This Australian Rules Football team didn’t just win, they set a record with a win at the GMHBA Stadium. This victory against the Geelong Cats was their first victory at the venue in more than twenty years. The Lions, coached by the immensely talented Chris Fagan, ended a generational curse. They displayed their remarkable bounceback ability, putting together a terrific third game of the season coming off a two-game slide.
After a tightly contested start to the game, Brisbane quickly took over and built a huge 24-point lead at the half. And perhaps most importantly, they took the field with the most impressive opening ceremony we’ve ever seen. This confident drive lifted them to increase their lead for the entire match. Despite the missteps, Fagan was pleased with his unit’s collective effort. They did, remarkably, overcome the last “hoodoo” that had followed him throughout his time as coach.
As expected, it was a day in which we saw multiple top-tier performances from Brisbane players on display. Harris Andrews was a force on defense, shutting down Shannon Neale and influencing the game defensively. In the midfield, Brandon Starcevich was key in neutralising Geelong’s ace, Patrick Dangerfield. Their efforts were crucial in allowing Brisbane to keep the lead for the entirety of the match.
Morris made a quick impression for Brisbane, quickly becoming a fan-favorite by scoring three goals. His fourth goal capped off his performance and stretched the Lions’ lead to 45 points. His contributions were massive in maintaining Geelong’s pressure and not allowing them to stage a comeback.
Brisbane’s attack exploded with the addition of their young, dynamic trio. Levi Ashcroft, Kai Lohmann and Darcy Wilmot all scored goals in the opening quarter. None of these players were even born the last time Brisbane won at Geelong. Their work that has led to this momentous victory makes it even more special.
Though the Lions’ midfielders were the most potent, as multiple Lions fronted with massive disposal numbers. Josh Dunkley was the standout with 30 disposals, with Will Ashcroft 28 not far behind. Hugh McCluggage was a standout with 22 disposals while kid Jarrod Berry contributed 26 to the cause. Their combined efforts very quickly turned out to be the key to winning the possession battle and generating goal-scoring chances.
