Brisbane held firm to claim a fourth straight AFL win, defeating the Western Bulldogs 12.14 (86) to 12.4 (76) in a tough tussle at the Gabba.
The 10-point win – after holding off a late Bulldogs’ surge as Will Ashcroft kicked a goal on the siren – enhances Brisbane’s prospects of a top four finish and allows them to celebrate the occasion of midfielder Hugh McCluggage’s 200th match in style.
Defeat for the Bulldogs leaves them in a precarious position in the race for the finals, having now lost eight of the nine matches they’ve played against teams above them on the ladder.
Rhylee West kicked a game-high four goals for the Bulldogs while for the Lions Will Ashcroft had three majors and his brother Levi was one of three Lions, along with Kai Lohmann and Jarrod Berry, to kick two goals each.
Aaron Naughton had two for the visitors.
Lions midfielder Josh Dunkley was in top form against his former club, laying 14 tackles and recording 28 disposals while Bailey Dale’s 33 touches were the most for the Bulldogs.
With the Gabba surface slick after a storm whipped over the stadium before the match started, neither team could be separated in the first quarter.
The biggest talking point of the term was Lions veteran Dayne Zorko coming to the sideline after his left foot was stomped on. The 36-year-old returned shortly afterwards after getting the sore foot strapped as the hosts held a narrow one-point lead at the first break.
AAP