The Brisbane Lions have roared to their first away victory of the season, thumping North Melbourne at the picturesque Mt Barker Oval in the Adelaide Hills, boosting their percentage along the way to a 75-point win.
It stabilises the Lions’ uneven start to the year, with their third win from five outings coming after an excellent victory over Collingwood at home. For North Melbourne and coach Alastair Clarkson, it was a disappointment after a competitive start to the year.
Lachie Neale brought his own ball for the Lions, collecting 37 possessions in a return to the Brownlow-winning form of the past two years. Hugh McCluggage, Lincoln McCarthy and Zac Bailey, who have all had indifferent starts to the year, were much improved.
Up forward, the Lions’ forwards had a day out. Keys Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood enjoyed a little luck along the way, left out the back as the Kangaroos pressed up the field, but they made that luck, and made the most of it, too, kicking nine goals between them.
Daniher finished with five goals and 13 marks, a thoroughly deserved return for a game in which he roamed far and wide. But he didn’t get a lot of body contact on the way, with the Roos’ giving up a damning 33 marks inside the Lions’ forward 50.
Joe Daniher was in ominous touch.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
Charlie Cameron followed up last week’s haul of six goals with another four, all of them in the second half. For the Kangaroos, spearhead Nick Larkey endured a dirty afternoon, barely touching the leather.
The Kangaroos were led again by a player in his fifth game. Harry Sheezel’s first goal in AFL football was as cold as ice – taking a 50-metre penalty, but then winding up to slot it on the run from 50 metres with ease. His clean, quick hands were a delight.
But there weren’t too many others in the middle, other than Ben Cunnington, who tried his heart out. Luke Davies-Uniacke, so dominant in the first two rounds, was subdued after quarter-time. But he was hardly alone, as it quickly fell apart for North Melbourne.
Which was a shame, because the Kangaroos started brightly in an entertaining first quarter that finished with the sides on 5.1 apiece, Jaidyn Stephenson kicking two canny goals for North from opposite pockets. He finished with four in a fine outing.
Lachie Neale gets a kick away.Credit: Getty Images
But after Cunnington found Will Phillips for the opening goal of the second term, the Lions put their foot down, kicking the next five, three of them to Daniher, who looked sharper and more confident than he has been all year.
The third quarter was a procession, with the Lions piling on another seven goals, Cameron three of them in a few minutes. The margin was 59 points at the last change, with the Kangaroos reduced to virtual spectators.
With the game done, the last quarter quickly petered out. With 42 scoring shots, the Lions should really have won by much more; as it was a slaughter across the ground after quarter time. The Roos have improved, but it’s a long way back to respectability.
Brisbane Lions 5.1 10.6 17.13 22.20 (152)
North Melbourne 5.1 7.1 9.2 12.5 (77)
Goals – Brisbane Lions: Daniher 5 Hipwood 4 Cameron 5 Berry 2 Rayner 2 Wilmot McCluggage Fort McKenna Zorko. North Melbourne: Stephenson 4 Comben 2 Sheezel Powell Larkey Phillips Taylor Shiels.
Best – Brisbane Lions: Neale Daniher Zorko Dunkley Ashcroft Hipwood. North Melbourne: Sheezel Cunnington Ziebell Stephenson Howe.
Injuries – Brisbane Lions: Nil. North Melbourne: Nil.
Umpires: Brown Nicholls Gianfagna Dore.
VOTES
L Neale (BL) 8
J Daniher (BL) 8
D Zorko (BL) 7
J Dunkley (BL) 7
H Sheezel (NM) 7
