A young GIANTS side started full of promise in their VFL clash with the Lions at Brighton Homes Arena in Brisbane on Sunday before being overrun in the final quarter.
The third-placed Lions flexed their muscles late to take a 19.8 (122) to 10.12 (72) victory after the GIANTS made them work for the victory on their home deck.
The GIANTS were quick out of the blocks with opening-quarter goals to Callum Brown, Wade Derksen - again starting up forward - and two to skipper Ryan Hebron to take a 27-7 lead into the first break.
The third-place Lions hit back hard in the second quarter in the physical affair, kicking three goals in a row before VFL-listed GIANT Jackson Bowne broke their momentum with a clever snap from the pocket.
Bowne’s goal broke up a run of three Lions goals either side of his major with Academy ruck Logan Smith slotting a nice set shot on the half-time siren from a 50m penalty to give the GIANTS back a one-point lead heading into the main break.
The Lions again came out firing with four goals to start the second half before the GIANTS hit back through Brown and Ryan Angwin. It was the Lions with another major before a high-flying Joe Fonti took a spectacular mark and booted the ball forward for Conor Stone to crumb a nice goal to close out the quarter with the goal keeping the GIANTS within reach of the Lions at the final change.
But it was all maroon and gold in the final quarter as the GIANTS - with 12 AFL listed players - let through seven unanswered goals to close out the game.
The match marked the return of young ruck Nick Madden, who was playing his first game since syndesmosis surgery in May. The second-year big man made a successful return with 21 hit-outs, 13 disposals and six clearances.
The GIANTS shuffled the decks across the game with Derksen playing both back and forward, Stone - who also played the final quarter of the GIANTS’ thrilling AFL win on Saturday - playing across both half-back and half-forward and veteran Adam Kennedy spending time in the midfield.
Draftee James Leake continued his strong run of VFL form and was one of the best for the GIANTS, collected a team-high 28 disposals along with six tackles and six clearances. Stone backed up his final-quarter performance on Saturday with 21 disposals and a goal while Nick Haynes was again a rock in defence with 27 disposals and eight marks.
Kennedy showed plenty in his new role, collecting 19 touches along with eight tackles and five clearances while VFL captain Ryan Hebron had 14 disposals and eight marks, along with his two goals. Fellow VFL-listed GIANT Marc Sheather led the tackle count with 11 for the game.
Wingman Jacob Wehr came off in the final term following a heavy collision with a rib concern to cap off a disappointing final quarter for the GIANTS.
For the Lions, Will McLachlan kicked five goals, four of them in the final quarter, future father-son Levi Ashcroft impressed with 35 disposals and 11 clearances and Darcy Fort dominated in the ruck.
The GIANTS are now four points and percentage out of the top 10 and take on Williamstown at DSV Stadium in Melbourne next Saturday in the final round of the home and away season.
VFL Round 20
GIANTS: 4.3 7.5 10.10 10.12 (72)
Lions: 1.1 7.4 12.5 19.8 (122)
Goals:
GIANTS: Hebron, Dersken, Brown 2, Stone, Smith, Bowne, Angwin
Lions: McLachlan 5, Sharp, Richardson, Manly, Lloyd 2, Hude, Fort, Dunkley, Craven, Beecken, Ashcroft
