The Brisbane Lions have dominated the QClash at the Gabba in a 10.19 (79) to 6.9 (45) drubbing of the Gold Coast Suns on Sunday night.
But it’s come with a brutal injury cost with the Lions having just two fit players for most of the match.
Brandon Stacevich went down with a calf injury in the warm-up, before Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Gardiner suffered knee injuries, while Noah Answerth was ruled out with concussion.
It meant Logan Morris, who had played VFL earlier in the day, played most of the QClash as well.
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In front of a record QClash crowd of 30,285, the Lions conceded the first goal but after hitting the lead, never gave it up.
The 2023 grand finalists have been underfire this season but in eight matches, they’ve played six top eight teams, defending premiers Collingwood, who are currently in ninth, and North Melbourne.
It’s been a tough run but with a tough clash shaping up against the Suns, the Lions looked like the side the AFL has been used to in recent years.
Dwayne Russell said late in the fourth quarter as the Lions kicked 36 points ahead late in the game: “You do feel like they may be back the Lions.
“The monster may have awoken,” he added.
Gerard Healy added: “There’s no doubt it’s impressive reversal of last week’s form and I think put to be much of the criticism. But I think they may wake up Monday or Tuesday two men short.
“The response has been there, and it’s been emphatic.”
Lions coach Chris Fagan called the performance “the most amazing and courageous performance I’ve ever seen by any group of players I’ve had anything to do with.”
Fagan added that both McCarthy and Gardiner’s injuries suggested ACLs, which would end their respective seasons.
The injury blows will test the Lions’ depth but the performance was definitely a step in the right direction.
Lions great Jonathan Brown pointed out the Lions now don’t play a team currently in the top eight team until the end June.
Next up, the Lions have the Crows in Adelaide, Tigers in Brisbane, Hawks and Bulldogs in Melbourne and Saints at the Gabba.
Currently 3-5, a good run against those teams could revitalise the Lions’ season as they currently languish in 13th on the ladder, two wins outside the top eight.
At full-time, Russell said: “Reports of the Lions’ death have been exaggerated. They are well and truly in this season still.”
While this will only truly be known after the next five matches, it’s a promising performance with injury toll the team was facing.
Gun midfielder Lachie Neale bounced back from a quiet match last week against the Giants, leading from the front early, to finish with 33 disposals, 12 of them contested.
The move to half back for Dayne Zorko continued to bear fruits as the gun racked up an astonishing 35 kicks from 39 disposals, a career-high for the Lions legend.
Champion mid Josh Dunkley grabbed 27 disposals, booted a goal and Daniher was a strong target up forward, booting two goals.
The ever reliable, intercepting skipper Harris Andrews was also solid in defence.
There’s still plenty of room for improvement for the Lions, who were shockingly inaccurate in front of goal and should have put their cross town rivals away by ten goals.
Luckily for Brisbane, as AFL legend Gerard Healy said, the Suns were “nowhere near their best” and the one-sided contest reflected as such.
Damien Hardwick’s men could not stop the Lions attacking through the corridor as the pressure was lacklustre.
Speaking on Nine’s Footy Furnace, AFL legend Leigh Matthews said the Suns looked like
“They were horrible today, Brisbane absolutely destroyed them,” Matthew said.
The Suns travel to Darwin next Sunday to battle North Melbourne.
With Elliott Turner, NCA Newswire