Dylan Shiel has starred in his 100th game, with Greater Western Sydney grabbing top spot on the AFL ladder with a 10-goal hammering of Brisbane at the Gabba.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Brisbane Lions 12.14.86
GWS Giants 22.14.146
The Brisbane Lions will hope their recent form resurgence can continue when they go up against the GWS Giants, who need a win here to take top spot on the ladder. Join The Roar for live scores from the match at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon, starting from 4:35pm AEST.
Battles between Northern States clubs are always intriguing for where they sit in terms of the progress of their clubs in markets that have a different dimension to those in the Southern States.
There won’t be the hype, for example, around this game than there has been for the continuing rugby league exhibition series.
The crowd will probably be fairly small, as they have been throughout the season for the struggling Lions.
This doesn’t mean, however, that the game won’t have its entertainment and important questions for the AFL’s continuing narratives in the northern states.
The Giants are strong favourites to win, but have not had that happy a time recently.
The loss to the more enthusiastic Carlton and the last minute loss of the crucial Josh Kelly to a training injury casts their side as not being as assured of victory as most would believe.
Add to that the recent fading form of Shane Mumford, today facing one of the better ruckmen in the competition, Stefan Martin, and the Lions should feel more confident of their chances.
The Lions have been building an up and down season, but have shown signs of strength that should cast them as having a solid future side.
Dayne Zorko has emerged as one of the game’s best midfielders who can also go forward and score goals. He is only underrated by southern states fans who don’t monitor Lions games.
He is ably backed up by fellow midfield stars Tom Rockliff and Dayne Beams, as well as the emerging forward/mid Ryan Lester.
It has also been of note to see the re-emergence of former Rising Star winner Lewis Taylor, who will cause some grief for the Giants around stoppages and the forward line.
For the Giants, they will be grateful for the return of Nick Haynes, who will add some more rebounding skill from the backline, as well as the ability to make crucial intercepts.
Otherwise, the team will need more from Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield, Dylan Shiel, Matthew Kennedy and Tom Scully to fill in the gap caused by the loss of Kelly.
There also needs to be more input from Jeremy Cameron and Jono Patton – Patton in particular has looked lost when taken out by superior key defender performances.
Prediction
The Giants should win this game, but then they should have defeated Carlton easily two weeks ago. Brisbane should put in a good display for their long suffering, but passionate fan base.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon, starting from 4:35pm AEST.
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report And the game ends, with the GWS Giants winning through 146 to 86, hitting the top of the AFL table, one game clear from the Crows. It was a solid performance by the Giants, with Shiel shining with 38 touches, the three main forwards with 12 goals. It's also noticeable that it was their first win after a bye in the club's history. As for Brisbane, they won the last quarter with flashes of encouraging skill. It would be a concern for the Lions, though, that Zorko only had 5 disposals all game. Next week sees the Giants playing Geelong at the Showground, which looks to be a blockbuster. Brisbane travels to Melbourne to play the Bombers.
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
And to ice the game, Daniel Lloyd, the Central Coast based player who came in for Josh Kelly scores a goal. Giants 146 - Lions 86
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
Another Lions goal! The Giants appeared to have gone to sleep in this last part of the game.
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
As per my previous comment, the talented Archie Smith takes a mark and scores another goal. Giants 140 - Lions 80
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
In a side note, Archie Smith looks like he has some very good potential for the Lions.
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
Archie Smith for the Lions gets a free kick for holding. He is taking a shot for goal, which is successful. Giants 140 Lions 73
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
Williams is taken high by Bewick after a very well waited for handball from Greene. He kicks the banana accurately. Giants 21.14.140 to Lions 9.13.67
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
Hipwood now has a shot for goal, after a good run of play. It is, however, a poor kick, going away to the right.
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
Witherden for the Lions has had an encouraging first game, doing an inspiring smother of a Johnson goal shot.
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
The ball ends up inside the Giants' forward 50, and Williams passes it to Ward, who kicks his first goal. It is also Ward's 26th touch, showing how he has stepped up today. Giants 134, Lions 66
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
This game nearly being finished is sending my mind towards the 8000 word Masters' project that is due on Monday. All these words are starting to merge together as I see Patton take another contested mark.
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
A slightly messy play that saw McStay almost take another mark inside the forward 50, sees Berry get the ball and score a goal. GWS 128 Lions 66
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
Shaw, the 250 game man, drops an easy mark, which is remarkable only because we learned this week that despite his greatness as a defender, Shaw has one of the highest clanger count in league history.
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
Dinner is lemon herb chicken, washed down with a Mudgee Semillon. Now that that is sorted out, I have returned to see Brisbane kick an encouraging goal from Mc Stay for the Lions. Giants 128, Lions 60
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
A shot from a fast running Taylor just lands in front, and is rushed behind. Giants 128 Lions 54
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
McCluggage didn't show his best effort there, kicking it when he should have gone closer to goal. A behind is the result. The resulting rebound has led to another shot on goal, this time being taken by Wilson. He misses, showing his lack of set shot skill. GWS 127, Lions 53
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
A feature of today's play has been the quality ball delivered by Wilson from the backline. He has set off a chain that has led to another set shot from Patton, who was being marked by Zorko. He misses this time. GWS 126, Lions 52
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
Back to normal programming after a couple of minutes - Johnson catches Zorko asleep and kicks it to Cameron, who scores another goal, this time from the sideline. Giants 125, Lions 52
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
Another inside 50 for the Giants ends the quarter, with Cameron shrugging off a tackle and kicking it to a controversial Patton mark. He scores his 4th goal. Giants 119, Lions 52
Mark O'Sullivan
Roar Guru
That goal from Greene was too easy, with two players around him that could have also scored the goal - this is now messy for the Lions. Giants 113, Lions 52