BRISBANE has continued its ominous form against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, overrunning the Giants by 38 points at Manuka Oval.
A week after ending Fremantle's 11-game winning streak, a two-goal performance from Dakota Davidson and youngster Isabel Dawes helped the Lions temporarily jump to the top of the ladder, pending Collingwood’s match against the Bulldogs on Sunday.
GIANTS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats
The Lions struck the first blow early when Tahlia Hickie kicked a nicely weighted ball inside 50 which allowed Davidson to run forward and kick a classy running goal.
Brisbane's forward pressure was relentless, with the Lions applying eight inside-50 tackles to none in the first quarter, making it difficult for the Giants to get it into their front half.
The Giants simply had no answers for a relentless Brisbane side that added another five goals to enter the main break 41 points up.
After GWS Coach Alan McConnell urged his players at half-time to reset and to treat the second half as a new game, Elle Bennetts almost gave the Giants the perfect start early in the third term but she missed a snap in front of goal.
Soon after, Dawes kicked her second goal to give Brisbane a 49-point lead and put the game out of reach.
GWS fans were finally given some relief in the third quarter after former Demon Katherine Smith kicked her first goal in Giants colours. Bennetts then added a second goal in the fourth term, but by then the sting was well and truly out of the game.
It was an imposing victory by the Lions but an unhappy return to Canberra for the Giants, who were playing their first game at Manuka Oval in 722 days.
Did you see that?
Courtney Hodder take a bow. The Brisbane youngster and former rugby union star kicked a dazzling goal in the first quarter that helped kickstart the Lions’ domination. Hodder tapped the ball forward, took possession, evaded a tackle and then snapped an impressive goal to showcase her freakish potential in just her sixth game. Brisbane fans can get excited of what’s to come from this talented cross-code sensation.
Davidson reigns supreme
Dakota Davidson was a key architect of the Lions’ impressive win on Saturday, kicking two goals and causing headaches for GWS defenders. Her efforts helped her become the first player in the AFLW to kick 10 goals for the season.
The ladder now
Brisbane’s win sets up an intriguing battle at the top of the ladder entering the pointy end of the season. The Lions currently sit on top with an impressive percentage of 258.2, although the unbeaten Magpies can overtake them with a win over the Bulldogs on Sunday. There will be greater clarity over the AFLW pecking order when Brisbane takes on Collingwood next week at Hickey Park, in what shapes as a mouth-watering clash.
Say what?
"We got well on top early in the game, probably didn’t take our chances in the second half. We’ve had 48 to 19 inside 50s but didn’t really put the opposition away in the second half … but a lot of (the job) was done in the first half." - Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich
"I felt we looked to try and play a brand of footy that’s going to take us somewhere in the longer term… (it was) far better than we did last week. That said, the scoreboard wasn’t very flattering." - GWS coach Alan McConnell
What’s next?
The Giants will head down to RSEA Park next Saturday to take on St Kilda at 3.10pm AEDT. Meanwhile Brisbane will host a red-hot Collingwood side at Hickey Park at 2.10pm AEST on Sunday.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.1 0.2 1.3 2.5 (17)
BRISBANE 3.3 6.7 7.11 7.13 (55)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Smith, Bennetts
Brisbane: Davidson 2, Dawes 2, Hodder, Wuetschner, Ellenger
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Eva, Parker, Beeson, Tully, Bennetts
Brisbane: Davidson, Dawes, Bates, Lutkins, Anderson
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Brisbane: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 1847 at Manuka Oval
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