all kicked two apiece.
The Lions adjusted better to the damp conditions early and looked like they were going to blow the Swans away, kicking the first four goals of the game before racing to a 28-point quarter time lead.
The second quarter was a reversal of the first with the Swans piling on the first four goals to spark their resurgence.
Will Hayward spurred them into action with two quick goals, while the Swans gained the midfield ascendancy through Josh Kennedy, Zak Jones and Hewett, to cut the Lions’ margin down to two points at the main break.
Two great goals to Papley against the run of play kept Sydney in touch in the rain-affected third quarter.
The Lions were errant in front of goal with just seven points for the term until Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron hit the target late to give Brisbane a 15-point buffer heading into the final stanza.
They could not be reeled in from there, with Zorka nailing the clincher before the Lions celebrated their first over Sydney since Round 22, 2009.
© AAP 2019
BRISBANE LIONS 5.6 7.8 11.15 14.19 (103)
SYDNEY 1.2 7.6 10.6 12.9 (81)
Goals: Brisbane Lions: C Cameron 2 D McStay 2 E Hipwood 2 H McCluggage 2 C Rayner D Rich D Zorko J Berry M Robinson T Cutler. Sydney: T Papley 4 W Hayward 2 I Heeney J Dawson J Kennedy J Lloyd O Florent T McCartin.
Official Crowd: 20,075 at Gabba.
