Brisbane has secured consecutive victories for the first time in 2026, fending off a spirited St Kilda side by 52 points at RSEA Park on Saturday afternoon.
In his second game at the helm following Nick Dal Santo's departure, Saints interim coach Matt Brewer made headlines during the week by dropping mainstays Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw and Maya Louvel-Finn over concerns surrounding standards.
Despite sitting last on the ladder, St Kilda's effort was a consistent feature in the 11.9 (75) to 3.5 (23) defeat.
The opening five minutes delivered a flurry of clearances and crisp ball movement, but overuse proved costly for the inexperienced Saints. Brisbane, meanwhile, used a combination of reliable connection through the centre and precise kicking inside 50 to prove too strong.
In what felt like a statement of intent just before half-time, midfielder Tyanna Smith booted her second of two goals, giving the Saints the feel of a team embracing a new chapter - one determined to go down fighting.
But the second half well and truly belonged to Brisbane, with Sophie Conway (26 disposals, one goal) marking her 100th game in style, Ally Anderson (26 disposals, seven tackles) tackles) and Orla O'Dwyer (24 disposals, one goal) all instrumental in the Lions' victory. Anderson's crucial rundown tackle late in the third quarter highlighted just how difficult the Lions are to compete with when they're in form.
At the other end, the Lions' highlight came early in the term when vice-captain Natalie Grider found herself in an unusual position inside 50 and slotted a ripping goal on her left boot while running under pressure. It was the two-time premiership defender's first AFLW goal, coming in a record 96th game.
It was a moment only to be matched by Conway. In her milestone match, the two-time All-Australian and premiership winger had four errant shots on goals as loyal Lions supporters waited on the sidelines for a chance to erupt. In the final minute of the game, Conway took a mark in the pocket and booted it through after the siren to put an exclamation mark on a terrific day for the Lions.
Brisbane is set to miss finals for just the second time in club history, but those two moments along with back-to-back wins suggest Craig Starcevich's side is still enjoying its footy and can finish a horror season with its arrow pointing up.
The win featured nine different goalkickers and marked just the second time Brisbane has scored more than 60 points in 2026.
Patrikios is powering home
Leading a midfield against the three-headed monster of Ally Anderson, Sophie Conway and Orla O'Dwyer is one of the hardest tasks in footy, but perhaps it was just the challenge Georgia Patrikios needed. The two-time St Kilda best and fairest winner's 30-disposal game matched her season-high tally from Round 1, and the third time in her career she's hit the 30-disposal threshold.
Magical moments for Lions stalwarts
In a difficult season for the Lions, two special moments came for players who have been instrumental to a club accustomed to regular success. Natalie Grider’s first goal in 96 AFLW games was a treat for the Brisbane faithful, but it was upstaged when Sophie Conway, playing her 100th game, took a mark and had a shot on goal after the siren. The Lions winger had missed four shots throughout the game, but made no mistake when it mattered most, putting the cherry on top of a win that stands out as a bright spot in an otherwise grim season.
Up next
St Kilda finishes the home-and-away season with a clash against Port Adelaide at RSEA Park Saturday 31 October at 1:05pm Melbourne time, while the Lions take on the Blues at Brighton Homes Arena later on at 5:05pm.
ST KILDA 2.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 (23)
BRISBANE 4.3 5.4 7.5 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Brisbane: Svarc 2, Hartill 2, Conway, Davidson, Long, Grider, O'Dwyer, Davison, Peters
St Kilda: Smith 2, Caris
BEST
St Kilda: Patrikios, Smith, Lambert, Watson
Brisbane: Conway, Svarc, O'Dwyer, Long, Anderson
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Brisbane: Nil
Crowd: 1308 at RSEA Park
