Final record: 10 wins, 12 losses, 40 points – 10th
Longest winning streak: Four games – rounds eight to 11
Biggest win: 52 points v Melbourne at the Gabba, round six
Highest ladder position: Sixth after Round 13
Season wrap:
The Lions overcame a tough draw to win four of their first eight games, including victories over Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Carlton. From there, four wins in the next five games followed to put the Lions in sixth place, well within striking distance of the top-four. Unfortunately luck deserted the Leigh Matthews coached side from that point on, with losses by less than 10 points to Melbourne, Richmond, North Melbourne and Carlton resulting in a fourth straight September spent watching the finals.
Pluses:
Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw were outstanding in combining for 145 goals – the best effort by a forward pairing in Lions history by more than 20 goals. With another pre-season under their belts, this duo could be even more dynamic in 2008.
Luke Power and Simon Black had fine seasons in the midfield, Joel Patfull was excellent in defence, Michael Rischitelli had a bumper second half of the year and Bradd Dalziell and Jared Brennan gave every indication of being elite midfielders of the future. Dalziell averaged more than 26 possessions in the final seven games of the year – unheard of for a first-year player. Brennan, meanwhile, parlayed a better fitness base into success as a running player, dominating last quarters in tight wins over Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
The Lions improved to beat five of the eventual finalists and build an impressive 8-3 record at the Gabba. With similar figures next year and a touch more fortune, finals football would almost certainly beckon.
Best win:
Each of the Lions’ five wins over top eight sides was meritorious, particularly come-from-behind efforts against Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs in rounds 13 and 20. But for edge-of-the-seat thrills and sheer elation, nothing can top the round four victory against Port Adelaide at Football Park. With the Power leading by 47 points late in the third quarter, those who had backed the home side could have been forgiven for having their winnings mentally spent. But the rain arrived and the Lions, with Brown and Bradshaw in sublime touch, surged home with a wet sail to win by 20 points. Phenomenal.
In the news:
Oddly enough, the Lions probably created almost as many headlines in the three days after the round 22 loss to Sydney than they did in the remainder of the season combined. Then again, Hawthorn’s grand final win aside, there likely wasn’t a bigger collection of stories all year. Leigh Matthews’ decision to hang up the clipboard after delivering three premierships to the Gabba was massive news, as was the appointment, a little more than 24 hours later, of club legend Michael Voss as his successor. Squeezed in between came the answer Lions fans had been hoping for all season, with Jonathan Brown pledging his continued allegiances to the club.
Best mark:
We’ll take the easy route here and go for a tie. Jamie Charman’s round 17 mark against Richmond was a classic hang, using his opponent as a stepladder and cleanly snaring a towering grab. But there was also something uniquely appealing about the fearlessness of Brown’s brilliant mark against the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba in round 20. Dalziell’s centred kick towards the goal-square was plucked out of the air expertly by Brown, who had run full-speed with the flight of the ball – completely oblivious to what might have been coming the other way.
Best goal:
Dalziell was the Lions’ standout debutant and he also produced arguably the goal of the season, also in the round 20 win over the Bulldogs. The Lions were trailing and the visitors looked to have the ascendancy when Dalziell was awarded a third quarter free kick deep in the right forward pocket. The result was the first goal of the youngster’s AFL career, a sensational set shot from what would generally be considered the wrong side of the ground for a right-footer.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
