THE Brisbane Lions’ non-winning streak against the Sydney Swans has now stretched to eight games, following a 17-point defeat at the Gabba on Saturday night.
The Lions had their chances to break the drought, particularly in the opening minutes of the last quarter - when Jamie Charman failed to make the distance with a set shot from 40m, Tim Notting unluckily hit the post with a grubbered kick on the run and Rhan Hooper couldn’t quite cap off a fine run.
The Swans, on the other hand, took advantage of their chances and with Barry Hall in fine form and Adam Goodes increasingly prominent, held on to record a 13.10 (88) to 10.11 (71) victory.
Lions fans were still able to go home with something to cheer about, however, in the form of Daniel Bradshaw’s five goals.
After missing all of last season with a knee reconstruction, Bradshaw drifted in and out of the play during the first two rounds but was a solid contributor throughout on Saturday night, playing a lone hand up forward to kick half of the Lions’ goals.
In a game of fluctuating momentum, the Swans looked to have the contest well within their grasp in each of the first three quarters, only for the Lions to hit back and remain in contention.
The Swans kicked the first two majors of the game through Ryan O’Keefe and Michael O’Loughlin and generated plenty of early run, the but the home side steadied as last year’s top draft pick Lachie Henderson registered the first goal of his AFL career.
Dumped by Leo Barry after marking on the northern wing, Henderson used a 50m penalty to steer through a 45m set shot.
The Lions trailed by 13 points at quarter-time and looked in trouble in the early exchanges of term two, as the influential Jarrad McVeigh helped the Swans get the best part of four goals in front.
McVeigh set up O’Loughlin for a goal with a neat pass in the fifth minute, then added a goal of his own on the run two minutes later.
The Lions, however, found answers – mainly through Bradshaw. The big forward booted two goals in two minutes and when Brown converted after getting on the end of a Travis Johnstone pass, the Lions were within a goal.
Following a flat 10-minute period in which neither side could manage a major, McVeigh was back in the action, keeping the ball in play deep in the forward pocket to help create a goal for Brett Kirk. The Lions' crowd clearly thought the ball had gone over the boundary line but the Swans played to the whistle and were duly rewarded.
A reply from Bradshaw was cancelled out by an excellent effort from the boundary line by Jarred Moore, ensuring the Swans went to half-time two goals in front.
The pattern was repeated in the third quarter. McVeigh and Moore kicked truly to extend the difference to four goals, before goals at the other end from Bradshaw and Tim Notting narrowed the deficit once again.
Amon Buchanan snapped accurately late in the quarter to set up an entertaining fourth term in which the Lions had their chances but status quo ultimately reigned.
For the Lions, Bradshaw was a standout, while Jed Adcock, as always, was in the thick of the action in the midfield.
Simon Black battled hard against the Swans’ flock of tough inside midfielders, Joel Macdonald was again solid and creative across half-back and young ruckman Matthew Leuenberger impressed with his mobility around the ground.
Anthony Corrie had only 10 possessions but provided some timely “one-per-centers” and Henderson showed glimpses of his talents and finished with two goals.
The Swans were best served by McVeigh and O’Keefe, while Hall put together 23 possessions and 14 marks. Goodes had 15 of his 26 touches after half-time and Kirk was also more than serviceable with 25 disposals.
Craig Bolton did a fine job restricting former teammate Brown.
SYDNEY SWANS 3.3 7.4 10.6 13.10 (88)
BRISBANE LIONS 1.2 5.4 7.7 10.11 (71)
GOALS
Sydney: Hall 2, McVeigh 2, O'Loughlin 2, O'Keefe 2, Moore 2, Buchanan, Kirk, Barlow
Brisbane: Bradshaw 5, Henderson 2, Notting, Sherman, Brown
BEST
Sydney: McVeigh, Bolton, O'Keefe, Kirk, Goodes, Kennelly
Brisbane: Adcock, Bradshaw, Macdonald, Leuenberger, Black, Charman
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Brisbane: Nil
Reports: nil
Umpires: McBurney, Stevic, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 29.061 at the Gabba
