It was a stellar Saturday evening at the Gabba for Jack Gunston, who found the back of the net six times, pressing his case for AFL retention as Brisbane Lions devastated West Coast in an 81-point annihilation. This marked the Eagles’ 14th consecutive loss in a game that ended 116-35 in favour of the Lions.
The first quarter was a testament to Brisbane’s ruthlessness as they began with an astounding 45-point scoring spree before the Eagles could muster a response.
31-year-old Gunston, a Hawthorn recruit who had been sidelined for a month to recharge, came back stronger, more focused, and evidently refreshed. Demonstrating his renowned dynamism, Gunston slotted two goals in the first quarter before transitioning to halfback, where he squeezed in two more goals before the halftime break. His grand comeback was topped off with two more majors in the final minutes of the game, his first six-goal haul in a 14-year long career.
Although the Lions ran riot with this victory, there’s still room for improvement. They squandered several scoring chances that could have boosted their percentage, but this did not take away from an overall dominant performance. Defensive powerhouse Harris Andrews was a formidable force in the Lions’ backline, logging 19 disposals and almost breaking the AFL record for intercept marks.
The Eagles, on the other hand, will be left licking their wounds, their unforced errors leading to many of the Lions’ goals. Jeremy McGovern made an underwhelming return after his hamstring injury, substituted in the third quarter after 20 disposals. Tim Kelly clashed heads with Gunston in the first term but managed to recover and emerged as one of the Eagles’ better performers, registering 26 touches and a goal.
The match also saw Eagle Oscar Allen keep his season streak alive with a goal, while Brisbane’s Brandon Starcevich notched his sixth in 87 AFL appearances. Lions’ Hugh McCluggage had a dynamic start with two first-quarter goals, contributing to his mid-season resurgence, although both Charlie Cameron and Joe Daniher were kept goalless in front of 24,843 fans.
After the match, West Coast coach Adam Simpson, former assistant to Chris Fagan at Hawthorn, was left impressed by Brisbane’s performance, labelling them as the “best team in the competition.”
“They’re my favourites,” Simpson admitted. “Their style of play is so honest. They’re defending better behind the ball, got talent and they’re all committed. It looks like they’ve clicked to another gear.”
Fagan, ever the pragmatist, was quick to dismiss the hype. “I don’t agree. I think Collingwood are the best team in the competition, I don’t think we are, we’ve got work to do still.”
As the dust settles on Brisbane’s commanding performance, and with Gunston’s explosive return, the Lions have proved they’re a force to reckon with, their eyes firmly set on the prize. One thing is for certain: the Lions are roaring louder than ever.
