St Kilda slips from double-chance race with narrow AFL loss to Brisbane
The AFL’s leading premiership contenders all posted wins in Round 13 with the fight for a top-four finish remaining tight.
In a compressed season with the race for the premiership wide open, even the smallest advantage over a key rival may prove critical to claiming the flag.
As a city, Brisbane is vying to host the grand final. As a team, Brisbane is a leading premiership contender. The battle to win both prizes is hard-fought and still alive. But for the Lions of 2020, their ability to have their nose in front when the siren sounds, as occurred again on Sunday with their two-point win over St Kilda, has been vital in what is a unique opportunity.
The Lions retained their share of top spot with Port Adelaide and dealt a significant blow to the Saints’ hopes of securing the double-chance with the 6.14 (50) to 7.6 (48) victory.
When it comes to counting the spoils a top-four finish provides, the contrasting record between Sunday’s rivals will be crucial.
The Lions have won all three matches to date decided by less than a goal, including last week’s one-point triumph over North Melbourne.
In comparison, St Kilda has lost three of their four matches with a margin of six points or less, including a two-point loss to the Kangaroos to start the season.
Clearly fatigued by the end, Brisbane’s prize is a bye and a 12-day break until their prime-time clash with Collingwood at the Gabba on September 4.
It will give players, including star forward Charlie Cameron, who has been down on form since tweaking a knee this month, a chance to recuperate for a premiership push. The opportunity is historic – a chance to win a flag on their home ground. But there is a glaring issue that needs to be rectified.
Lions coach Chris Fagan has time during the mini-break to rectify what could prove the achilles heel to their hopes, namely their inaccuracy when kicking for goal.
It cost them dearly against Richmond twice last year, including in a qualifying final at the Gabba, and again in Round 10 this year. It almost cost them against the Saints on Sunday.
The Lions have managed to kick more goals than behinds only four times in 12 matches since the season resumed in June and are the most inaccurate side in the competition.
With St Kilda slipping away, the race for a top-four finish is now down to five with a month of an irregular season remaining.
Meanwhile, Richmond teammates Nick Vlastuin and Dylan Grimes were both issued fines for staging, with the latter revealing he had received death threats following the Tigers’ 12-point win.
Third-placed Geelong, meanwhile, was able to run away from the winless Crows after halftime on Sunday in Adelaide and boast the strongest percentage in the league.
The Cats take on the seventh-placed Western Bulldogs on Friday night on the Gold Coast in a match which may be crucial to the make-up of the top eight.
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