The Brisbane Lions not only once again proved they are the best team in the AFL but the reigning back-to-back premiers unearthed yet another potential champion during their hard-fought win over Collingwood in last year’s grand final re-match on Thursday night.

In front of a capacity crowd at the Gabba, the Lions trailed Collingwood by 19 points late in the second term but then reeled off 11 of the next 13 goals - before easing up to win 14.11 (95) to 11.15 (81) - as the Magpies booted the last three goals of the match.

The victory sees the Lions return to their usual place at the top of the ladder and inflicts upon Collingwood its first loss of the 2003 season but the game is most likely to be remembered for the stunning debut of the Lions’ number one draft pick from last year – Jared Brennan.

The 18-year-old from the Northern Territory – the No.3 pick in last year’s National AFL Draft (the selection the Lions secured for losing Des Headland to Fremantle) – was a late inclusion in Brisbane’s side for the injured Daniel Bradshaw and he had a major impact in the Lions’ come-from-behind win.

Playing with the confidence of a 200-game player rather than a teenage debutant – Brennan thrilled the capacity crowd with his class and skill and several of his one-handed pick-ups were reminiscent of Carlton powerhouse Anthony Koutoufides at his best.

Brennan was also instrumental in the Lions’ second half revival after Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews threw him the enormous first-up task of playing on Collingwood’s star forward Chris Tarrant.

Tarrant, in partnership with fellow key forward Anthony Rocca, had dominated the opening half as the Lions’ champion defender Justin Leppitsch was playing one of his worst games.

“We thought he (Brennan) would be the ideal physical specimen to match up on Chris Tarrant but we didn’t want to chuck him into that kind of role first-off,” Matthews revealed to Channel Nine immediately after the game.

“But necessity at half-time meant he had to take it and that allowed Justin Leppitsch to play with a bit more freedom.”

In fact it was Leppitsch – a star after half-time - who kicked the opening goal of the third term to cut the Magpies’ lead to one-point after skipper Michael Voss and Craig McRae had cut the visitors’ lead to seven points at half-time – a margin which flattered the Lions considering the Magpies’ first half dominance.

And with the Lions’ amazing depth again on show with regular interchange player Tim Notting coming on to kick three second-half goals – the Magpies’ stern resistance soon evaporated as the home side slammed seven goals to two in the third term to lead by 20 points at the last change.

Any hope the Magpies had of avenging last year’s narrow grand final loss to the Lions then disappeared in the first minute of the final term when skipper Nathan Buckley was harshly penalised for holding the ball, allowing McRae to kick his second goal and virtually seal the game.

However the Magpies didn’t give up with Buckley inspirational all night while Rocca and Tarrant kicked seven goals between them.

But once again the Lions’ non-stop run and ability to finish each quarter stronger than their opposition proved decisive as did their evenness across the board with their entire team making a contribution at some stage.

While the Magpies had players such as Leon Davis who were virtually unsighted, different Lions players bobbed up with vital contributions at crucial stages with veteran Shaun Hart producing one of his best all-round games since his Norm Smith Medal winning performance in the 2001 grand final.

And despite both Jason Akermanis and Nigel Lappin spending time on the bench due to hamstring problems and illness respectively, the Lions still ultimately cruised home on the night when a team - already with three Brownlow Medalist in their line-up - looked to have unearthed yet another potential superstar.


BRISBANE LIONS: 1.4 5.7 12.8 14.11 (95)
COLLINGWOOD: 3.3 6.8 8.12 11.15 (81).

GOALS: Brisbane Lions: Notting 3, McRae 2 Voss 2, Hart 2, Lynch, Brennan, Akermanis, Leppitsch, Brown.
Collingwood: Rocca 4, Tarrant 3, Didak, Woewodin, Buckley, Fraser.
BEST: Brisbane Lions: Hart, Brown, Voss, Brennan, Black, Notting, Johnson
Collingwood: Buckley, Tarrant, Woewodin, Rocca, McKee.
INJURIES: Brisbane Lions: Nil. Collingwood: Wakelin (hip).
CHANGES: Brisbane Lions: Daniel Bradshaw (calf) replaced by Jared Brennan. Collingwood: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: McBurney, Allen, Morris.
CROWD: 36,803 at the Gabba