A strong and in-form Brisbane side has cruised to a 50-point win over Frankston at Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the final margin, it was a mostly competitive effort from the Dolphins, who took it up to a Lions outfit that came into the contest as the form team of the competition, claiming victory in their last four consecutive matches before making it five on the trot with the 18.8 (116) to 9.12 (66) result.
Despite Frankston only losing the inside 50 count by four entries (54 vs 50), it was around the stoppages where the Lions were able to gain control of proceedings, dominating the clearance count 52 to 14.
It was a positive start early from the Dolphins. Matt Johnson won himself a freekick inside 50 to slot the opener within the first minute before a Nick Burke set shot gave the visitors the first two majors of the match, as Frankston piled plenty of pressure around the ball.
However, as the Dolphins missed a few chances to extend their lead, the Lions took full advantage of their forays going forward, kicking five consecutive majors to swing the balance of the game.
A brilliant chase-down tackle from Burke late in the quarter gave the pressure forward his second and had the Brisbane lead cut back to nine points at the first break.
The Lions would continue where they left off in the second term, making the most of their chances up forward as they opened up a 21-point lead. Harrison Coe took a strong mark deep inside 50 and converted the following set shot, while Jack Newnes won himself a holding the ball free before snapping home his first to halve the deficit.
A brilliant Dolphins move from the centre clearance was finished off superbly by Jeremy Burton, who was playing his first VFL game for the side since 2022,to immediately cancel out a Brisbane major and have the margin remain under two goals, in what were great scenes and one the highlights of the match for the side.
The Lions would kick one just before the main break to enter the second half with a 20-point lead, which was swiftly cut to 14 points early in the third after Coe kicked his second of the match.
From that point, Brisbane responded with five goals to one in the third quarter and began to gain full dominance over the Dolphins, as the Lions quickly cancelled out a late Blake O’Leary snap to end the term with a 36-point advantage.
Multiple missed chances for Frankston and another four unanswered majors from the clinical Lions blew the margin out to 56 points before Newnes would kick his second, and the contest’s last, as the Dolphins fell to the heavy defeat.
Newnes (16 disposals, 11 marks) and Coe (11 disposals, six marks) were bright spots for Frankston up forward, finishing with two goals apiece but would have been hoping to make more of their opportunities in front of the big sticks.
O’Leary was also a strong contributor on the day, finishing with 23 disposals and nine marks to go along with his goal, while Tom Murphy (26 disposals, six marks) and Tyson Milne (24 disposals, five marks) gave their best in a tough afternoon for Frankston as the side’s leading ball winners.
Jackson Voss finished with 20 disposals in his 50th game for the Club, while Burton tallied nine touches to go with his goal on his return to the side.
Jackson Kornberg’s side will now return home to Kinetic Stadium to face the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday afternoon as they look to be back on the winner’s list. The first bounce is scheduled for 12:05 pm AEST.
BRISBANE 5.1 9.7 14.8 18.8 (116)
FRANKSTON 3.4 6.5 8.8 9.12 (66)
GOALS
Newnes 2, Coe 2, Burke 2, Burton, O’Leary, Johnson
BEST
Milne, O’Leary, Murphy, Newnes
