AFL 2024: Brisbane Lions within striking distance of Sydney Swans after striking down St Kilda

St Kilda put Essendon to the sword last week, but barely gave a yelp against Brisbane on Sunday, leaving Ross Lyon at a loss as to where the Saints are at.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 04: Cam Rayner of the Lions kicks during the round 21 AFL match between St Kilda Saints and Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium, on August 04, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said his Saints “undone all our good work” during Sunday’s horrific loss to Brisbane.

The Saints had won their past four matches at Marvel Stadium entering the clash but were put to the sword by the clinical Lions to the tune of 85 points.

The Lions had total command of the midfield battle – at one stage leading centre clearances 10-1.

A disappointed Lyon declared the Lions “the best team in the comp” before he delivered an honest review of where the Saints are positioned with three rounds to go.

“We would like to be the best St Kilda team in a long time and we got feedback to what that level feels like against you,” Lyon said.

“The cleanness, the problem solving, the toughness – I thought they (Brisbane) were really tough.

“I spoke to my team, I remember watching them against Adelaide and I thought ‘geez, they’re tough’ and they were today.

“We take the feedback, I feel for our fans, we were all starting to get excited about our improvement.

“We got Richmond this week but our biggest opponent is ourselves because we undone all our good work, to be fair.”

Lyon said his side had no answers for the Brisbane midfield, which was led strongly by Lachie Neale (33 disposals, 13 clearances) and Hugh McCluggage (28 disposals, one goal).

“I felt against Brisbane you need to get that right and we didn’t get it right,” he said of the midfield and territory battle.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 04: Ross Lyon, Senior Coach of the Saints speaks to his players during the round 21 AFL match between St Kilda Saints and Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium, on August 04, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

“It’s happened to a few times this year and last year, for a period we got it right and it helps the team, but (Lachie) Neale and those in there are just so clean, tough and skilful.

“We take the feedback, I take it, they sat us on our arse – we need to regroup and use no excuse.

“We threw them around … they (the players) will probably feel we moved them around a bit but I don’t think we had an alternative.

“I thought we lost our spirit a bit in the last but fortunately we fought on a bit, they just sat us on our arse, were too good for us – that’s the level.”

LIONS WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF SWANS

Brisbane’s building assault towards the 2024 premiership is showing no sign of slowing down after it dismantled St Kilda on Sunday.

The 19.10 (124) to 5.9 (39) win, the Lions’ ninth consecutive triumph, has them now just two premiership points behind previous runaway favourite Sydney.

Eric Hipwood was a late out for Brisbane with groin soreness but his absence had little impact on the Lions, who ran away strong victors.

Joe Daniher filled his boots without his usual counterpart, firing off four goals.

Lachie Neale did his chances of another top finish in the Brownlow Medal no harm, with 33 disposals (12 contested) and 13 clearances.

Neale was followed by Saints’ substitute Liam Stocker at times during the second half but it was to no avail for Ross Lyon’s side.

The miserable score line is the lowest score the Saints have kicked against the Lions since round 19, 1994.

The Lions will sweat on the result of dynamite small forward Charlie Cameron after he was substituted out of the match with a left hamstring complaint.

Cameron had kicked two goals prior to that point.

CAREER-BEST CAM

Cameron Rayner continued his blistering form with another top performance.

Rayner kicked three goals and gathered 23 disposals.

It’s the third week the former no. 1 pick has recorded over 20 disposals and kicked multiple goals.

Cam Rayner breaks a tackle at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

CENTRE BOUNCE CLINIC

Brisbane taught St Kilda a lesson at centre-bounce stoppages.

The Lions led the tally 11-2 halfway through the third quarter and finished 14-7 ahead.

Lachie Neale (11 total clearances) and Hugh McCluggage (nine) were the main contributors.

WELL PLAYED, RYAN

Unassuming defender Ryan Lester raised the bat for 200 games on Sunday.

Lester had a difficult run with injuries in the early stages of his career but worked his way back and has become one of the Lions’ most sound backmen.

He played on St Kilda forward Cooper Sharman, who was excellent against the Bombers last week, and kept him goalless.

TWO DIFFERENT SIDES

After it piled on 17 goals last weekend against Essendon, St Kilda recorded its worst first half for the year on Sunday.

The Saints kicked their opening goal in the early stages of the first term but failed to kick another for the rest of the half.

It was nearly an hour of footy between St Kilda’s first and second majors.

It’s the second time this year the Saints have kicked just one goal to half time.

Dejected St Kilda players walk from the ground after losing to the Brisbane Lions. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

THERE’S A THEME HERE

Energetic Brisbane forward Logan Morris opened the American sports playbook for his goal celebrations on Sunday.

The first-year player took a strong contested mark in a one-on-one duel with star St Kilda defender Callum Wilkie and kicked truly on the set shot.

He sent the ‘too small’ celebration Wilkie’s way before bringing out Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trademark celebration with his second first-quarter goal.

Morris didn’t kick another goal for the remainder of the match.