Saints break Gabba hoodoo to beat Lions - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Saints break Gabba hoodoo to beat Lions

By Laine Clark 02/09/2006 10:26:59 PM Comments (0)

An emotional lap of the Gabba was completed by inspirational Brisbane Lions skipper Michael Voss - but even the player himself still had no idea whether it marked his AFL farewell.

St Kilda was in no mood for sentiment as the top four aspirant romped to a 16.12 (108) to 7.15 (57) win over Brisbane in what loomed as the finale for former Brownlow Medallist Voss.

Voss, 31, completed a lap in front of an adoring 27,000-plus Gabba crowd amid emotional scenes - but only to farewell retiring teammate Brad Scott who drew the curtain on his 168-game career.

Voss turned back the clock to grab a game high 34 possessions but the Saints still marched to their first win at the Gabba since 1991 - ending a run of 11 straight losses at the ground.

The three-time premiership winner certainly did not look like a man weighing up his future after battling chronic knee problems.

But Voss admitted he was still to decide on his 289-game, 15-year career, saying his mind would by made up by the club's presentation dinner next month.

"No, I haven't honestly (made a decision). I am really 50-50 at the moment. I just wanted the season to go and assess it from there," he told Channel Ten.

"Ideally I would have liked no one to find out about it and then I could have gone on my merry way."

But it was Voss's last game as Lions skipper.

Scott, 30, got out of his sick bed to play his final game for Brisbane after battling a virus.

His injured twin and Lions teammate Chris Scott said he may have also played his final game after battling to overcome a hip injury that kept him out of the 2006 season.

"I'm unsure when I can get back. The club might want me to make a decision earlier than I like but I will do what is best for the club," he told Channel Ten.

On Voss, Chris Scott said: "As a club we need him to go on but we would understand if his body has had enough, it has taken a beating over the years.

"He's playing like it is his last game."

There is also speculation over whether Brisbane fullback Mal Michael will hang up his boots after becoming disillusioned this season.

Voss led the way for Brisbane along with Jed Adcock (29 possessions) and Luke Power (27) while Justin Sherman booted four goals.

For the Saints, Nick Dal Santo had 32 disposals while Robert Harvey, Barry Brooks and Fraser Gehrig had three goals each.

Brisbane appeared to lift for Voss, going toe to toe with the Saints to trail by just three points at the first break.

But Harvey and Brooks bagged three goals each as the Saints kicked away 10.5 (65) to 4.7 (31) by halftime.

Sherman was inspirational, kicking all four of Brisbane's goals by halftime.

In the third, Brisbane tried to stay with St Kilda which was hampered by injuries to Luke Ball (knee) and Raphael Clarke who was concussed in a sickening collision with teammate Brett Voss, brother of the Lions skipper.

But Saints still enjoyed a 13.6 (84) to 7.14 (56) lead at the final break.

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