THE BRISBANE Lions have outlasted a determined Fremantle, winning a wet-weather arm wrestle by 15 points at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.
Scores were level early in the third term but three second-half goals from Lions captain Jonathan Brown and the midfield dominance of West Australian draftee Daniel Rich (31 possessions) formed the backbone of their 10th win of the season: 9.8 (62) to 7.5 (47).
The win, combined with Collingwood's loss to Hawthorn earlier in the evening, leaves the Lions out of the top four only on percentage.
However, injuries to key forward Daniel Bradshaw (hamstring) and utility Jared Brennan (ankle) will give coach Michael Voss some concern ahead of a big month.
Bradshaw didn't return after quarter time and Brennan limped from the ground late in the third term while Fremantle had its own woes with youngster Andrew Foster (ankle) sidelined early and full-back Chris Tarrant (knee) taking no part in the fourth.
After last week's one-goal debacle against Adelaide, the only way was up for Fremantle and the many supporters who expected a desperate performance certainly got it.
It was there for three quarters, but once Tarrant left the game, Freo's resistance – especially in the contests with Brown – was diminished.
Fremantle's better performers were its young players, including Nic Suban (20 possessions) and Clancee Pearce (21), but Mark Harvey will again have cause to question his senior ones.
Lion Rich was superb, also collecting 12 clearances, while another West Australian, Bradd Dalziell (22 possessions), was solid in his first AFL game since round five.
Mitch Clark's good form continued too, winning his ruck battle with Kepler Bradley and Zac Clarke.
Fremantle started with an appetite for the contest and Bradley snapped the opener four minutes in after the perfect read of Clarke's tap.
It was bookended by two free kicks to Bradshaw, the second of those producing the Lions' reply and their only goal until the 23-minute mark of the second quarter.
Scott Thornton was an unlikely forward target in the pouring rain, and young teammate Pearce provided running power through the midfield.
The pair combined for Fremantle's second to send the home side into the first break eight points clear.
Despite a downpour in the second, Freo turned up the heat on the visitors with Hayden Ballantyne unselfishly finding Adam Campbell in the goal square.
Freo was playing the conditions better and could have pushed further ahead as it dictated most of the early play. But like the Lions, the finishing touch was lacking inside 50.
Clark, who was dominating the air, drew a free kick to break the deadlock before Suban brought some rare class to a scrappy contest – ducking and weaving through opponents before kicking a 55m bomb.
Freo was 13 points ahead and Tarrant had taken the honours against Brown, but the Lions skipper got away to kick his only goal of the first half and leave his side seven points down at half time.
He levelled the scores to start the third quarter and created a contest moments later that Justin Sherman pounced on.
It was then that Fremantle needed something special to stay in touch.
Bradley rose to the occasion, converting his set shot from hard up on the boundary line, but Rich restored the seven-point break with an exquisite goal from just inside 50.
After another goal from Brown, the Lions were 14 points clear and the rain was again making conditions tough.
A long-range effort from David Mundy left Freo eight points down at three-quarter time and the scene was set for a tough and desperate final term where Brown stood above all others.
Fremantle 2.3 4.4 6.5 7.5 (47)
Brisbane Lions 1.1 3.3 7.7 9.8 (62)
GOALS
Fremantle: Bradley 2, Campbell, Grover, Mundy, Suban, Thornton
Brisbane Lions: Brown 4, Bradshaw, Clark, Dalziell, Rich, Sherman
BEST
Fremantle: Suban, Ibbotson, Duffield, Pearce, Hasleby, Bradley
Brisbane Lions: Rich, Brown, Clark, Dalziell, Power, Patfull
INJURIES
Fremantle: Foster (ankle), Tarrant (knee)
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw (hamstring), Brennan (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Dalgleish, Wenn
Official crowd: 22,595 at Subiaco Oval
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
