Brisbane Lions erase Marvel Stadium horror show with dominant victory over St Kilda

Chris Fagan knew the finals question was coming after his side stormed to a 56-point win over St Kilda. After a dominant road win, the Lions are well-placed for a serious top-eight tilt.

Charlie Cameron ignited Brisbane Lions with three first-quarter goals. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett.

Lions at home and now Lions on the road.

Brisbane shook off the travel sickness that dogged their last three interstate trips and took a huge step towards a return to the finals with a record shattering 56 point victory over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

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The Lions ended a nineteen year drought against the Saints at this venue with the 17.13 (115) to 8.11 (59) win and moved to 8-5 and within spitting distance of their first September campaign since 2009.

Coach Chris Fagan has resolutely avoided any talk of the finals but admitted the players may be.

“You’re not going to use the F word are you,’’ he said when quizzed on what the win did for their hopes of finishing in the top eight.

“Our players are obviously aware of the fact they are going OK and they are a chance to make finals, they are not stupid,’’ he said.

Charlie Cameron ignited Brisbane Lions with three first-quarter goals. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett.

It was their highest ever tally against St Kilda in Victoria and the largest this season, eclipsing the 111 they racked up against the Suns in the Q Clash.

Charlie Cameron booted five goals in his best return for the Lions that equalled his career high produced for Adelaide in their 2017 preliminary final.

It was hard to find a player who didn’t perform well and almost impossible to pick the best on ground.

Cameron was hard to ignore but Dayne Zorko was also worthy with his 28 possessions and deadly delivery inside fifty while Lachie Neale was back among it with 25 possessions and a game high 11 clearances.

Skipper Dayne Zorko (left) played a key role in Brisbane’s win. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett.

Daniel Rich across half back, Jarryd Lyons and Hugh McCluggage in the middle of the ground, ruck duo Stefan Martin and Oscar McInerny and Allen Christensen all had big games.

At half time with a 20 point lead Lions’ fans were entitled to be nervous. They had seen their side squander winning positions before this season.

Then Cameron, who had appeared hampered by a hamstring injury in the second quarter after an opening term three goal blitz, roared back to life.

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He kicked two goals in under two minutes to kill off the Saints. His second goal, when he was tackled by fought his way to his feet and slammed the ball onto his boot from inside the square, kicked open the floodgates.

The 9.3 third quarter was the most commanding of the Fagan era and the best at this venue in club history.

And it was based on a smashing in the contested possessions.

Fagan said he had challenged the side that if they were truly disappointed by their performance against Carlton before the bye it would show in their performance.

He especially asked for them to dominate the contests.

“The one thing that has hurt us on the road was that (contested possessions), to get a result like that was outstanding,’’ he said.

Originally published as Brisbane Lions erase Marvel Stadium horror show with dominant victory over St Kilda