After controlling the game for 110 minutes, the Lions had to withstand a withering Redland finish that saw the Bombers lay siege to their goal in the last 10 minutes, before winning 16.12 (108) to 14.20 (104).
“We had a bit of a deep and meaningful the week before,” Reserves Coach Craig McRae said. “It was with the whole group about playing for the team and not their own needs."
“We had some things we needed to get better at and playing your role was the main one. We have simple instructions - it’s not a big thing."
“We’re still not ‘there’, but for the major part we did the right things on Saturday night.”
The Lions bounced out to a 22-point halftime lead courtesy of some strong work by Pearce Hanley, Jesse O’Brien, Callum Bartlett, Albert Proud and dominant ruckman Broc McCauley.
Redland’s ruck woes have been brutally exposed by a number of their rivals and McCauley gave his midfielders first use of the ball all night.
Such was the Bombers’ desperation that they threw the best player on the day, and best forward, Adam Mueller onto the ball in the last quarter to try and stem the flow.
The lithely built Mueller did a solid job as his side added 5.5 to 3.4, but could not kick a goal when it counted.
As was the case in the brave but ultimately futile defeat at Morningside last week, the Bombers had their share of ball but let themselves down with turnovers, particularly in their forward line.
In contrast the Lions used the ball with precision, particularly in the first half.
And every time the game was in the balance in the final term, someone stood up for the home side.
“I complimented the guys after the game that when it was up for grabs they stood up to be counted,” McRae said.
“Albert Proud took a strong mark and kicked an important goal for the team and Aaron Cornelius did the same.”
McRae was particularly taken with the performance of young draftee Jesse O’Brien.
“Jesse had his best game for the club,” he said. “He led the team in tackles (7), kicked a couple of goals and did all that we asked. He broke the lines and carried the footy.”
McRae was also happy with the effectiveness of McCauley in the ruck.
“It was one of Broc’s best games. He has been going pretty well but he got his starting points right and his hitouts were going more to the advantage of the team against Redland,” the coach said.
While Sam Sheldon didn’t dominate, he did enough to earn some praise from McRae.
“Sheldon played a good role and the signs are that we may progress down that path,” he said.
Big forward Bryce Retzlaff followed up his four-goal haul against Labrador in a beaten team with another exuberant display against the Bombers.
While he only kicked the two goals, he set up a number of others for teammates around him.
“Retzlaff as a hit-up forward was very good,” McRae said.
The Lions also received great service from Claye Beams and Donald Barry.
The win took the Lions to a 3-4 record and they sit in fifth place on the QAFL premiership table, level with the NT Thunder, Broadbeach and Mt Gravatt.
“It has been hard to know where we were at because we had either won big or lost big going into the game. It was a defining game for us in that regard,” McRae said.
“We know now that if we play consistently well through the majority of the game against a good side like Redland, then we are around the mark.”
Southport are now officially the competition benchmark after spanking reigning premiers Morningside by 76 points to remain unbeaten after Round 6, while an injury-hit Labrador came from five goals down to beat Aspley by 16 points at Graham Road.
The NT Thunder held the Western Magpies goalless in the first half in Darwin before winning by 97 points, while Broadbeach’s speedy young outfit upset Mt Gravatt by 49 points in an impressive display at Merrimac Oval yesterday.
SCORE
Brisbane Lions 4.3 10.4 13.8 16.12 (108)
Redland 2.1 6.6 9.15 14.20 (104)
GOALS - Brisbane Lions: D. Barry 3, B. Retzlaff 2, J. O'Brien 2, A. Proud 2, A. Cornelius 2, C. Beams 1, P. Hanley 1, R. Estall 1, C. Wittkopp 1, C. Bartlett 1.
Redland: D. Dzufer 4, A. Mueller 3, J. Charlesworth 2, A. Williams 2, B.
Weightman 2, M. Ghirardello 1.
BEST - Brisbane Lions: J. O'Brien, B. McCaulay, B. Retzlaff, A. Proud, T.
Selwood, S. Sheldon.
Redland: M. Thomson, T. Salter, J. Norman, B. Weightman, P. O'Shea, D.
Dzufer.
