A seven-goal clinic from Logan Morris ensured that Brisbane remains king of the Queensland castle, defeating cross-state rivals by 31 points on Saturday evening.
The Lions’ 21-year-old young gun kicked five of his half a dozen majors before half time in an incredible performance, with the visitors winning 15.16 (106) over the Suns’ 11.9 (75).
Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Round 13
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
The Suns were playing two men down for the best part of the second half, with the evenings of Lachie Weller and Will Graham ending early due to hamstring concerns while Bailey Humphrey copped a knock to the ribs late.
New Coleman Medal leader Ben King was valiant up forward when the opportunity to score did come his way, kicking four majors as one of the Suns’ three multiple goalscorers.
“You can say they’re back, because this is what their football looks like. It started with their pressure and their forward half turnover,” St Kilda great Leigh Montagna said as the final siren approached.
“We know their offence has always been fine, that’s never been an issue. But they just looked like they had their intent and hunger back tonight.”
Gold Coast goalkickers: King 4, Walter, Long 2, Andrew, Rowell, Petracca
Brisbane goalkickers: Morris 7, Cameron 2, Berry, Tunstill, Draper, Gallop, McKenna, Gardiner
THE 3-2-1…
3. NEALE ‘CLINIC’ LEADS LIONS BACK TO PROMISE LAND AFTER ‘FLYING’ START
After a trio of losses heading into Brisbane’s Round 13 Q-Clash with Gold Coast, the heat was well and truly on Chris Fagan’s premiership side at Carrara.
Injuries have hampered the Lions to a certain extent this season, but you certainly wouldn’t know it if you were coming in blind to Saturday evening’s clash.
“We’ve heard from the coach Chris Fagan in recent weeks and the disappointment around the lack of pressure applied on the opposition — but they jumped out of the box beautifully,” three-time Brisbane premiership player Alastair Lynch said at the first break.
“We’ve seen the last two weeks especially, they’ve only been able to score four goals from turnovers. They’ve already done that in the first quarter, and it was on the back of good pressure, good chasing from the defensive half, and holding the ball in.
“So often the Brisbane Lions can get scored against from their forward 50; teams just go from coast-to-coast. But today, they got off to a flying start from good pressure.”
While ultimately the visitors ‘only’ kicked four goals before quarter time, their fingerprints were all over the match from the get-go — led by former club captain Lachie Neale, who for the second time this year had 15 disposals in the first term.
“He was putting on a clinic. It actually took him a while to get going in the second term, and then he made an impact to take his tally up to 23 touches (before quarter time),” Lynch said at the main break.
“He has been very, very good through the middle of the ground and leading the way beautifully for that midfield contest.”
Leigh Montagna added: “He is just running amuck in this first half.”
“Their start was excellent, and that man set the tone,” Leigh Montagna said.
Remarkably, Neale had twice as many contested possessions as any other player on the ground at main break, with his 14 monstering the next best tally of seven.
2. ‘THE DIFFERENCE’: 21YO TAKES FLIGHT WITH ‘PIVOTAL’ CAREER-BEST
Key forwards are well renowned for being the calibre of player that takes more time than most to become accustomed to life as an AFL player, such is the nature and expectation of their position.
But once again in his blossoming career at the top level, Brisbane’s Logan Morris proved himself an infuriating match-up for opposition defenders, as he registered a career-best seven-goal haul.
Five of his majors came before the main break, and while a couple of shots on goal didn’t come as a result of perfect execution, the 21-year-old could still barely put a foot wrong.
“He’s done it in a number of different ways, we know what sort of talent he is. He’s been able to take a couple of strong contested marks and get out on the lead and ground,” Leigh Montagna said at half time.
“He hasn’t always flushed his set shots, but they’ve managed to go through. He looks pivotal in this contest.
Lions fly early behind Morris & Neale | 02:48
“Gold Coast had to make the move and swap Mac Andrew and Sam Collins around to see if they can try to find a way to slow him down — because he’s proving to be the difference at half time for the Brisbane Lions.”
It was inaccuracy in the end that cost Morris a really big bag, finishing the evening with four behinds to his name after missing some gettable set shots.
Nonetheless, his outstanding performance saw him claim his maiden Marcus Ashcroft Medal post-game.
“He reminds me so much of Jesse Hogan. The way that he moves, and the way that he launches at the ball,” four-time Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis said in the fourth quarter.
Annoyingly for the Werribee Districts product, he was forced to wait over a dozen minutes on the bench in the final term before returning to the field of play, hopeful of kicking an outright career-high.
He eventually made the most of his moment to reach his best though, kicking truly from a set shot with just under four minutes to play before the final siren.
Morris now sits fifth in the Coleman Medal race, having kicked 32 goals from 12 games.
1. KEY SUN’S CRUEL BLOW COMES AFTER BIZARRE SELECTION BACKFLIP
In a blow that further soured Gold Coast’s Q-Clash 31 loss to their cross-state rivals, Lachie Weller was ruled out of the remainder of Saturday evening’s clash with a hamstring injury before half time.
The intriguing and unfortunate catch?
The 172-gamer was officially ruled out of this weekend’s Q-Clash on Tuesday via the Suns’ weekly injury report, before the verdict was surprisingly overruled 48 hours later at selection.
“Lachie Weller will remain sidelined this weekend, with an eye on being available to take on Geelong in Round 14,” it read.
Unfortunately for Weller, he succumbed to the same soft tissue injury which saw the Suns a man down for the entire second half.
His teammate Will Graham also fell victim to a hamstring concern in the third term, and did not take any further part in the match.
Additionally, star midfielder-forward Bailey Humphrey left the field of play after a heavy knock with just three minutes to play until the final siren.
Re-live our coverage of Gold Coast vs Brisbane in our blog below! Can’t see the blog?Click here
#Adessonews seleziona nella rete articoli di particolare interesse.
Se vuoi leggere l’articolo completo clicca sul seguente link
Source link
