Australian Football

Match Report

Having surprisingly won its first match of the season, Brisbane was not expected to back up with a second win against Essendon at the Gabba on Saturday night. Ultimately, the Lions did not win but they gave a very good account of themselves and again showed enough to suggest that they are going to be a much improved side under new coach Chris Fagan. The Lions were actually ahead early in the final term, having at one stage trailed by 42 points but the Dons kicked the last five goals of the match to win by 27, the margin a perhaps unfair reflection of Brisbane's performance.

A tumbling mark and goal to Joe Daniher got Essendon off to a good start but Dayne Beams and Michael Close both kicked majors to have Brisbane ahead by a goal after six minutes. Travis Colyer's first goal at the nine-minute mark ha the Bombers ahead by a point, but a nice goal from Daniel Rich had the Lions in front again after 11 minutes. The Lions added a behind after that before a goal to Orazio Fantasia had scores level midway through the term. Essendon added the only other goal of the quarter through Zach Merrett, and it was the Dons by a goal at quarter time.

The Bombers got the second quarter off to a good start with goals to Cale Hooker and Daniher, both after marks. The Lions kicked a couple of behinds through Lewis Taylor and Dayne Beams, but for the next 20 minutes it was one-way traffic Essendon's way and majors to Brendon Goddard, Fantasia, Hooker and Fantasia again saw the Dons out to a 42-point lead. Late goals to Mitch Robinson and Michael Close brought the margin back to 29 points to give Brisbane faint hope at the long break.

The third term brought around a complete turn around of fortunes in the match. The Lions held sway for the first half of the term, adding goals through Lewis Taylor, Harris Andrew and Ryan Lester to be within eight points at the 15-minute mark. Joe Daniher pulled one back for the Dons but further goals to Dayne Beams and Eric Hipwood had Brisbane within a goal after 24 minutes. The two sides added another goal each before the siren and it was only five points Essendon's way at the last change. 

Incredibly, the Lions hit the front in the second minute of the final term when Eric Hipwood marked and kicked truly. A running shot from Mitch Robinson a minute later could have put the Lions seven points clear but his kick missed to the right. The Lions then lost Beams to an ankle injury and the Bombers seized the momentum. A goal to Fantasia put them back ahead, and further majors to Kyle Langford, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, David Zaharakis and Fantasia again saw Essendon home by an eventually comfortable margin of 27 points.

For Essendon, Zach Merrett (32 disposals, nine marks) played a starring role in the win while Lion Beams was outstanding before his ankle injury, picking up 33 possessions and kicking two goals. 

Next up for Essendon is an MCG date with Carlton, the Bombers looking to make it three wins from three matches on Sunday. Brisbane meanwhile will look to open its account against St Kilda at Docklands, also on Sunday.

GOALS
Brisbane: Close, Beams, Hipwood 2; Rich, Robinson, Taylor, Andrews, Lester, Zorko
Essendon: Fantasia 5; Daniher 3; Hooker, Zaharakis 2; Colyer, Merrett, Goddard, Langford, McDonald-Tipungwuti

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Brisbane: Beams, Martin, Zorko, Rockliff, Hipwood, Cutler
Essendon: Merrett, Watson, Fantasia, Heppell, Goddard, Colyer

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Essendon: Nil

UMPIRES: Jeffery, Stephens, Fisher

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Basil Zempilas, Luke Darcy, Leigh Matthews, Cameron Ling