Brisbane Lions Reserves coach Craig McRae was delighted with the quality of the fight against the Western Magpies on Saturday and backed Mt Gravatt mentor David Lake in believing the black and whites are not far away from a win.
Monday 31 May 2010
Brisbane Lions Reserves coach Craig McRae was delighted with the quality of the fight against the Western Magpies on Saturday and backed Mt Gravatt mentor David Lake in believing the black and whites are not far away from a win.
While the Lions fielded 15 listed and eight top-up players, three major troops down on their last time they met, the Magpies still impressed in making them fight for every possession.
They eventually won 16.15 (111) to 14.8 (92) after the Magpies had drawn to within two points midway through the final quarter.
“We expected that,” Lions coach Craig McRae said of the fierce Magpies onslaught. “We spoke loud and clear before the game that we would be meeting a considerably different team.
“Revenge was always going to be a motivator for them.”
The Lions were very different themselves, with Jed Adcock, Tom Rockliff, Broc McCauley and Albert Proud all missing from the side that won by 187 points at the previous meeting.
“To the Western Magpies credit, they played fantastically well,” McRae said. “They are not far away from a win…they had a real crack.”
McRae was delighted to have a close contest that wasn’t decided until the dying minutes, rather than a walkover like the last clash.
“I’d rather have that type of game any week,” McRae said. “I was actually really proud of our guys.
“When the game was on the line, our guys really stood up – they showed so much character.
“There was Troy Selwood’s leadership in organizing the team, Jesse O’Brien following instruction to get behind the ball at the stoppages, and Aaron Cornelius ‘taking the moment’ and kicking a goal at a crucial time.”
Cornelius finished with four goals and was a handful all day for the Magpies defence, while fellow tall forward Bryce Retzlaff also provided a reliable target in the slippery conditions.
Selwood and Claye Beams won plenty of ball in the midfield and Callum Bartlett was also solid in a variety of roles.
With the team’s best player over the season McCauley sidelined with groin soreness, top-up players Matt Sturgeon (from Redland via Mackay) and Craig Malone (Mt Gravatt) shouldered the ruck responsibilities.
Morningside teen Josh Breukers played a key role, booting five telling goals in a critical performance from a top-up player.
“We took some big steps forward as a group the week before at Southport,” McRae said. “They are the best team in the competition and our actions against them…showed we are going in the right direction as a group.”
The win saw the Lions take their record to 4-5 and while they sit in seventh position on the premiership table, are just one game behind fourth-ranked Mt Gravatt.
The Lions travel to Graham Road at Aspley for a clash with the second-bottom side on Sunday.
