Dayne Zorko and Daniel Rich were early casualties, but Charlie Cameron brought Brisbane back to the AFL winning circle with a 41-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Eager to respond after last week’s 64-point defeat to Melbourne, the Lions were staggering as they fell by 18 early in the second quarter to Gabba on Thursday night.
But the pressure lifted and the locals scored five of the next six goals, extending an 18-point lead at the break in a third six-goal period to prevail 16.12 (108) to 9.13 (67).
Little striker Cameron terrorized with four goals and five assists with just 12 possessions, while Jarrod Berry threw two goals in his 100th AFL game.
But his captain Zorko lasted just five minutes on his return after a hamstring injury that appeared to increase, while his all-Australian teammate Rich also ended up before the break with a hamstring complaint.
Team statistics
The Bulldogs (8-7) had won five of their last six games and beat Brisbane by one point in Gabba’s semi-final last season.
But defeat will probably see them outside looking for a battle between the top eight, while Brisbane (11-4) took second place again.
Stoic winger Harris Andrews and precise midfielder Keidean Coleman turned the screws on the defense to make sure his remarkable record for the regular season at Gabba since Easter Thursday 2019 improved to 33-1.
Luke Beveridge’s Bulldogs had controlled the early stages, the Lions left more than half of their tackles to make just seven compared to the 16 visitors in the first quarter.
Tom Liberatore had five clearances, as many as the Lions combined, in a first-round 11-dismissal that also included a brilliant goal from his pocket.
Player statistics
The Bulldogs led by 18 points in the first quarter when rookie Dominic Bedendo was attacked by teammates for scoring his first AFL goal.
But it was then that Brisbane responded, the buzz only faded slightly when Oscar McInerney’s goal with a stealthy throw into the traffic was curiously nullified when it was touched at the break of the main break.
Brisbane also hit the post four times in the first half, Zac Bailey broke the woodwork and denied him a goal of the year.
Lions winger Jimmy Tunstill also threw his first AFL goal, showing flashes of speed and skill in his second game.
Lachie Neale had 33 eliminations for the Lions, while Liberatore equalized him and Jack Macrae had 32 touches and 10 clearances for the Bulldogs.
Scale
Posted 5 hours ago 5 hours ago Thu, June 30, 2022 at 9:05 AM, updated 2 hours, 2 hours ago, Thu, June 30, 2022 at 12:18 PM