Early Season Troubles for Last Year’s Runners-up
The Brisbane Lions have been in the AFL’s top eight each season since 2019 and have progressively gone further in the finals series culminating in a four-point Grand Final loss to Collingwood last year.
Given their track record, 2024 was expected to be no different with the club and their supporters hoping they would take the final step and win the Grand Final for the first time since 2003.
However, the beginning of the season has been anything but ideal for the team from Brisbane.
The Lions were 0-3 heading into round four with two of those losses taking place at the Gabba, a site where they were undefeated last season.
Their on the field showings have been disappointing but they may have been dealing with bigger problems away from the pitch.
Rumours have been swirling of a rift between players after messages and photos from last season’s end of year trip to Las Vegas were found by a player’s partner and allegedly led to relationships ending.
The club has been denying the rumours but it would lend a reason as to why they have struggled thus far if true.
Lions Thrash North Melbourne for First Win
Their matchup with North Melbourne in round four presented a perfect opportunity for the Lions to get back on track as the Kangaroos were also 0-3 and sat second from the bottom of the ladder.
Brisbane took their opportunity and ran with it, destroying North Melbourne to the tune of 112-42.
The result was never really in question after the game began as the Lions took the lead early and ran with it, never trailing.
They blitzed the Kangaroos in the opening quarter, putting in two quick goals and scoring a total of seven in the frame en route to a 45-12 lead.
They kept the quality play going in the second quarter with four more goals, expanding the massive lead to 75-19 by the time the halftime whistle was blown.
North Melbourne put up a bit of a fight in the third frame, scoring 13 unanswered points in the opening five minutes. That was as close as they would get however as Brisbane found two goals of their own in the quarter and still held a healthy, 89-35 lead going into the fourth.
They didn’t take their foot off the gas either. The Lions held North Melbourne to just one goal and a behind in the final quarter. On the other side, Brisbane put through three more goals and a quartet of behinds to push the final score to 112-42.
Joe Daniher was the star of the show for Brisbane offensively as he finished with a huge line of five goals and four assists.
Next Week’s Clash a Good Test to see Where They Stand
Though the win is a step in the right direction for Brisbane, beating up on low ladder teams is what the club is expected to do.
Next week’s matchup with top of the table Melbourne will be a better test as to whether or not their troubles are behind them.
Competing tightly with teams like Melbourne is where the Lions were expected to be at the beginning of the season, and a poor showing could make people forget all about this victory and sink them right back down in the eyes of many.
