The NEAFL Swans received a wake-up call on Saturday after a "focused and efficient" Brisbane Lions inflicted the ladder-leaders' second loss of the season.
The home side began the top-of-the-table clash in fine fashion, kicking five goals to one in the opening term to establish a handy buffer and leave the previously 14-1 Swans in a relatively unfamiliar position.
That ascendancy was maintained throughout the game until the Swans turned a 37-point deficit into a achievable 18-point margin with a run of three goals either side of three-quarter-time.
But Brisbane lifted again, making the most of its opportunities with 5.2 to 3.6 in the final 25 minutes to triumph, 19.14 (128) to 15.19 (109).
"They were really efficient with the way they moved the footy,” coach Rhyce Shaw said.
“They got numbers to the contest, they were clean with their ball use and ran us hard the other way.
“We couldn’t go with them and close off the outlets which played a big part in the result of the game.
“Taking nothing away from the Lions, they played some really good footy. We simply didn’t work hard enough.”
And the stats showed, particularly the disposal count and amount of scoring shots.
Brisbane finished with +55 kicks and +60 marks, reflecting the Lions’ ability to remain patient with the football, pick apart the Swans’ defences and find a target.
Teams this season averaged under 14 scoring shots against NEAFL Swans This time around, Brisbane was allowed too much time and space in its forward half to finish with a season-high 32 scoring shots against what’s usually – in the same mould as their senior counterparts – a tight and disciplined defensive unit.
Matt Hammelmann finished with four goals, the pick on a list of 11 goal-kickers for the home side.
“A lack of accountability and defence going the other way really hurt us,” Shaw added.
“To let slip some 10 scoring shots more than what other teams have averaged against us is a huge indicator of where we were at, offensively and defensively.
“We’ll watch it, review it, learn from it and improve from it.”
James Rose didn’t have any trouble finding the goals, finishing with a season-high six goals straight to go with his 23 disposals, while Jordan Dawson (22 disposals) and Harry Cunningham (22 disposals in his first game back from injury) tried hard.
Dan Robinson was also a strong contributor and one of the main men who inspired the late comeback, kicking his two goals as well as finding plenty of football (27 disposals for the game) – a huge effort considering the senior emergency flew from Melbourne to Brisbane that same morning.
Now equal on points with Brisbane and with only two rounds remaining of the home and away season, the NEAFL Swans will look to get back on the winners’ list with a better performance against Redland in Saturday’s curtain-raiser to the Sydney-v-Fremantle AFL fixture at the SCG.
BRISBANE 5.4 9.8 14.12 19.14 (128)
SYDNEY 1.3 5.7 11.12 15.19 (109)
GOALS – Brisbane: M Hammelmann 5 M Close 3 J Freeman 2 C Ballenden 2 A Smith 2 J Clayton C Walker R Harwood B Keays C Lyons. Sydney: J Rose 6 D Robinson 2 A Aliir B Jack B Ronke T Pink S Fisher J Foote J Dawson.
BEST – Brisbane: A Smith C Walker O McInerney M Close R Bewick R Harwood. Sydney: J Rose D Robinson J Dawson J Foote H Cunningham.
