The Brisbane Lions are again inside one win of the AFL’s high 4 after a fifth straight victory, Lachie Neale doing all of it in an 11-point defeat of Adelaide.
The hosts’ 14.13 (97) to 13.8 (86) Sunday-night Gabba victory was powered by a club-best three first-half targets to midfielder Neale (35 disposals, 10 clearances, three rating assists).
Former Lion Ben Keays had a career-high 4 targets for the Crows, who simply would not go away, two fast Darcy Fogarty targets giving the guests an enormous sniff within the remaining 4 minutes.
Some expensive unforced errors did not assist, Brisbane sneaking dwelling after a draw earlier this 12 months on the Adelaide Oval and a six-point win on the Gabba final season.
Josh Dunkley (33 disposals, one aim) was high quality help for Neale, whereas Rory Laird had six clearances in his 25 touches for the Crows.
Victory pushed the Lions to seventh, simply 4 factors behind fourth-placed Essendon, whereas the Crows stay fifteenth, greater than three wins outdoors the highest eight.
The guests produce other points too, with star Izak Rankine to return underneath scrutiny for an off-the-ball bump that flattened Brandon Starcevich.
The defender failed his head harm evaluation check and was dominated out at quarter-time.
Brisbane dominated the clearances within the first half to regulate the competition, however Keays saved popping as much as preserve the guests .
Rankine shooshed the gang when he launched a aim from the pocket earlier than half-time, and the margin was simply eight factors when Jake Soligo’s bomb from 50m sailed by means of.
Substitute Logan Morris and Will Ashcroft answered for Brisbane to reinstate the buffer, however once more it was Rankine from 50m after the 24-year-old was taken excessive.
Charlie Cameron, taking part in on regardless of a heavy crash touchdown within the third quarter, offset a horror night time with the boot to kick a well timed main, solely to see Taylor Walker (two targets) boot one other on the reverse finish.
Rankine chased down Darcy Wilmot so as to add to his spotlight reel, however the Crows may solely hand it straight again, a nasty behavior that appeared to canine them all through the night.
Cameron’s second aim, a assured snap from a set shot, regarded to drag the twine from the Crows, earlier than Fogarty’s double ensured one other tense end.
