mud n blood
24th September 2001, 13:15
For what it's worth ......
Well, the signs are all good for the Lions maiden AFL flag, after the Lion "Cubs" - the Lions reserves - pulled off the upset of the season to down red-hot fave's Southport - who were trying to win their fifth consecutive title - by 12 points in the AFLQ grand final yesterday, in front of a solid and sometimes noisy attendance estimated around 3,000.
The final wash-up was the Lions 13-20-98 def Southport 13-8-86, in a tight and physical encounter at Giffin Park, Coorparoo. To quote a quote - "it was a match played in two halves" .... after the Sharks clearly dominated the first two terms, with the Lions turning on some sensational footy in the third to turn the tide, then holding on in the last.
At one stage during the third term, the Lions had added 6-1-37 to Southport's 0-0-0, such was the dramatic turn-a-round. However, two late simple lapses allowed the Sharks opportunities which they converted truly.
The match started well for the Lions "young guns" as they snared the first two majors, but in typical Southport fashion, some good old-fashioned "bump and niggle" seemed to rattle the younger Lions somewhat, with the Sharks kicking the next four goals - two in time-on. On two separate occasions early, it appeared as though the quarter could boil over, but the highly-disciplined Cubs maintained their composure.
The Lions looked all but gone as they trudged off the field at the main break trailing by 20 points. Some inspirational words from coach and legendary Windsor-Zillmere hard-head Craig Brittain had the Lions looking like a new team as they stormed back onto the field after the break.
Lead by Des Headland, Joe Grant medallist Ben Robbins, Marcus Picken and Shane Morrison at fullback, the Lions dominated all facets of play in the third term, turning the match on its head and leading by 14 points going into the final break.
Sharks defender and captain-coach Scott Lawton rallied his troops once more, and stressed the need to remain calm in the face of the Lions onslaught, and to play the basics much tighter. Lions coach Brittain simply urged his charges to dig deeper and decide if they wanted the flag or not, and stressed the importance of putting your best foot forward in a grand final. This they did .....
The wheels fell off the cart somewhat for the Sharks in the last term .... free kicks went against them, easy marks were dropped, and set shots were sprayed. This by no means meant the Lions would do it "easy" ..... in the second half, Southport only entered the Lions 50 metre zone on 6 occasions, and kicked truly on five !!!
Full-forward Rod Mackay only added two goals to his season tally (now 98), and was dominated all day by Lions fullback Shane Morrison. As did McLaren in stepping up to the plate, and dominating the second half rucks after Charman was injured. A special mention should also go to Luke Weller, who finally won a premiership after playing in the last two losing grand final Northern Eagles sides.
Following the formalities of speeches and presentation of medallions, coach Craig Brittain re-possessed the microphone and presented further medallions with special mention to other non-playing Lions including Matty Kennedy. Strange sights followed indeed, with the Lions heading out to the middle of the field for a solid 15 minute warm-down, then celebrations somewhat muted in the sheds as only Gatorade was drunk from the premiership cup !!!
Lions senior coach Leigh Matthews was the first to speak to the winners in the sheds, emphasizing the importance of this week to the whole Lions club, and what was expected of all players this week, referring to the chances of some to play in the AFL grand final next Saturday. Craig Brittain's address paid tribute to the efforts of all players throughout the season, specifically naming Weller, McLaren, Van Rooyen, Headland and Morrison, and also stressed the "unusual circumstances" facing all players surrounding post-final celebrations, and that the plan has always been that the club would celebrate as one from next Saturday night.
On a personal note, the game was enjoyable in every aspect .... cost, viewing, atmosphere etc .... and was one of the better grand finals since the demise of the local league from the advent of the Bears/Lions shift to Brisbane (remembering the halcyon days of the 70's and 80's .....). Here's hoping another "dust-collector" will be added to the trophy cabinet next Saturday ........
It was also good to see practically the entire senior Lions side at the ground out to lend support to their future heir-apparents in the senior side !!!
