AFTER a slow start Brisbane has piled on the goals for a second straight week to make light work of Greater Western Sydney with a 47-point victory at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
After kicking 11 goals in a 49-point win over Fremantle seven days earlier, the Lions went goalless in the opening term before running riot to beat the Giants 10.7 (67) to 3.2 (20).
GIANTS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats
Greta Bodey kicked two goals, while Ally Anderson (18 touches) and Tahlia Hickie had big influences, but it was reigning League best and fairest Emily Bates that turned the tide with 20 disposals and two goals.
The Giants kicked the first two goals and held an 11-point lead at quarter-time with ferocious intensity, but the Lions flipped the game on its head with four unanswered goals in the second term.
From the opening centre bounce after the first change, Cathy Svarc stormed to half-forward and hit Courtney Hodder on the chest, where the Lions livewire was able to kick her team's first goal in her 25th career game.
The visitors never looked back.
Brisbane's intensity first matched, then exceeded, the Giants, as they began to dominate contested ball and racked up a whopping 24 tackles inside 50 to show their desire.
Following Hodder's opener, Orla O'Dwyer kicked one from long range, set up one for Jesse Wardlaw minutes later, and when Greta Bodey snapped truly late in the half, the Lions had established a handy buffer.
They kicked four more goals in the third quarter – including two to Bates – as their power running came to the fore.
Nat Grider was fantastic in defence, firstly holding the tide back when the Giants had the ascendency and then influencing when Brisbane got on top.
Captain Bre Koenen took the responsibility of handling Giant sharpshooter Cora Staunton, restricting her to five goalless disposals.
Alyce Parker was fantastic on a losing team, racking up 27 tireless disposals and one goal.
Is Emily Bates even better?
After winning the League's best and fairest among a host of gongs last season, Brisbane onballer Emily Bates could be an even better player now. Like her teammates, Bates got off to a slow start, but her nine second-quarter disposals were the catalyst for the Lions' revival. Bates then kicked two goals in the third term – a feat she had not achieved in 54 previous career games – showing off her improved running to outwork opponents in getting to more contests. She finished with 20 disposals, seven tackles and four clearances to go along with the goals.
Randall's pain, Bodey's gain
Pepa Randall was doing a fabulous job quietening dangerous Lion Greta Bodey until late in the first half. With the Giants attacking at half-forward, the pair contested a mark, with Bodey accidentally landing on Randall's left leg. With the Giant hobbled and unable to get to her feet, play swept downfield and Bodey was able to unleash a brilliant 40m snap to break the shackles and kick her first goal. Randall remained off with a knee injury and the clever Bodey finished with two goals from 13 disposals.
Up next
Both teams have local derbies next weekend, with Brisbane out to start its season with three straight wins when it takes on Gold Coast at the Gabba, while the Giants face Sydney at the SCG. The AFL is yet to confirm a time and day for both matches.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.2 (20)
BRISBANE 0.1 4.4 8.7 10.7 (67)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Doyle, Zreika, Parker
Brisbane: Bodey 2, Bates 2, Hodder, Wardlaw, O'Dwyer, R.Svarc, Ellenger, Farquharson
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Parker, Dalton, Eva, Evans
Brisbane: Bates, Grider, Anderson, Dawes, Hickie, Koenen
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Randall (knee)
Brisbane: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: TBC at Manuka Oval
