Lions finals boost after demolition job

A top-two finish and double finals chance awaits the Brisbane Lions after they demolished a sloppy Gold Coast Suns.

Jarrod Berry of the Lions collides with a Suns rival at the Gabba on Wednesday night Picture: Getty Images

A top-two finish and double finals chance awaits the Brisbane Lions after they demolished a sloppy Gold Coast Suns by 45 points at the Gabba on Wednesday night.

The win hoisted Brisbane into second place and, with just two matches remaining against Sydney (15th) and Carlton (11th), the Lions are all but certain to finish either first or second and secure two home finals.

Victory was effectively a foregone conclusion at quarter time after Brisbane landed five goals to one and the Suns were never able to recover.

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It was a disappointing clash between the Queensland rivals given Gold Coast were coming off a nine-day break to the Lions five and yet the Suns fumbled, missed targets and failed to man-up at crucial times.

The win was even sweeter for the Lions with second-gamer Jack Payne brilliantly standing-in for injured key defender Harris Andrews. The 20-year-old was given the onerous task of minding the Sun’s young gun Ben King and yet did it with aplomb.

He took four marks in the opening term, including two contested against King who stands a towering 202cm.

Payne, who represented Australia at the Oceanic Games in discus, also showed he has a presence in the air with a couple of notable spoils while also being prepared to chase King into the midfield when required.

It was an auspicious start and one that will stand the Lions in good stead for the play-offs given Andrews may not be back until the preliminary final.

As Payne made his presence known at one end, Brisbane’s forward wiz Charlie Cameron was playing his way back into form.

The 26-year-old, who can be pulsating around goal, had scored just two goals from his past five matches. He cast away any doubt that he would again struggle by bagging a major early in the first quarter.

The All-Australian small forward could have had three in the first term and, had he been more accurate, the Lions would have led by more than 28 points at the first change. Cameron finished with two goals and three behinds

NCA Newswire