3 minute read
Star Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale endured a tough night, but he had the last laugh as the Lions beat St Kilda by 20 points.
Joe Daniher has kicked five goals in an inspired display as Brisbane survived a frenetic late fightback from St Kilda for a 20-point AFL win at the Gabba.
The Lions led by 37 points at three-quarter time on Friday night but the margin was whittled down to seven points with nine minutes left as St Kilda came charging home.
A tough 50m penalty against St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager for being over the mark proved to be the turning point, with a successful set shot from Logan Morris sparking a run of three quick goals to Brisbane.
Daniher's 50m set shot from the boundary was the sealer, with the 19.12 (126) to 16.10 (106) win lifting Brisbane to within half a win of the top eight.
With 5.1 and 12 marks from 20 disposals, Daniher turned in a huge effort on a night when the Gabba celebrated the Qld Freeze in honour of Joe's uncle Neale.
Dayne Zorko was also influential with 30 possessions.
Jack Higgins kicked five goals for St Kilda and Max King three, while Jack Sinclair racked up 32 disposals.
Lachie Neale was given hell in a hard tag by Windhager, but the star Brisbane midfielder fought through a tough first half to finish with 20 disposals and seven clearances.
Brisbane's score was the highest total posted against St Kilda this season.
"I thought it would be a hard-to-score game to be honest," Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.
"That's the highest score that's been kicked against them this year, so that's a positive.
"But the negative to the game for me is I thought our team defence wasn't as good as it has been in previous weeks."
Brisbane were smashed 13-1 in clearances in the opening term, with Neale restricted to just three possessions.
But it mattered little to the Lions, who kicked seven goals to two in a dominant display as their slick ball movement proved too hot to handle.
Six of Brisbane's goals came from marks, with two majors to Hugh McCluggage in the final 30 seconds of the term giving the Lions a 31-point lead.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon delivered an almighty spray at quarter time, and it seemed to work as the Saints kicked 4.5 to 3.3 in the second term.
Higgins kicked three of those goals, helping close the margin to 23 points at the long break.
Neale received three free kicks in the second term alone after the umpires finally started to notice Windhager's often over-zealous methods.
Brisbane also had success tagging, with Jarrod Berry tallying 15 first-half disposals while nullifying Jack Steele (six possessions).
Steele finished with just 16 disposals and four clearances for the match.
The third quarter was a topsy-turvy affair, but the Lions made the most of some ill discipline from St Kilda to snare three late goals and kick out to a 37-point lead.
But just as all hope seemed lost, St Kilda stormed back in the final term, kicking 6.1 from eight inside 50s at one stage to close the margin to single figures.
Saints winger Liam Henry kicked two important goals for the term to help spark the fightback, but he went off late with an ankle injury.
"He copped a knock on the ankle, it was a big collision," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.
"I'm sure he'll be (OK). Well sometimes they cool down and they're not, but we're pretty optimistic he'll be OK."
St Kilda's Dan Butler was reported in the opening term for his diving ankle tap on Ryan Lester.
Brisbane's Cameron Rayner could also be in trouble for an off-the-ball block on Hunter Clark that resulted in head-high contact.
In another notable moment, umpire John Howorth was forced off in the second quarter after a heavy clash of heads with St Kilda's Paddy Dow in the centre square.
