THE BRISBANE LIONS have slipped to back-to-back losses, falling to an in-form Essendon outfit by 37 points at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
Despite pinching a four-point lead in the third term after trailing by 26 at half time, the Lions ran out of answers for the Bombers to lose 24.11 (155) to 18.10 (118).
Essendon finished strongly, outscoring the Lions seven goals to four in the final quarter.
The Lions' usually productive engine room was well held, with Luke Power quiet throughout and Simon Black, although kicking two goals and collecting 20 touches, seeming to struggle with groin soreness and a shoulder hit hard by Essendon ruckman David Hille in the second term.
The anticipated ruck duel between Jamie Charman and Hille went Essendon's way as Charman finished with eight disposals to Hille's 20, though the Lion was often first to the tap.
The Lions found themselves on the ropes in the first term as Essendon produced its best effort, conceding eight goals and trailing by 27 points at the first change.
The energetic Bombers were dominating all over the park, but the Lions were able to set up star forwards Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw despite their close attention from Patrick Ryder and Dustin Fletcher respectively.
Tom Collier and Brownlow Medallist Black chipped in, and the Lions had some momentum heading into the break.
But the defence was struggling, with the Dons' eight goals coming from seven different players. Scott Lucas was the only multiple goalkicker.
Determined, the Lions cut back the deficit in the new term, through Bradshaw and Travis Johnstone, who was impressive in his return to the side with 26 possessions.
Brown, battling knee and groin soreness, replied to a Lucas crumb after earning a free kick from Ryder and some good work from Joel Patfull in the backline saved a certain response from the Dons.
But they did break away, with Bradshaw's third snuffed by goals from Matthew Lloyd, Leroy Jetta and Lucas.
Black left the field and headed into the rooms, only to return.
Twenty-six points down at half time, the Lions again presented well in the new term with Bradshaw kicking his fourth, Jared Brennan coming to life and Black snapping a clever goal in the goal square.
Brown, who had sustained a heavy cork, shook those effects to bring the Lions within two and, when Michael Rischitelli's long bomb broke the numbers untouched the visitors were in front.
However, Essendon responded again, with Jetta and Lloyd and then youngster Sam Lonergan kicking two in two minutes. A knock to the head early in the quarter had threatened to end his night.
Angus Monfries added another for the Bombers, but Brown prevailed again and could have made the margin less than 19 points at the final change.
The last quarter belonged to the Bombers, even though a move forward for Brennan and some hard efforts from Anthony Corrie and Tim Notting did rally the Lions.
But 19 points was the closest they got as Lloyd, Brent Stanton and Jason Laycock saw Essendon comfortably home.
The Brisbane Lions host the West Coast Eagles at the Gabba next Saturday night, and will look to recapture the form that still has them in the finals mix.
Essendon 8.3 12.6 17.9 24.11 (155)
Brisbane Lions 4.0 8.4 14.8 18.10 (118)
GOALS
Essendon: Lucas 5, Lloyd 4, Jetta 3, Stanton 3, Lonergan 2, McVeigh 2, Laycock, Monfries, Nash, Neagle, Watson
Brisbane Lions: Brown 5, Bradshaw 4, Brennan 4, Black 2, Rischitelli, Johnstone, Collier
BEST
Essendon: Welsh, Stanton, Lucas, McVeigh, Lloyd, Jetta, Hille, Lovett-Murray
Brisbane Lions: Johnstone, Brennan, Brown, Bradshaw, Corrie, Rischitelli, Notting
INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Brown (hip), Black (shoulder), Leuenberger (knee), Drummond (hip)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Shane Stewart, Ray Chamberlain
Official crowd: 40,053 at Telstra Dome
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
