Former skipper Dayne Beams leads Brisbane to fighting win against Hawthorn

A FEARLESS Brisbane has put a gigantic dent in Hawthorn’s finals aspirations with a stirring upset victory. How did the Hawks let this happen and will it cost them a spot in the eight?

Tom Mitchell was outstanding for the Hawks. Picture: Getty Images

A FEARLESS Brisbane has put a gigantic dent into Hawthorn’s finals aspirations with a stirring upset at UTAS Stadium in the club’s best win under Tasmanian coach Chris Fagan.

Playing at a venue it had previously only won once in eight attempts, the emerging Lions stunned the Hawks to chalk up their third victory on the trot for the first time in five years.

Even the loss of former Hawthorn premiership captain Luke Hodge to a sore calf before the bounce failed to rock the visitors, who rallied from a 17-point deficit early in the third term to win 15.8 (98) to 9.11 (65) after kicking 10 of the last 12 goals of the contest.

GAME RECAP: HOW THE LIONS BEAT THE HAWKS

STAT CENTRAL: WHO STOOD UP FOR HAWKS, LIONS

In Hodge’s absence it was Brisbane’s next generation which delivered, with last year’s No. 1 draft pick Cameron Rayner booting three goals from 19 touches, the 2016 No. 3 pick Hugh McCluggage gathering 29 disposals and star forward in the making Eric Hipwood kicking three majors after the long break.

Cameron Rayner was outstanding in Brisbane’s big win. Picture: Getty Images

Former skipper Dayne Beams (33 possessions) led the midfield with another best afield display to enhance his All-Australian claims, while another emerging youngster in Jarrod Berry shrugged off a concussion scare to also impress.

When Jaeger O’Meara (four goals) slotted his third and the first of the second half, the hosts had pulled clear by 17 points.

However Brisbane refused to wilt with McCluggage quickly answering to start a run of four unanswered majors.

The see-sawing affair continued when the Hawks again snatched the lead through majors to Taylor Duryea and O’Meara, only for the Lions to again respond as Hipwood goaled on the run from 40m and Lewis Taylor did the same in time on.

It was an arm-wrestle in the last quarter with no score for the first 10 minutes, with Rayner breaking the deadlock to open the floodgates for the stirring victory.

Brisbane finished +27 in contested possessions and won the clearances 44-29.

While the Lions continue to emerge as one of the season’s second-half surprise packets, the Hawks slipped out of the top eight and could remain there by the end of the round.

They started round 17 in eighth spot but fell behind North Melbourne — who host Sydney on Sunday — while GWS can also leapfrog Hawthorn if they can defeat reigning premiers Richmond.

It was a tough day at the office for Jarryd Roughead and the Hawks. Picture: Getty Images

Ball magnet Tom Mitchell equalled the AFL record for most touches in the first half with 29 (the third time he has achieved the feat) before finishing with 43, Liam Shiels was again great at the coalface with 34 while O’Meara played his best game in the brown and yellow.

BEST

HAWTHORN: Mitchell, O’Meara, Shiels, Sicily, Hardwick

BRISBANE: Beams, McCluggage, Rayner, Witherden, Berry, Rich

Originally published as Former skipper Dayne Beams leads Brisbane to fighting win against Hawthorn