************************************************************ ***
Details -
Lion Cubs 2-1 5-4 11-14 13-20-98
Southport Sharks 4-5 8-6 10-6 13-8-86
Lions
Goals - Headland 3, Mapleston, Kluver, Cupido, McLaren 2, Van Rooyen, Picken 1
Best - Robbins, Bolton, Headland, Morrison, Shattock, McLaren
Sharks
Goals - Pilcher 6, Mackay 2, Gehling, Watts, Divine, Coughlin, Bradley 1
Best - Bradley, Pilcher, Jenkins, Crossley, Lawton
Reserves grand final -
Morningside Panthers5-0 6-0 8-2 13-5-83
Mt.Gravatt Vultures 2-0 6-4 8-4 11-5-71
******************************************
AFLQ website report -
The Brisbane Lions Reserves have given their senior counterparts the best possible start to a week of Grand Final preparations by taking out the AFL Queensland State League premiership this afternoon against the Southport Sharks at Coorparoo, 13-20-98 to 13-8-86.
In the final wash-up, it was two goals-worth of behinds which saw the Lions edge out the reigning premiers, after an inspiring third quarter 46-point effort by the young Brisbane stars.
It is the Lions Reserves first premiership win in the AFL Queensland competition, since joining in 1998.
Southport were well in control during the first half and their well-tested finals' experience saw them go into the main break with a handy 20-point lead and a fifth consecutive premiership in sight.
Had the Sharks been successful in their attempt today, they would have equalled Windsor's premiership record of "five in a row" set in the late 1930s.
It was merely a combination of Southport's persistence and the Lions' occasional wayward kicking for goal which saw the Sharks stay in touch during the turnaround second half, but Brisbane were able to hold off the hungry challenge, their 20 behinds for the game being pivotal in the final result.
Young enthusiasm won out in the end, with the Lions' tireless legs carrying them to their history-making premiership victory.
1998's number one AFL draft pick, Des Headland, was one of the Lions' best for the day, being instrumental in their third quarter comeback, kicking two goals three to help spark the youngsters back into action.
Fellow teammates captain Ben Robbins, ruckman Craig Bolton, fullback Shane Morrison, Aaron Shattock and high flyer Dylan McLaren were also standouts for the day for the new premiers.
Strong performances from the Sharks came from captain/coach Scott Lawton, Grogan Medal runner-up Mark Bradley, rover Luke Jenkins, fullback Troy Crossley and their ever-present forward Jamie Pilcher, who collected a bag of six goals.
With one premiership under the belt for the week already, the Brisbane Lions will now be hoping to achieve the rare double in their quest for AFL glory, when their senior boys take on Essendon next Saturday afternoon at the MCG in the AFL Grand Final.
Well, the signs are all good for the Lions maiden AFL flag, after the Lion "Cubs" - the Lions reserves - pulled off the upset of the season to down red-hot fave's Southport - who were trying to win their fifth consecutive title - by 12 points in the AFLQ grand final yesterday, in front of a solid and sometimes noisy attendance estimated around 3,000.
The final wash-up was the Lions 13-20-98 def Southport 13-8-86, in a tight and physical encounter at Giffin Park, Coorparoo. To quote a quote - "it was a match played in two halves" .... after the Sharks clearly dominated the first two terms, with the Lions turning on some sensational footy in the third to turn the tide, then holding on in the last.
At one stage during the third term, the Lions had added 6-1-37 to Southport's 0-0-0, such was the dramatic turn-a-round. However, two late simple lapses allowed the Sharks opportunities which they converted truly.
The match started well for the Lions "young guns" as they snared the first two majors, but in typical Southport fashion, some good old-fashioned "bump and niggle" seemed to rattle the younger Lions somewhat, with the Sharks kicking the next four goals - two in time-on. On two separate occasions early, it appeared as though the quarter could boil over, but the highly-disciplined Cubs maintained their composure.
The Lions looked all but gone as they trudged off the field at the main break trailing by 20 points. Some inspirational words from coach and legendary Windsor-Zillmere hard-head Craig Brittain had the Lions looking like a new team as they stormed back onto the field after the break.
Lead by Des Headland, Joe Grant medallist Ben Robbins, Marcus Picken and Shane Morrison at fullback, the Lions dominated all facets of play in the third term, turning the match on its head and leading by 14 points going into the final break.
Sharks defender and captain-coach Scott Lawton rallied his troops once more, and stressed the need to remain calm in the face of the Lions onslaught, and to play the basics much tighter. Lions coach Brittain simply urged his charges to dig deeper and decide if they wanted the flag or not, and stressed the importance of putting your best foot forward in a grand final. This they did .....
The wheels fell off the cart somewhat for the Sharks in the last term .... free kicks went against them, easy marks were dropped, and set shots were sprayed. This by no means meant the Lions would do it "easy" ..... in the second half, Southport only entered the Lions 50 metre zone on 6 occasions, and kicked truly on five !!!
