The Brisbane Lions have eased previous a lacklustre St Kilda by 28 factors to earn some useful respiration room inside the highest 4 and condemn the Saints to their second-straight loss.
A horror two-goal first half proved expensive for the Saints, whereas the Lions largely didn’t capitalise on their dominance however prevailed 12.12 (84) to eight.8 (56) as a high-stakes conflict fizzled right into a dour affair.
St Kilda spearhead Max King was held goalless by Jack Payne and will likely be assessed by the match evaluation officer after being reported for putting Brisbane defender Ryan Lester within the second quarter.
Defender Liam Stocker was additionally reported, for a dumping deal with on Eric Hipwood simply earlier than half-time.
The Lions (40 factors) leapfrog Melbourne (36) into third and have some respiration room on the Saints, Essendon — who play Saturday evening — and the Western Bulldogs (all on 32 factors).
Brisbane’s Hipwood kicked 4 targets, ruckman Oscar McInerney beat Rowan Marshall and Joe Daniher (18 disposals, two targets) was influential.
Co-captain Harris Andrews (21 disposals, 14 marks) made gentle work of younger Saints ahead Anthony Caminiti and was a vital interceptor.
Lachie Neale (29 touches, 10 clearances), Josh Dunkley (26) and Jarrod Berry (18 touches, one aim) have been all busy.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (24 touches, one aim) was St Kilda’s shining gentle whereas Jack Sinclair (36 touches, one aim) gained loads of the ball.
After an emotional pre-match tribute to late former St Kilda defender Danny Frawley to mark ‘Spud’s Sport’, the Saints booted the sport’s first aim.
However from there, Brisbane have been dominant.
The Lions had 18 inside-50s to seven, however didn’t make their dominance depend, booting simply 3.4 to guide by 16 on the first change.
King was reported when he arrived late to a marking contest and clipped Lester within the neck together with his spoil.
Dan Butler gave St Kilda a spark with a pleasant aim however Brisbane restored a 23-point lead on the important break through a questionable free kick to Josh Dunkley.
Mitch Owens was dominated to have blocked Dunkley out of a ruck contest.
The Saints acquired the third time period off to the right begin when Wanganeen-Milera gained a holding-the-ball free kick and kicked really.
They booted 4 targets for the time period however nonetheless trailed by 21 at three-quarter time.
However regardless of St Kilda’s early surge, with Jack Gresham goaling and King having a snap chalked off on rating evaluation for being touched, Brisbane held their nerve.
