A strangely tantalising Indigenous Round contest looms at the GABBA on Sunday as the 16th placed Brisbane Lions host the 15th placed St Kilda Saints in a scrap to get out of the bottom four. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1pm (AEST).
Both teams sit at 2-6 and will have marked this down as a winnable game before a much tougher fixture next week (Greater Western Sydney for the Lions and Hawthorn for the Saints).
The Lions shook off a dismal start to the season to notch up wins over Carlton and Port Adelaide in recent weeks. They fell to Essendon last Sunday at Etihad Stadium but were strongly competitive for a half.
Meanwhile, the Saints have battled manfully all season and have earned a lot of respect with fighting performances. They were a kick away from beating Essendon in Round 5 before stunning the Dogs in Round 6 with a 12-goal second half to charge back from a 49-point deficit and grab the win.
Recent performances against Adelaide and West Coast have been less notable but still encouraging, with young players standing up and some steel in the playing group being evident even when outclassed.
Brisbane have made two changes for the clash, with tough nut half-back Ryan Harwood and mature aged midfielder (returning from a club-imposed senior game suspension after his off-field clash with coach Justin Leppitsch) Zac O’Brien coming in for the under performing Mitch Golby and injured key position player Dan McStay.
McStay’s forced omission increases the number of injured key position players at the Lions to nine, leading to an incredibly makeshift forward-line being named for the clash.
The news is slightly happier for St Kilda with captain Nick Riewoldt returning to the line-up along with Jarryn Geary to give some senior support. Miserly defender Luke Delaney and exciting 18-year-old Jack Lonie also come into the 22 at the expense of Eli Templeton, Tim Membrey and Shane Savage (all omitted), and the injured Sam Fisher (hamstring).
The home ground advantage is significant for the Lions against St Kilda with a 14-5 record against them at the GABBA. Their midfield is packed with quality and is looking on the verge of properly clicking. The midfield will be where they have to win the game going forward – they’ll need the bulk of their goals to come from there.
It’s hard to see their dysfunctional forward line matching up to the likes of Nick Riewoldt, Josh Bruce, Jack Billings and Adam Schneider without Leppitsch pulling a rabbit from the hat in the grander scheme though. It’s unlikely to be a highly skilled contest and it should be close, but given how the Saints have fought their superior structure should get them over the line.
Join us here on The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:10pm AEDT.
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
Top 5 fantasy scorers for each side (SC): BRISBANE: Dayne Beams 142 Stefan Martin 128 Ryan Lester 113 Tom Rockliff 108 Lewis Taylor 94 ST KILDA: David Armitage 129 Leigh Montagna 118 Nick Riewoldt 116 Jack Newnes 112 Adam Schneider 97
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Roar Guru
That's the FINAL SIREN and the Saints have come from 29 points down to record what was, in the end, a comfortable victory. Brisbane burst out the blocks with a scintillating first quarter but barely fired a shot after quarter time as the Saints took control and coasted home in the second half. The Saints were getting dominated in the clearances in the first but turned that on its head, ending the game with a 44-35 advantage. Riewoldt was excellent on his return with 10 marks and 4 goals, while Armitage (31 touches, 11 clearances, 2 goals) and Montagna (28 touches, 7 marks) provided the midfield grunt and class needed. Weller showed some X-Factor with his 2 rapid goals and mostly shut Rich out of the game after a damaging first term. For the Lions Dayne Beams had a personal best 38 touches and also took 10 marks and laid 7 tackles in a huge performance, but it wasn't enough. Lester (23 touches, 4 goals) impressed up forward and Lewis Taylor (32 touches, 8 marks) was back to his best in a dashing performance. Stef Martin probably had the best of the ruck battle after a strong start from Longer too. Injuries to Harwood and Adcock as well as Gardiner pulling out before the match add to their laundry list of injuries. It's another well deserved result after a resilient and impressive performance from the young Saints. A few bad errors didn't mar the spectacle all in all. It's back to the drawing board for the Lions after they again faded badly after a strong start. No party for Matthew Leuenberger in his 100th game. Lions 13.8.86 St Kilda 16.12.108 Goals: Brisbane - Lester 4, Rich 2, Green, Rockliff, Bewick, Robinson, Zorko, Robertson, Christensen St Kilda - Riewoldt 4, Dunstan 2, Armitage 2, Schneider 2, Weller 2, Roberton, Steven, Lonie, Bruce Best: Brisbane - Beams, Lester, Martin, Taylor, Robertson St Kilda - Armitage, Riewoldt, Montagna, Newnes, Schneider, Dempster Cheers to everyone for reading! Been a pleasure.
