Brisbane Lions end a winless decade against Sydney with a 22-point victory

Going into the Round 7 clash against Sydney, Daniel Rich was the only Lion to have enjoyed a win over the red and white in a Brisbane jumper. Now he has 21 mates as one of the AFL’s longest hoodoos came to an end.

Charlie Cameron and Eric Hipwood celebrate a goal for the Lions. Picture: AAP Images

Lions coach Chris Fagan left a blunt reminder of Sydney’s decade long dominance over Brisbane on a white board this week.

And on Saturday night, in front of 20,075 at the Gabba, his men wiped the board clean with a 22 point victory.

The 14.19 (103) to 12.9 (81) speaks of a reasonably close contest and due to some poor goal kicking by Brisbane it could have gone either way in the final term.

MALTHOUSE: HAS FATHER TIME COME EARLY?

GODLSACK: THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS TEAMMATES

RED HOT: WHO ARE FOOTY’S FASTEST MEN?

But around the ground the Lions dominated the Swans.

They smashed them in the contest, had almost twice as many inside 50 entries and won the clearances.

Captain Dayne Zorko was superb. He gobbled up the metres all night, tackled like a maniac and snuffed out a Swans fightback in the final term with the final goal of the night.

But he had plenty of mates. Hugh McCluggage is quickly evolving from a promising kid who produces the odd flash of brilliance that hints at the player he will become to an emerging star.

Mitch Robinson would have added some more votes to what looks like being a top five year in the club championship to date and Daniel Rich’s best year in a long time continued.

Tom Papley kicked four goals for the Swans while George Hewett played a mighty game head to head with Lions gun Lachie Neale. He finished with a career high 34 possessions.

Forget Sydney’s 1-5 start and the absence of Lance Franklin, this was a significant victory for the Lions.

Because they have not beaten the Swans for a decade, Daniel Rich was the only player to have tasted victory over Sydney while wearing a Lions jumper. Now he has 21 mates.

It follows drought busting wins over West Coast and the Kangaroos this season and leaves Richmond as the only club left holding onto a long term winning streak over the Lions.

Charlie Cameron and Eric Hipwood celebrate a goal for the Lions. Picture: AAP Images

It was significant because of the way they won. Especially in the third quarter when the rain came down and the game became contested, which is Sydney territory, it was the Lions who fought the hardest.

They won 27 more contested possession than the Swans for the term, the biggest differential between any teams for a quarter this year. That is a smashing.

It was significant because the five wins they have now recorded match the achievement for the entire season last year.