Summary
The Lions are doing a fine line in nailbiters at the moment, following their one-point win over North Melbourne last week with a two-point verdict here against the Saints. It all looks rosy for Brisbane: seven wins from their past eight matches and sitting pretty in second place, level on points with the ladder-leading Power.
But the Lions could conceivably have dropped this one, when on territorial dominance and general play they might have wrapped up the four points by half-time. Twenty scoring shots to 13 means little if you can’t kick straight. Brisbane will need to work on their efficiency, and their kicking from set shots, if they’re to carry on deep into the season. Today wasn’t an isolated event, either. Four times in their past six games have the Lions kicked more behinds than goals. It will be doing Chris Fagan’s head in. As all coaches know, bad kicking is bad footy.
The Saints were good, if looking a little outclassed at times. But what they lacked in polish they made up for in heart. Jack Steele had both, however, amassing 25 disposals and kicking a goal in a best-afield performance in a losing side. St Kilda will live to fight another day. The finals stick beckon. Whether they are title contenders is another thing entirely.
Thanks for your company. Let’s do it again soon.
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FT: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) beat St Kilda 7-6 (48)
The Lions did everything they could to lose it but they hold their nerve to move into second place, level on points with Port Adelaide. St Kilda were brave in that last quarter, all game in fact, but the better team won.
Q4: 1 min remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) vs St Kilda 7-6 (48) Deseprate, desperate defending from St Kilda denies Cameron, but the ball is where Brisbane want it to be: deep inside their forward 50. And an out-on-the-full puts the ball back in the Lions’ hands.
Q4: 1 min remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) vs St Kilda 7-6 (48) Jones shimmies and shakes, but his shot on goal under heavy pressure misses to the right. Two points in it.
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Q4: 2 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) vs St Kilda 7-5 (47) Battle bangs the ball forward and Billings marks strongly. Nothing doing from the forward thrust that follows. But that’s seven inside-50s in a row for the Saints. I think they call this a grandstand finish.
Q4: 4 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) vs St Kilda 7-5 (47) The Lions try to chip the ball around and play possession football, but Neale turns the ball over and the Saints again go inside-50. McCluggage covers himself in glory with a couple of desperate smothers to deny St Kilda. Threat averted. For now.
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) vs St Kilda 7-5 (47) Goal! Steele works the ball forward and the Saints get another chance from a stoppage as the ball rolls over the boundary line. It’s all pressure and desperation now and from a devilishly tight angle from barely metres out, Billings sends a checkside sailing through the big sticks. Big goal. Huge.
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) vs St Kilda 6-5 (41) Another inside-50 for the Lions but Cameron is outnumbered three-to-one and the Saints rebound with ease. A free kick for front-on contact sees Battle line up from a tight angle, 40m out, but a behind is the result. Hate (or love) to sound like Bruce McAvaney, but the next goal will be huge in the context of the game.
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Q4: 12 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) vs St Kilda 6-4 (40) Huge contested mark from Max King, and a goal here would make things very interesting. But the shot fades right and the Lions maintain their buffer.
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Q4: 14 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) vs St Kilda 6-3 (39) The Saints, however, can’t keep possession and Hipwood finds himself with another set shot, and another shot at redemption. From bang on 50, a slight angle but on the right side for a leftie, Eric misses again. Insert frownie face here.
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Q4: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-13 (49) vs St Kilda 6-3 (39) And we’re away. Everything to play for. Brisbane work the ball forward but Carlisle plays in front and repels the charge.
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3QT: Brisbane Lions 6-13 (49) vs St Kilda 6-3 (39)
It was mostly Brisbane in the third quarter. But where the Lions did little with their territorial dominance, St Kilda stayed in the contest courtesy of their efficiency inside-50. Ten extra scoring shots but a lead of only 10 points tells the tale. The Saints aren’t out of this one by any stretch. Stay tuned.
Q3: 1 min remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-13 (49) vs St Kilda 6-3 (39) Jones denies McCarthy with a ripping smother and Zorko can do no better than a behind with his resultant snap under pressure.
