Australian Football

Match Report

They needed to travel all the way to achieve it, but the Brisbane Lions have finally won their first game of 2014, and given first-year coach Justin Leppitsch his first victory in charge, prevailing by three points in a nail-biter at the "Cake Tin" in Wellington. The win was attained on the back of a strong first half, which saw the Lions kick 8.5 to St Kilda's 4.4 in slippery and windy conditions.

St Kilda began to work its way into the match in the third term after Lewis Taylor kicked the first goal of the second half to give Brisbane a 30-point lead. Josh Saunders set the Saints on their way with a goal at the four-minute mark and Clint Jones and Tom Curren added majors later in the quarter to bring St Kilda within 13 points. However, Brisbane veteran took a late mark and goal to extend that margin to 19 at the final change of ends.

The final term began with St Kilda full of running. Jack Billings and skipper Nick Riewoldt gaoled and with only six minutes of the final term elapsed, the Saints were within six points. Brown steadied the Lion ship again with a goal at the seven-minute mark but the Saints continued to come. A mark and goal to Leigh Montagna cut Brisbane's buffer back to six points at the nine-minute mark and two minutes later Rhys Stanley marked and converted to level the scores.

There was plenty of time in the game left at that stage but St Kilda had the run of the game and looked the team more likely. Brisbane, to its credit however, refused to lie down and Jack Redden kicked a long goal at the 17-minute to restore the lead for the Lions. The next 13 minutes saw St Kilda attack numerous times but they could not find the "big sticks", kicking several behinds. Finally, with seconds left, and the Saints four points behind, Farren Ray broke free and snapped towards goal from 30 metres out but his kicked sailed wide and the Lions held on for a thrilling three-point win.

With a win finally under their belt, the Lions will return home in round seven and host the Swans at the 'Gabba on Saturday night. The Saints will rue a missed chance of a 4-2 record and a place in the top eight and will face a very difficult task at the MCG next Saturday afternoon when they take on defending premiers Hawthorn. The club has now lost both of its "home" games in Wellington, beaten by the Sydney Swans in the corresponding match last year.

GOALS
St. Kilda: Jones, Montagna 2; Saunders, Curren, Dunstan, Dempster, Billings, Riewoldt, Stanley
Brisbane: Taylor, Brown, Redden 2; Merrett, Aish, Green, Brown, Zorko, West

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
St Kilda: Montagna, Hayes, Dempster, Steven, Curren, Geary
Brisbane: Zorko, Redden, Aish, Lester, West, Raines

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
St. Kilda: Montagna, Hayes, Dempster, Dunstan, Billings, Steven
Brisbane: Redden, Patfull, Aish, Adcock, Zorko, Raines

COACHES' COMMENTS
Alan Richardson (StK): They [Brisbane] played some really good footy, particularly in the first half, and they clearly brought in a more experienced, more physical side but we were just really disappointed with the start to the game. We've spoken often about what we want to stand for: our defence, our attack on the ball, our attack on the man, the pressure we put on the opposition. It was below par in the first half.

Justin Leppitsch (Bris): You can't grind it out any more than that. We were challenged and half way through that last quarter the game was probably only heading one way; they were really running on top of us. I'm proud for the guys the guys to fight it out. They did have the last scoring shot, so the game could have been decided by that. But as I said, they [the Brisbane players] ground it out, so it's great.

INJURIES
St. Kilda: Templeton (arm)
Brisbane: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
St. Kilda: Shane Savage replaced Eli Templeton in the first quarter.
Brisbane: Tom Cutler replaced Luke McGuane in the third quarter.

UMPIRES: Kamolins, Hay, Jeffery

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Geard Healy, Danny Frawley, Barry Hall