THE BRISBANE Lions and Richmond have fought out a draw at Telstra Dome on Saturday evening in what was an engaging end to a sometimes frustrating encounter.
The Tigers led for much of the first half but the Lions held a seven-point buffer at the main break, and despite holding a 13-point advantage at the final change, the visitors failed to hold on as the Tigers edged back to finish at 10.13 (73) to 10.13 (73).
The draw – and the Demons' spirited win over the Crows earlier on Saturday – leaves the Tigers as the only side remaining winless after round 10.
The Lions have now drawn two matches at the Docklands venue, with their other tied performance coming in round three, 2003, against the Kangaroos.
Josh Drummond was the best for the Lions, and Jed Adcock and Nigel Lappin were good in supporting roles while Joel Patfull was their highest scorer with three goals.
Rhan Hooper was serviceable in his first game for the season and had nine possessions, while debutant Chris Schmidt managed six in his first game of senior football.
Both sides wasted opportunities early on – the Tigers with four behinds and the Lions five in the first term alone – while a constant flurry of turnovers ensured the scored remained close at the first change.
As was forecast on Friday, the Lions were dealt a blow before the bounce with Luke Power a late omission owing to a sore thigh, with Scott Harding gaining the late call-up. They also lost Chris Johnson in the second term with the defender limping off with a leg injury.
In the low-scoring game, the Tigers led by four points at the first break with Matthew Richardson and Jay Schulz the major scorers for the home side and Jonathan Brown the sole goalkicker for the Lions.
Lions forward Brown, who has an abysmal recent record against the Tigers and has kicked only eight goals in six games, lined up opposite the in-form Joel Bowden, who kept the spearhead to only one goal in the first half.
Tigers youngster Daniel Jackson was given the arduous task of curbing the influence of Brownlow medallist Simon Black – who had 37 possessions last weekend – and managed to keep the champion midfielder to only two touches in the first, before sneaking forward to open the second with a goal. Black finished with 16 disposals.
While Richardson seemingly exercised the demons remaining from last week's heart-breaking loss to the Bombers with the opening goal of the game, he missed a set shot from almost directly in front late in the second and finished the half with just the one major.
The Lions kept the Tigers at bay in the third with a five-goal-to-four display, and while last week's hero in front of goal was youngster Mitchell Clark, this week the task fell to Patfull.
Patfull kicked his biggest bag for the season with three, and with Brown double-teamed by Bowden and Graham Polak every time the Lions went forward, his contribution was much needed.
With Patfull the main attraction of the third term, Nigel Lappin took the opportunity to try and upstage his younger teammate and slotted an impressive snap as the siren rang to give the Lions a 13-point lead heading into the decider.
Brown and Hooper both shanked kicks in the first 10 minutes to allow the Tigers a sniff, and when Richard Tambling nailed a six-pointer at the 12-minute mark, the home side could sense their first win.
When former Cat Kent Kingsley's set shot from 40m out fell short, the ball rebounded and Brown had the chance to kick what could have been the spiritual sealer for the Lions, but also failed to make the distance.
The difference was six points, and when Richmond small forward Kayne Pettifer marked and goaled from 45 metres out, the Telstra Dome roof was nearly lifted off with the roar of the home crowd.
The ball rebounded from end to end two more times but both sides failed to score, and the sides trudged from the field with mixed emotions following the first draw of the season.
The Lions now return to the Gabba to host the Western Bulldogs next Saturday night, while the Tigers hit the road to meet Fremantle at Subiaco on Sunday.
RICHMOND 2.4 4.7 8.9 10.13 (73)
BRISBANE LIONS 1.5 5.8 10.10 10.13 (73)
GOALS
Richmond: Richardson 2, Tambling 2, Schulz, Jackson, Kingsley, Edwards, Deledio, Pettifer
Brisbane Lions: Patfull 3, Brown 2, Adcock, Lappin, Begley, Clark, Lappin
BEST
Richmond: Bowden, Foley, Richardson, Jackson, Johnson, Tambling
Brisbane Lions: Drummond, Adcock, Lappin, Patfull, Brown, Stiller, Clark, Black
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Power (thigh) out, replaced in selected side by Harding, Johnson (foot)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Sully, Grun, McInerney
Official crowd: 28,093 at Telstra Dome
