The Brisbane Lions will be under the pump this week after looking lifeless in a big loss to the Fremantle Dockers, who claimed their second win of the year.
Final score
Brisbane Lions 9.10.64
Fremantle Dockers 23.9.147
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The Brisbane Lions and the Fremantle Dockers are both looking to take their second win of the season when they meet at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:35pm AEST.
The Lions are on a seven-match losing streak at the moment after taking their first and to date only win of the season against the Gold Coast Suns in Round 4 this year. They’ve had a nightmare first half of the season facing a tough draw in that time but will be hoping to put a few wins on their total in what’s left of the year.
This is a great chance to do it, too, against a Fremantle side that is also 1-10 after gaining their first win of the season just last week in a dominant effort against the Essendon Bombers. They’ve shown glimpses of their good form at times this year but have rarely been able to put it together long enough to be competitive.
The Lions have recalled the likes of Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner and Rohan Bewick this week with Jackson Paine and Allen Christensen to miss through injury, while Jonathan Freeman has been omitted.
The Dockers will miss a trio of talls in Jonathon Griffin, Matthew Pavlich and Michael Apeness all through injury this week, and have brought in the tall timber of Zac Clarke, Jack Hannath and Tanner Smith as replacements.
A key match-up to follow on the day will be Tom Rockliff and Michael Barlow. Rockliff had a career-high 48 disposals against Carlton last week, but comes up against Barlow this week who in a new tagging role kept Essendon’s David Zaharakis to just a handful of touches in Round 11. If Barlow is able to keep Rockliff out of the match – or, if Rockliff is able to get loose and win the ball – it could go a long way to deciding the result of this one.
Prediction
This is a match that could go either way and with both these teams being inconsistent in performance, it’s hard to predict. However, the home ground advantage probably skews the odds in Brisbane’s favour.
Brisbane Lions by 12.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:35pm AEST.
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
Freo haven't had a great year by any stretch of the imagination but you would likely even envy the position us Freo fans are in, Paul D. What do you want to see changed at the Lions? I imagine it is a long list...
mds1970
Roar Guru
Real problems at the Lions. It's one thing to be outclassed by a better side, but they just didn't have a dip today. The booing from the crowd at half time told the story more than anything else - confidence is at rock-bottom in the Lions camp, and it's hard to see where their next competitive performance is going to come from.
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Click here to read the full match report from this game What's next? Follow our North vs Geelong and West Coast vs Adelaide live blogs Brisbane Lions 9.10.64 def by. Fremantle Dockers 23.9.147 Votes 3. Taberner 2. Weller 1. Mayne
mds1970
Roar Guru
A couple of wins, albeit against very poor opposition; but it may have given them their mojo back. I could easily see them winning more than they lose from here on, but it's far too late to make a run for the finals.
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Full Time The Final siren sounds here at the Gabba and it's the Dockers who are victorious, defeating the Lions by 83 points in what was an astonishing display from the visitors.
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 0:33 Goal Sheridan marks inside fifty however just can't get the ball to swing back, missing to the left. Lions 9.10.64 Dockers 23.9.149
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 1:12 Goal Lewis Taylor runs in and kicks a very nice goal with a minute remaining. Lions 9.10.64 Dockers 23.8.146
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 2:17 Behind Hanley picks up his 30th disposal with that attempt on goal, roving the ball out of the pack and missing to the right. Lions 8.10.58 Dockers 23.8.146
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
I was not expecting the lions to be so poor today. Freo's kids all look very promising. Tabener has done a couple of dopey things this year but he has improved so much. Even if he doesn't take a mark he is making a contest and getting it to ground for our small brigade. Weller, Blakely, Tucker, Collins...future remains bright I think.
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 3:23 Goal Walters marks and goals from directly in front for Fremantle's 23rd goal of the match, stretching the lead out to 89 points. Lions 8.9.57 Dockers 23.8.146
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 Behind/strong> Bastinac receives the ball from the stoppage however his attempt on goal is poor, missing to the right. Lions 8.9.57 Dockers 22.8.140
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 6:40 Goal Tucker kicks his second, probably kicking the easiest goal of the night running into an open fifty and slotting one home from 40 out. Lions 8.8.56 Dockers 22.8.140
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 7:07 Goal Ballantyne joins the other forwards on four goals, snapping one from the angle. Lions 8.8.56 Dockers 21.8.134
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 7:45 Behind Jansen tackled as he kicked, resulting in him just missing to the right. Lions 8.8.56 Dockers 20.8.128
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 10:22 Goal Bewick fails to replicate the goal he scored from that pocket, spraying his attempt on goal to the left. Lions 8.7.55 Dockers 20.8.128
Paul D
Roar Guru
This is difficult to watch. In terms of train wrecks the Lions are going full Granville.
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 10:44 Goal Cuttler kicks his second goal for the match with lovely long kick from the 50 directly in front. Lions 8.6.54 Dockers 20.8.128
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 13:22 Goal Weller kicks his fourth after winning a free kick for holding the ball. Fremantle now move out to an 80 point lead as Weller joins Mayne on four goals. Lions 7.6.48 Dockers 20.8.128
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 16:55 Goal Chris Mayne strolls through and kicks the easiest of goals as the Dockers score from yet another Brisbane turnover. Mayne now has four goals to his name. Lions 7.6.48 Dockers 19.8.122
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Q4 19:18 Behind Walters has a go from just outside fifty, however is punched through by Rich for a behind. Lions 7.6.48 Dockers 18.8.116