Game of two halves, with almost a miracle

IT WAS very nearly a replay of the Lions’ famous comeback from 52 points down against Geelong at the Gabba last night ... except this time the Western Bulldogs were the ones that almost pulled off the miracle.

Brisbane ended up holding on 15.10 (100) to 13.15 (93) to keep its finals hopes alive, after holding a 50-point lead at halftime.

It truly was a game of two halves, the hosts booting seven goals to two in the first quarter, and holding a 57-point lead at one stage.

But they stopped dead in the second half, set back when Daniel Merrett was carried off in the third quarter after injuring his ankle.

The Bulldogs’ Mitch Wallis also curbed Daniel Rich’s influence beautifully, before the visitors booted eight of the next nine goals, cutting the margin to 10 midway through the final quarter.

Daniel Giansiracusa’s late goal from a 50m penalty after a mark brought the Dogs within five points, with less than four minutes to play.

But that was as close as they got, as the Lions held on.

Tom Rockliff and Matthew Leuenberger were outstanding for the home side, while Luke Dahlhaus and Matthew Boyd were among the Dogs’ best.

Meanwhile, St Kilda veterans Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes and Stephen Milne turned back the clock yesterday to show the young Gold Coast side the work ethic required to be successful in the AFL.

The Suns laid a paltry 27 tackles for the game, eventually going down by 46 points, 17.14 (116) to 10.10 (70).

Milne and Riewoldt finished the game with four goals each, Milne saying after the match he would play his last game for the club on Saturday.

—APN SPORTS BUREAU