Fremantle offered no quarter by slick Lions
BRISBANE belted Fremantle to bring up its second win for the season and cap a nightmarish day for the Dockers, who lost key pair Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands to injury.
Fyfe, who is already ineligible for the Brownlow Medal because of suspension, is set to miss several weeks after hurting his right hamstring in the second term.
The Dockers skipper took no further part in a match that never reached any great heights, with a hungry Lions outfit leading throughout before winning by 55 points at Perth Stadium last night.
Sandilands, who is keen to play on next season as a 36year-old, was withdrawn from the team in the minutes before the bounce after suffering a calf injury in the warm-up.
Brisbane’s upset victory, its first away win since the corresponding round last season, lifted it a game and a significant chunk of percentage above bottom-placed Carlton.
The lowly pair will meet at the Gabba on Saturday in a clash that could have a bearing on who takes this year’s No. 1 draft pick.
The loss leaves the 13thplaced Dockers at 6-8 and probably ended their slim hopes of launching an assault on the final eight, ahead of an assignment against Melbourne in Darwin on Saturday night.
Midfielder Dayne Beams had a game-high 33 touches and 12 clearances to lead the way, as Brisbane relished the absence of Fyfe and Sandilands to win the clearances 46-37 and the contested ball count 141-122.
Luck ran Brisbane’s way early and the Lions took it and ran as they won an opening term for the first time this season. Ruckman Stefan Martin, playing his 150th game, received a bonus through Sandilands’ misfortune and a Fremantle trainer unwittingly ran through the mark to gift Eric Hipwood a 50m penalty and an early goal as the Lions scored the first four majors.
Martin and opponent Michael Apeness were both strong contributors for their teams, with Martin taking the points after controlling the hit-out battle as well as gathering 19 disposals and having seven clearances.
The Lions went on to kick six goals to three in the third quarter and pushed their lead beyond 40 points at the final change. They then extended the margin in the last to ensure they won every quarter.