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Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS Rewarded for running there, Roberton gets the ball inside 50 from Schneider and ices the game with a goal. Lions 13.8.86 St Kilda 16.12.108 1:35 remaining Q4
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BEHIND SAINTS Lonie gets the ball in his forward 50, takes a floating snap that just drifts off target. Lions 13.8.86 St Kilda 15.12.102 2:06 remaining Q4
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GOAL LIONS Aish pops up a little pass to Christensen who marks, immediately plays on, turns and puts it on the boot. It's a good kick and a goal. Lions 13.8.86 St Kilda 15.11.101 2:22 remaining Q4
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BEHIND LIONS Christensen marks just outside 50, whirls around and delivers it to Martin about 25m out on a slight angle. Martin goes back and hooks it, just about does it for Brisbane. Lions 12.8.80 St Kilda 15.11.101 3:54 remaining Q4
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BEHIND LIONS D.Beams marks after a run from Taylor, he plays on and has a running shot at an empty goalsquare. It's just wide and only a behind. Lions 12.7.79 St Kilda 15.11.101 6:34 remaining Q4
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Roar Guru
Dayne Beams has a shot from on the 50m arc but it's a poor kick, hits the behind post on the full. Lions needed a spark then.
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Roar Guru
BEHIND SAINTS Bruce takes another grab and has the chance to ice it but it's across the face, sneaks in for a behind. Lions 12.6.78 St Kilda 15.11.101 8:55 remaining Q4
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Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS The Saints come streaming up the wing and Dempster delivers it inside 50. Bruce holds his ground and takes the grab. That's a good kick and that might do it for the Saints! Lions 12.6.78 St Kilda 15.10.100 10:24 remaining Q4
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Daniel McKenzie hobbles off after an absolutely fantastic grab - took it on the wing as Clarke came in for the big spoil. McKenzie held the mark but paid the price, looked sore.
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Roar Guru
BEHIND SAINTS Riewoldt marks just outside 50 and delivers it lace out to Bruce. Bruce has been very quiet today and that won't help, poor kick and only just scrapes through for a behind. Lions 12.6.78 St Kilda 14.10.94 14:59 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
GOAL LIONS The Lions move forward quickly and the makeshift forward target in Lester takes another mark and kicks his fourth! Beams delivered it well and Lester's leading was strong. A pulse for the Lions. Lions 12.6.78 St Kilda 14.9.93 16:57 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS The Saints fly out of the centre and the ball goes deep again...Weller's there again! Pops it through for 2 in quick succession. Lions need to answer. Lions 11.6.72 St Kilda 14.9.93 18:35 remaining Q4
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Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS Billings goes inside 50, looks like it's about to go through but Weller's obviously been playing a bit of FIFA, volleys it out of the air to put it through and make sure of the goal! Lions 11.6.72 St Kilda 13.9.87 18:50 remaining Q4
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Roar Guru
Last quarter underway
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Roar Guru
Saints twitter in a cheeky mood today...
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Roar Guru
3 quarter time at the GABBA 3 goals apiece that term as the Saints hold the advantage. They're in the box seat for the four points from here but it should be a tight finish. Some of the Lions senior players lifted as the term went on but the Saints had answers. Poor errors from both sides didn't help matters for the coaches. Lions 11.6.72 St Kilda 12.9.81 Goals: Brisbane - Lester 3, Rich 2, Green, Rockliff, Bewick, Robinson, Zorko, Robertson St Kilda - Riewoldt 4, Dunstan 2, Armitage 2, Schneider 2, Steven, Lonie
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS A poor turnover from the Lions comes back down the other end and Riewoldt takes the mark. He's been leading from the front today, that's his fourth. Lions 11.6.72 St Kilda 12.9.81 1:43 remaining Q3
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
BEHIND SAINTS Bruce gets the handball receive and attempts a quick snap from about 25m out, misses. Lions 11.6.72 St Kilda 11.9.75 2:50 remaining Q3