BRISBANE has surged into second spot on the ladder, overcoming injuries and a dogged Collingwood to win by eight points at the Gabba on Friday night.
LIONS v MAGPIES Full match coverage and stats
The Lions' 6.6 (42) to 5.4 (34) win has come at a cost though, with Virgin Australia AFL All Australian defender Harris Andrews (hamstring) and young forward Tom Fullarton (quad) both suffering injuries.
It was the Lions' fourth straight victory and leaves them in prime position for a coveted top-four spot.
The injuries took the gloss off an otherwise outstanding showing by the home team, who overcame a shaky first quarter.
ROUNDS 15-18 Check out the full fixture
From the moment Eric Hipwood fired truly early in the second term, the pressure valve was released, and Brisbane never looked back.
Following a season of wayward kicking, the Lions started poorly again, with three misses from long distance early on, but Hipwood's nerveless set shot broke the shackles.
Cam Rayner – one of the guilty parties early – backed it up minutes later with an arrow from 45m and the floodgates opened as Brisbane slammed on five goals to one in the quarter to open up an 18-point half-time cushion.
Jarryd Lyons (27 disposals and seven clearances) was magnificent for the victors, as was young midfielder Jarrod Berry (24).
Despite Brisbane's suffocating pressure, Collingwood would not relent, surging back from 26 points down midway through the third quarter.
The loss leaves the Magpies precariously placed inside the top eight with just two matches remaining.
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Skipper Scott Pendlebury (29 disposals) and running defender Jack Crisp (31) were excellent.
Robbo and Maynard start a scuffle
Following a Hugh McCluggage goal just prior to half-time, Mitch Robinson was keen to celebrate and remind the Magpies defenders of their failings in the lead-up. The Lions' enforcer appeared to give a not-so-friendly clip to Pie John Noble on his way past to celebrate, leading to Brayden Maynard shoving him over with plenty of force in response. The retaliation led to Brisbane players flying in from everywhere and starting a scuffle that spilled over 20m and lasted another 45 seconds.
Magpies' misfiring forwards – again
All season Collingwood has struggled to find a combination that works in its forward 50 and tonight was no different. Aside from a towering pack mark early by Brody Mihocek and an excellent second quarter mark-and-goal by Mason Cox, the talls rarely threatened to takeover. The Magpies generated 41 inside 50s to Brisbane's 33 but registered just nine scoring shots. Fullback Darcy Moore was thrown forward in the final quarter to try and generate some potency against the Lions' undersized defence. Mihocek's simple uncontested dropped mark in the goalsquare in the last term summed up his team's struggles.
Keidean Coleman's promising debut
For a 20-year-old playing his first game, young Lion Keidean Coleman looked right at home. Given his opportunity to replace the suspended Lincoln McCarthy, Coleman mixed lightning speed to pressure opposition defenders with composure and good decision-making to impress with ball in hand. The small forward finished with 12 disposals, four marks and four tackles and will be hard to leave out of the Lions' next match against Gold Coast on Wednesday.
BRISBANE 0.2 5.3 6.5 6.6 (42)
COLLINGWOOD 1.1 2.3 3.3 5.4 (34)
GOALS
Brisbane: Hipwood 2, Berry, Lyons, McCluggage, Rayner
Collingwood: Cox 2, Brown, Elliott, Mihocek
BEST
Brisbane: Lyons, Berry, McInerney, McCluggage, Gardiner, Neale
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Noble, Maynard, Crisp, Adams, Daicos
INJURIES
Brisbane: Fullarton (quad), Andrews (hamstring)
Collingwood: Phillips (hamstring)