Q3: 2 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-12 (48) vs St Kilda 6-3 (39) The Saints haven’t had much of it this term but when they have had it, they’ve done something with it. Three goals from just six inside-50s. Steele continues his day out with a hard-ball win and a snapped major. St Kilda clinging on when they might be out of it by now.
Q3: 4 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-11 (47) vs St Kilda 5-2 (32) Hipwood has another set shot from inside-50 but this time he fails on every account: distance and accuracy. Poor fellow’s got the yips. Eric Yipwood?
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-11 (47) vs St Kilda 5-2 (32) Hipwood has the chance to make it three goals in two minutes but Hipwood is and Hipwood does, and Hipwood misses. That’s now 11 of the past 12 inside-50s for Brisbane.
Here’s Fullarton’s first goal in AFL footy.
First goals never fail to deliver 🙌
— AFL (@AFL) August 23, 2020
Congratulations Tom Fullarton! #AFLLionsSaints pic.twitter.com/wzLtF9c5Jf
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-10 (46) vs St Kilda 5-2 (32) Goal! The Lions go bang-bang as they force the ball forward from the centre bounce, mostly by sheer force of will, as Berry finishes the job. It’s been a topsy-turvey game, and now the Lions are asserting again.
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 5-10 (40) vs St Kilda 5-2 (32) Goal! Fullarton, the former basketballer on debut, finds himself on the receiving end of some strong stoppage work from McCarthy to goal on the run. Well done, son.
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-10 (34) vs St Kilda 5-2 (32) Goal! Hill is pivotal in working the ball out of defence and the Saints get the ball into the hands of the right man as Butler scores a goal on the run, and against the run of play. For the Lions, that hurts. But the Saints stay in it.
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-10 (34) vs St Kilda 4-2 (26) A couple of tough chances go begging for Brisbane but the signs are much better - the ball is being kept almost exclusively in their forward-50.
Q3: 10 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-8 (32) vs St Kilda 4-2 (26) Goal! Finally. The Lions apply manic forward pressure, the Saints can’t clear and Bailey swoops on the loose ball before snapping truly. Didn’t have time to think about it. Better that way.
Q3: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 3-8 (26) vs St Kilda 4-2 (26) Oh. My. Lord. McStay has a set shot from almost directly in front, barely 30m out from goal. And I think you know how this story ends. Scores are level.
Q3: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 3-7 (25) vs St Kilda 4-2 (26) Another set shot and another miss from the Lions. Cameron takes a grab in the right forward pocket but palms off to McCluggage, who has a better angle but, sadly, not Cameron’s nose for goal. He hits the post. Inaccuracy continues to beset the Lions.
Q3: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 3-6 (24) vs St Kilda 4-2 (26) Goal! The Saints strike an early blow after the umpire spots an infringement in the marking contest - one that appeared not to be there - and Marshall capitalises on his good fortune to put St Kilda back in front.
Pardon the delay in transmission, people. We had a brief outage at Guardian Towers, but the fact I’m publishing this, and the fact you’re reading it, means we’re back on track. The second half is moments away.
HT: Brisbane Lions 3-6 (24) vs St Kilda 3-2 (20)
The Saints hit back in the second quarter after looking way off the pace in the opening stanza. The Lions are doing themselves no favours with some poor kicking for goal but after quarter time they were outhunted and outworked. Lachie Neale is being well held and after looking much the better team early on, the Lions have questions to answer in the second half. Steele is having a blinder for the Saints with 18 disposals and plenty of influence.
Lush at half time @GabbaBrisbane @brisbanelions @stkildafc #AFL #AFLLionsSaints pic.twitter.com/lGfD2K8tdD
— Blair Hughes (@MrBlairHughes) August 23, 2020
Q2: 2 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 3-6 (24) vs St Kilda 3-2 (20) Marshall plays in front, takes a strong contested mark close to goal but can’t make the Lions pay, his shot drifting across the face. Let-off for the Lions.
Q2: 4 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 3-6 (24) vs St Kilda 3-1 (19) McStay drops a McSitter of a chest mark inside-50. Would’ve been a shot on goal. And likely a behind.
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 3-6 (24) vs St Kilda 3-1 (19) The handlebars get a good revving and fair enough after Cameron shows his teammates how it’s done, drilling a set shot from hard on the boundary - left foot off one step. Pure class.