Full-forward Rod Mackay only added two goals to his season tally (now 98), and was dominated all day by Lions fullback Shane Morrison. As did McLaren in stepping up to the plate, and dominating the second half rucks after Charman was injured. A special mention should also go to Luke Weller, who finally won a premiership after playing in the last two losing grand final Northern Eagles sides.
Following the formalities of speeches and presentation of medallions, coach Craig Brittain re-possessed the microphone and presented further medallions with special mention to other non-playing Lions including Matty Kennedy. Strange sights followed indeed, with the Lions heading out to the middle of the field for a solid 15 minute warm-down, then celebrations somewhat muted in the sheds as only Gatorade was drunk from the premiership cup !!!
Lions senior coach Leigh Matthews was the first to speak to the winners in the sheds, emphasizing the importance of this week to the whole Lions club, and what was expected of all players this week, referring to the chances of some to play in the AFL grand final next Saturday. Craig Brittain's address paid tribute to the efforts of all players throughout the season, specifically naming Weller, McLaren, Van Rooyen, Headland and Morrison, and also stressed the "unusual circumstances" facing all players surrounding post-final celebrations, and that the plan has always been that the club would celebrate as one from next Saturday night.
On a personal note, the game was enjoyable in every aspect .... cost, viewing, atmosphere etc .... and was one of the better grand finals since the demise of the local league from the advent of the Bears/Lions shift to Brisbane (remembering the halcyon days of the 70's and 80's .....). Here's hoping another "dust-collector" will be added to the trophy cabinet next Saturday ........
It was also good to see practically the entire senior Lions side at the ground out to lend support to their future heir-apparents in the senior side !!!
************************************************************ ***
Details -
Lion Cubs 2-1 5-4 11-14 13-20-98
Southport Sharks 4-5 8-6 10-6 13-8-86
Lions
Goals - Headland 3, Mapleston, Kluver, Cupido, McLaren 2, Van Rooyen, Picken 1
Best - Robbins, Bolton, Headland, Morrison, Shattock, McLaren
Sharks
Goals - Pilcher 6, Mackay 2, Gehling, Watts, Divine, Coughlin, Bradley 1
Best - Bradley, Pilcher, Jenkins, Crossley, Lawton
Reserves grand final -
Morningside Panthers5-0 6-0 8-2 13-5-83
Mt.Gravatt Vultures 2-0 6-4 8-4 11-5-71
******************************************
AFLQ website report -
The Brisbane Lions Reserves have given their senior counterparts the best possible start to a week of Grand Final preparations by taking out the AFL Queensland State League premiership this afternoon against the Southport Sharks at Coorparoo, 13-20-98 to 13-8-86.
In the final wash-up, it was two goals-worth of behinds which saw the Lions edge out the reigning premiers, after an inspiring third quarter 46-point effort by the young Brisbane stars.
It is the Lions Reserves first premiership win in the AFL Queensland competition, since joining in 1998.
Southport were well in control during the first half and their well-tested finals' experience saw them go into the main break with a handy 20-point lead and a fifth consecutive premiership in sight.
Had the Sharks been successful in their attempt today, they would have equalled Windsor's premiership record of "five in a row" set in the late 1930s.
It was merely a combination of Southport's persistence and the Lions' occasional wayward kicking for goal which saw the Sharks stay in touch during the turnaround second half, but Brisbane were able to hold off the hungry challenge, their 20 behinds for the game being pivotal in the final result.
Young enthusiasm won out in the end, with the Lions' tireless legs carrying them to their history-making premiership victory.
1998's number one AFL draft pick, Des Headland, was one of the Lions' best for the day, being instrumental in their third quarter comeback, kicking two goals three to help spark the youngsters back into action.
Fellow teammates captain Ben Robbins, ruckman Craig Bolton, fullback Shane Morrison, Aaron Shattock and high flyer Dylan McLaren were also standouts for the day for the new premiers.
Strong performances from the Sharks came from captain/coach Scott Lawton, Grogan Medal runner-up Mark Bradley, rover Luke Jenkins, fullback Troy Crossley and their ever-present forward Jamie Pilcher, who collected a bag of six goals.
With one premiership under the belt for the week already, the Brisbane Lions will now be hoping to achieve the rare double in their quest for AFL glory, when their senior boys take on Essendon next Saturday afternoon at the MCG in the AFL Grand Final.