AFL West Coast vs Lions highlights (Round 19, 2010)

THE BRISBANE Lions have won their first match in more than two months and consigned West Coast to what will surely be the club's first wooden spoon, prevailing by just five points in a bottom-of-the-ladder thriller at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

Lions skipper Jonathan Brown sealed the 10.10 (70) to 9.11 (65) win, out-muscling and out-marking Mitch Brown with less than 10 seconds remaining.




The Lions' second win in 15 games leaves West Coast two games clear at the bottom of the ladder with three games left, all but ensuring a first wooden spoon for the proud club.

The visitors kicked just three goals after half time - and Brown's sealer was the Lions' only goal of the final term - but they prevailed despite being outplayed in the second half.

It was a thrilling final quarter, memorable not for its class but for the desperation of two sides fighting to avoid a last-placed finish.

The Eagles had slowly worked their way back from a 27-point deficit and took the lead when Andrew Strijk kicked the side's only goal of the last term after 15 minutes.

But despite a host of desperate efforts from the likes of Brett Jones, Dean Cox and Koby Stevens, the Eagles gave up what would have been a win to savour at the last hurdle.

Important for the Lions were Simon Black (27 possessions), Jared Brennan (25 and one goal), Michael Rischitelli (29 and six clearances) and Ash McGrath, who shut down Eagles sharpshooter Mark LeCras.

Brown booted four first-half goals as the Lions built what looked a match-winning lead, but the clearly wounded skipper was well beaten by Matt Spangher in the second half.

"Given the fact that he's a big occasion and big moment player, he's who you'd want to have it," Lions coach Michael Voss said of Brown's match-winning kick.

"He's one of the toughest and most resilient blokes that I've played with and had the pleasure to coach now. His will is unbelievable and he leads his team so very well. He rises to the occasion."

For West Coast, Scott Selwood (28 possessions and a goal) shone, while ruckman Cox fought back to form with 22 possessions in a hard-working performance.

It wasn't a pretty game, and the 32,587 fans needed no reminding it was 15th versus 16th in the first quarter as both sides turned the ball over continually.

The Lions went into attack more often but fell down in front of goal, with Brennan and Brown combining for a rare piece of clean play to produce the visitors' first goal after 20 minutes.

They went into the first break two points down, despite being the better side, but Brown took hold of the second term as the Lions ran harder and started winning clean possession in space.

The skipper kicked three goals for the quarter inspiring a five-goal run and opening up a 27-point break.

Young Eagle Stevens, who was a late replacement for defender Beau Waters (illness), kicked his first AFL goal late in the term, but there was little else for the Eagles to hang their hats on.

Forwards Josh Kennedy, LeCras and Ben McKinley couldn't get into the game in the first half, sharing four marks between them and just one goal, and the tackle count (42-24) was a major concern.

The Eagles turned that around in the second half, and appeared set for a hard-fought win before Brown sent them crashing to one of their lowest ebbs.

"I've been through some real tough times with this footy club, but I've always had the belief that the club knows how to come out of it and knows the pathways to take," said coach John Worsfold after the game. "It feels no different.

"I know success is coming and it's building pretty strongly within the group."

West Coast travels to AAMI Stadium to meet Port Adelaide next week, while the Lions face Adelaide at the Gabba.

West Coast 2.2 4.5 8.6 9.11 (65)
Brisbane Lions 1.3 7.5 9.7 10.10 (70)

GOALS
West Coast: LeCras 2, Strijk, Sheppard, Embley, Selwood, Stevens, Lynch, Priddis
Brisbane Lions: Brown 5, Harwood, Hanley, Rockliff, Brennan, Banfield

BEST
West Coast: S Selwood, Priddis, Strijk, McGinnity, Cox, Smith
Brisbane Lions: Rischitelli, Brennan, Black, McGrath, Brown, Staker

INJURIES
West Coast: Beau Waters (illness) replaced in selected side by Koby Stevens
Brisbane Lions: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Armstrong, Keating

Official crowd: 32,587 at Subiaco Oval

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• AFL
• west
• coast
• eagles
• brisbane
• lions
• highlights
• round
• 19
• 2010

[AceLosesKing]

I'm an ardent WCE supporter.

From that view, its not a push in the back.. Brown used his body.

[chandlerjoBL]

@AceLosesKing Yup. That costed the game for u guys.

First wooden spoon eh?

[Escapey04]

cmon you have to admit that mark is bullshit, i went to the game live and you cant fuckin push someone in the back, umpires did a shit job for both side and your right it was very scrappy game.

[chandlerjoBL]

@Escapey04 He didnt push him the west coast guy tripped. If you look closely Brown didnt push him with his hands.

[BroncoLion]

Exciting end after a scrappy game, first time I've been made to feel good by the Brisbane Lions in 2 months, almost forgot what winning felt like.

[chandlerjoBL]

@BroncoLion Can't Describe that any better. Hopefully Fevola can get more goals in the 2011 season. Hes failing right now.

[cahman44]

i can't stand that girls voice

[Baksey21]

he did not get pushed in the back hes js just soft

[Freefilmproduction]

i reckon browny planned all of that lol :P

[scosi31]

@AceLosesKing fag

[REWTASW]

What a fucking bitch. Youre not supposed to say the umps were on a teams side. Fucking hate her and her fucking voice. Irritating to listen to.

[Tiggamate96]

wtf is wrong with her voice.

[DragonBallZ535]

JONO BROWNY...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

[tomwce7]

i can see my self on 1:34 next to the wce 14 bl 16 scoreboard, im in the jumper waving a flag

[zomeza12]

@Escapey04 richo got pinged for the exact same thing in dreatime at the G in 07, so yeah i see where your coming from. The umpires need to be consistent.

[V3N0M101]

Koby Stevens is a dick munching whore.

[TheBigEase]

she sounds awful!