Q2: 7 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 2-6 (18) vs St Kilda 3-1 (19) Goal! Clever work by Butler, who looks for all money to be having a crack from outside 50 but instead pinpoints Kent, unmarked 30m out from goal. Poor marking from Brisbane and with Kent kicking truly, believe it or not but the Saints are in front. The first quarter seems a long time ago and the St Kilda are on top here.
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 2-6 (18) vs St Kilda 2-1 (13) The result is only a behind but it comes from another inside-50 for the Saints, and it’s clear they’ve changed things up after quarter time. More direct and look to simply be working harder.
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Q2: 10 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 2-6 (18) vs St Kilda 2-0 (12) Goal! Membrey shows the Lions how to kick for goal, piercing the big uprights from about 25m from a slight angle. Quite incredibly, there’s only one straight kick in it. Or, if you’re a Lion, six wonky kicks.
Q2: 12 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 2-6 (18) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6) McCarthy cleans up Paton with what looks like a shoulder to the chin. They’ll look at that, for sure. The ball winds up with Rayner and the Lions should be further ahead, but his set shot is a shocker. Rinse and repeat, unfortunately for Lions fans.
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 2-5 (17) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6) The Saints find themselves under all sorts of pressure in the Lions forward 50 but somehow work the ball away. They manage to make a couple of entries inside-50 but there is no direction or poise at all. Easy for Lester to mop up, unmarked.
Q2: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 2-5 (17) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6) The second quarter is away. Neale lays a gooid tackle on Jones but not good enough to disarm the Saint. Looking for a bigger quarter from Neale. He was rather quiet in the opening stanza.
QT: Brisbane Lions 2-5 (17) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6)
A bright start from the Saints but Brisbane were quick to gain the ascendancy. The Lions are harder at it and moving the ball forward with greater purpose. Accuracy, however, has been the Lions’ weakness at times this season and again they are hurting themselves with poor kicking for goal. They should be more than 11 points up, but they’re not. Sort that out, and they’ll win this by a space.
Is there nothing better in life than a hanger? Of course there is, but watching this I can’t think of anything.
Hipwood hanger ✈️@brisbanelions pic.twitter.com/cn3vaIN0LS
— 7AFL (@7AFL) August 23, 2020
Q1: 1 min remaining: Brisbane Lions 2-5 (17) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6) Another Hipwood set shot, another behind. Kicking for goal - it’s the riddle to which Big Eric is yet to find the answer.
Q1: 2 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 2-4 (16) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6) Goal! Berry has a chance to extend Brisbane’s lead but he chooses to loop the ball to the top of the goal square, as perhaps Hipwood did, and then finds himself with the ball again after St Kilda hack the ball away from his first attempt. This time, closer to goal, he leans back and sends the ball sailing through the big sticks. Beautiful set shot.
Q1: 5 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 1-4 (10) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6) The Lions chip the ball around in defence with no great purpose and almost turn the ball over. But some desperate defending sees the hosts turn defence into attack ... and Hipwood takes an absolute screamer, a hanger for the ages, to give himself a shot on goal. The result? A weird, half-arsed kick that was neither shot nor pass and one that is mopped up by the Saints.
Here’s the McCarthy snap.
Linc gets the Lions on the board 🦁#AFLLionsSaints pic.twitter.com/WkmGFdzAx9
— AFL (@AFL) August 23, 2020
Q1: 8 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 1-2 (8) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6) Goal! The Lions are up and away after Cameron spills a tough chance deep inside-50 but McCarthy crumbs expertly at the back of the pack and snaps truly.
Q1: 11 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 0-1 (1) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6) Tom Fullarton, the Lions debutant, takes a nice mark near the sticks and has the chance to join an exclusive club - the members of which kicked a goal with their first career kick. But, alas, his shot from 25m or so drifts across goal for a behind.
Nicky Winmar is in the @7AFL Fan Zone today ♥️#AFLLionsSaints pic.twitter.com/pX7jib6Yf7
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) August 23, 2020
Q1: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 0-0 (0) vs St Kilda 1-0 (6) Goal! Now the Saints capitalise on their early dominance, Butler grasping a difficult chance just inside-50 and drilling the set shot. He’s having a ripping year, Butler.
