A four-goal third quarter to Brisbane Lions’ goal-scoring machine Daniel Bradshaw has broken Alastiar Lynch’s club goals record, and consequently broken to game apart for the disappointing Crows. After a fast-paced opening term it looked, similar to last week, that Brisbane’s opposition was going to run away with the game. But the Lions soon choked up Adelaide’s run and carry to storm home with a 36 point win in front of 27,000 of the Gabba faithful.
It felt like last week replayed for Brisbane supporters, as a rampant Crows outfit ran riot in the first quarter to kick the first two goals of the match. Although the margin never looked it, the game was nearly over again as Tyson Edwards, David Mackay and Simon Goodwin managed to find far too much space running forward. The Lions simply were not kicking goals, until livewire Justin Sherman started to play the impressive football we’ve been getting used to from him for the mostpart this season. However, Adelaide still held a convincing 13-point lead heading into the second quarter.
The next term began similar to the last, as a dominance in hit-outs and clearances killed Brisbane out of the middle. Goals to Jason Porplyzia and Taylor Walker pulled the margin close to out of the Lions reach, but a fast-finishing 10 minutes by the Lions closed the gap to less than two goals by the main break.
From here, it was all Brisbane.
Daniel Bradshaw only required 2 goals to equal the Brisbane Lions record, and he went 2 better in the third term as the Lions forwards set the game alight. The absensce of Nathan Bock proved obviously costly for the visitors as the agility and strength in the air of Bradshaw helped him snap his way into the record books. A standing ovation from the strong Brisbane crowd continued the momentum and James Polkinghorne, Albert Proud and Jonathan Brown joined in on the goal-kicking party. The final tally for the quarter was 7 to 2, and Adelaide’s task suddenly become seemingly unreachable.
The home side all but finished the match in the last term with some of the Lions biggest names, like Simon Black, Luke Power, Travis Johnstone and Jared Brennan, all joining in to bury any Crows hopes. A particuarly impressive runnning goal by Black in the last quarter was the highlight as the 6 goal margin was simply out of reach.
For Brisbane, Sherman played the game of his career, whilst Johnstone, Brennan, Bradshaw and and Black all played their part magnificantly. Whilst for the Crows, who looked so prominent early, Edwards, Mackay and Bernie Vince all gave it everything.
Next week the Lions play the unplayable; St. Kilda at Etihad Stadium. For Adelaide, they face the potentially daunting task of Carlton at home.
BRISBANE LIONS 3.4 6.4 13.7 18.11 (119)
ADELAIDE 5.5 7.8 9.9 12.11 (83)
Goals
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 5, Sherman 3, Brown 2, Polkinghorne 2, Proud 2, Black, Rich, Clark, Harding
Adelaide: Porplyzia 2, Knights 2, Walker 2, Edwards, Mackay, Dangerfield, Moran, Reilly, Tippett.
Best
Brisbane Lions: Sherman, Bradshaw, Black, Johnstone, Rich, ClarkAdelaide: Edwards, Mackay, Goodwin, McLeod, Rutten, Vince
Injuries
Brisbane Lions: Merrett (ankle), Adcock (leg), Patfull (jaw)
Adelaide:Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Michael Vozzo, Heath Ryan, Jason Armstrong
Crowd: 27, 767 at the Gabba
