Lions pounce on sleeping Giants to notch seventh straight win

The Brisbane Lions have pounced on the Greater Western Sydeny Giants’ slow start at the Gabba and raced away to their seventh straight win.

Greg Davis

3 min read

May 28, 2021 - 5:49PM

NCA NewsWire

Popular Lion Mitch Robinson had a day to remember against the Giants. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Bang, crash, wallop, crunch, thump, smash.

Six unanswered goals in the first 19 minutes from a rampant and ravenous Brisbane set up a comprehensive 64-point thrashing of GWS at the Gabba on Saturday.

It was as brutal as it was breathtaking as the Mitch Robinson-inspired Lions had 40 points on the scoreboard before the undermanned and completely outplayed Giants broke their duck late in the first term.

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Popular Lion Mitch Robinson had a day to remember against the Giants. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Brisbane claimed their seventh-straight victory – the longest active winning streak in the AFL after Melbourne and the Bulldogs lost in the past week – and will take irresistible confidence and momentum into Friday night’s blockbuster clash with the Demons.

The die was cast early at the Gabba, with the electrifying Charlie Cameron snapping truly inside the first 20 seconds. Best-on-ground Robinson booted a career-high four goals and had 30 touches in an outstanding all-round display from the Brisbane enforcer.

The dangerous Dan McStay added two majors in the early Brisbane rampage, with Cameron playing a big hand in both.

Dayne Zorko salutes the crowd after his blinder. Picture: Getty Images

A long-range bomb from Daniel Rich and a 30-metre soccer-style goal from Dayne Zorko were the highpoints of the matchwinning surge.

The Lions led by 34 points at the first change, by 42 at halftime and by 61 at the last break. The Giants showed some fight, acting captain Josh Kelly kicking two goals in the second term, but they were matched swiftly by Robinson.

Defenders Harris Andrews and Marcus Adams were rock-solid, while the brilliant Zorko had 14 touches in the decisive first term and finished with 35 disposals, six clearances and two goals. Brisbane who had 13 individual goalkickers.

Undermanned or not, the Giants wilted under the Lions’ pressure. Picture: Getty Images

NO EXCUSES

No Toby Greene, No Jesse Hogan … no excuse. The Giants may have been undermanned and they may have been forced to fly in to Brisbane on game day due to Covid protocols but they were simply blown off the Gabba by the Lions in the first quarter. To concede the first 40 points of the match is not acceptable for a side with top eight aspirations. The orange in their uniforms was apt as they were glorified traffic cones. They showed some fight after the onslaught but the damage was done.

Robinson kicked four goals in the win. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

HERE’S TO YOU, MR ROBINSON

Lions enforcer Mitch Robinson had his best game for 2021 with a career-high four goals to go with 30 disposals. Robbo was simply everywhere, doing everything to everybody. If he wasn’t kicking goals, he was injuring teammate Marcus Adams in the backline flying for a mark. His goal after the three-quarter-time siren brought the Gabba faithful to their feet. His two majors in the second term put a brief GWS revival to rest as soon as it began.

The Lions from start to finish, with the Giants asleep at the wheel. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

GABBA GLORY

The beautifully sunbathed Gabba was a world away from the misery of another Covid lockdown in Melbourne. Brisbane – who normally play home games at night – have rarely hosted the 2pm Saturday timeslot and they revelled in the fast and dry conditions with the red Sherrin in front of 22,038 spectators. Covid did force the Giants to fly-in, fly-out on game day while the post-match press conferences were changed to Zoom internet meetings.

A rare quiet one for Hugh McCluggage, but it made no difference. Picture: Getty Images

HUGH NOT HUGE

Rolls Royce midfielder Hugh McCluggage had a rare quiet day by his extremely high standards. The Lions on-baller had 10 touches by quarter-time – including a beautiful spin out of traffic – and looked on track for what has become a trademark vote-winning display. However, he had just the one disposal in the second term. Brisbane’s silky no. 6 bobbed up with a goal in the third and had 15 touches for the day.