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 0-0 (0) vs St Kilda 0-0 (0) Good start from the Saints, several inside-50s and a big grab from Steele on centre wing. But what on earth was Membrey thinking, getting his hands on a ball that was absolutely heading through for a goal ... and then fumbling on the line? Not sure I’ve seen that before.
Q1: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 0-0 (0) vs St Kilda 0-0 (0) And we’re away. Mitch Robinson lays a huge bump on Zak Jones just after the centre bounce. Jones stays on the deck for a while but is up now. Big hit. Big statement.
Two minutes to go. Beautiful day in Brissie. Let’s do this.
Oh, and hello Mitch. We do love thee.
.@MitchRobinson05’s back in town 🏟#AFLLionsSaints #AFLDeadly pic.twitter.com/amcTqOC1wv
— AFL (@AFL) August 23, 2020
Do yourself a favour and treat your peepers to a highlights reel of the one-man highlights reel, Nicky Winmar. Lest anyone forget what a sublimely talented footballer he was. Respect.
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FT: Adelaide 5-7 (37) lost to Geelong 9-11 (65) The Crows were actually in the game for three quarters. But they were blown out of the water in the final term to slump to 0-13 for the year. Remarkable. In a year of dishonourable defeats, however, this is at least something. The Cats, conversely, are purring away nicely and look as likely as anyone to lift this year’s premiership trophy.
The Big 50 for the Big O. Big congrats, big man.
The Big O plays his 50th game! 🦁 Well done Oscar McInerney 👏#TeamTLA #AFLLionsSaints pic.twitter.com/vvD6NqMHXU
— au_tla (@au_tla) August 23, 2020
In what should be a weekend that celebrates all things Indigenous, the Aboriginal flag is nowhere to be seen. All because of a copyright row. Disgraceful, indeed.
Teams
In (a lack of) breaking news, there are no late changes for either side. As you were.
GAME READY! @brisbanelions we all have our Indigenous jersys on and we are game ready! GO LIONS #Indigenousround #afllionssaints ❤💙💛 ❤💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/OLeCxE3Ji8
— Emily Lonsdale (@Emily_Lonsdale) August 23, 2020
Preamble
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of what should be a revealing contest at the Gabba. Still questioning Brisbane’s bona-fides for the flag? Not sure if the Saints are contenders or pretenders? Today’s clash will tell us more. It’s officially a home game for the Lions, but don’t tell Chris Fagan that.
I read a lot where we have this amazing advantage up here because the finals might be here and all this sort of business.
I’m looking at St Kilda. On Sunday it’ll be their fourth game on the Gabba in five weeks. We’ve played here once in the last seven I think.
You tell ‘em, Fages. What with this and his recent mega-spray, I’m detecting the Lions coach’s nice-guy facade slipping a little. Can’t blame him. Methinks Covid-19 has made us all a little grumpy.
It’s been a quite remarkable Sir Doug Nicholls round thus far. There’s been the excellent - how good was Richmond’s Shai Bolton in the Dreamtime clash in Darwin? There’s been the deplorable - death threats against Dylan Grimes for conning the umpire into a free kick? Seriously, Bombers fans? There’s been the inept - even in these shorter games, how does a team manage only 19 points in a game of footy? I expect an answer on my desk by 0900 on Monday, Swannies. And there’s been the outright bizarre - no frees for Hawthorn whatsoever in the second half against Port Adelaide. Clarko will be fine with that, I’m sure.
Onto today’s game, I’ll say little more for now other than I think it’ll be a close one that Brisbane will shade, and that I’m looking forward to Charlie Cameron weaving his magic. As a Crows fan, I feel I’ve displayed some real emotional growth to arrive at this point. It’s taken me 18 months of therapy to realise something and to be comfortable with it: I’m angry we let Charlie go. There. Now I feel much better.
If you’d like to drop me a line - and I encourage you to do so - your best bets are via email or Twitter - @scott_heinrich
Thankful to be catching some footy on a brilliant QLD Sunday arvo #GoLions #afllionssaints #gabba @afl pic.twitter.com/OQafOfSpEI
— Aaron (@azasouth) August 23, 2020
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