BRISBANE roared back into form and reasserted its QClash dominance with a powerful 60-point dismissal of Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Thursday night.
The Lions had been forced to stew on their shock home loss to Coburg for 11 days and wasted no time making up for it with a composed performance led by their vast Academy talent.
Young Redland forward Bruce Reville, 20, and Mt Gravatt product Will Tasker, 19, enjoyed breakout games, collecting 20 disposals and booting five goals each in assured displays – Reville in his 14th game and Tasker in his fourth.
Fellow graduate Carter Michael, who was drafted by the Lions last year, was another to shine, grabbing 12 marks and 32 touches a week short of his 19th birthday to put his hand up for AFL selection, while Toby Triffett gathered 24 disposals, laid eight tackles and kicked three goals, and Charlie Bowes (21, nine marks) and Tahj Abberley (21) were also prominent.
They capped off the dominance of Cam Ellis-Yolmen, who proved a class above on his VFL debut with 39 disposals, seven marks and seven tackles to frank the Lions’ depth, while Tom Joyce was unstoppable in his first game of the year with 34 possessions and six marks and rookie big man Henry Smith looked dangerous up forward and kicked three goals.
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The Lions got better as the match progressed, working their way to a 29-point lead at half-time before locking up the points with a six-goal-to-one third term and adding another five in the last.
Gold Coast prime-movers Brayden Fiorini (32) and Will Brodie (26) were again the Suns’ most prolific players, while Papuan livewire Hewago Oea had his best game of the season with 23 disposals, six marks and six tackles.
Our VFL team soared to a 60 point win over the @GoldCoastSUNS last night ??
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) May 14, 2021
Full Match Report coming soon... pic.twitter.com/Gr11Hx7nan
Northern Territory zone selection Joel Jeffrey, the son of former St Kilda and Brisbane Bears player Russell, was impressive playing as a small forward for the Suns, collecting a career-best 18 disposals and nine marks and finishing with 3.3 in his sixth game.
The victory lifted the Lions to 10th on the ladder and within striking distance of the top eight, while the Suns are likely to be two games and percentage out of the eight with work to do to stay in finals contention.
THURSDAY, MAY 13
Gold Coast 8.13 (61) lost to Brisbane Lions 19.7 (121)
