Brisbane Lions winning streak continues - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Brisbane Lions winning streak continues

By Laine Clark 08/06/2008 04:09:03 PM Comments (0)

Whether it was reverse psychology or not, it still didn't work for a hapless Fremantle as the Brisbane Lions ran out 22-point winners in their AFL clash at the Gabba.

For the last five weeks, the Dockers have led at the final break only to lose every game.

After "claiming" the AFL record for consecutive fadeouts, cynics would have believed Fremantle purposely trailed 11.10 (76) to 7.9 (51) at the final break.

The Dockers went on to win the fourth term but still went down 14.12 (96) to 10.14 (74) to the Lions.

The Lions' fourth straight win marked Brisbane mentor Leigh Matthews' 450th game as coach as he became only the eighth man in VFL/AFL history to reach the milestone.

The only concern for Matthews was goal machine Daniel Bradshaw coming off with a suspected hamstring strain late in the third term.

It looked scary for the Dockers when they conceded seven straight goals to trail by 39 points early in the third term.

But Fremantle knuckled down and when Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich bagged his third goal early in the fourth term the deficit was just 19 points.

However, Fremantle couldn't gain the upper hand and extended their woeful Gabba run.

The Dockers have never won in Queensland - a string of eight straight losses since 1996.

They have not beaten the Lions since 2004.

Fremantle's Jeff Farmer weaved his magic early, snapping on an acute angle right before the quartertime hooter to nab his second goal and give the Dockers a 2.3 (15) to 2.1 (13) lead at the opening break.

Simon Black began to lead the way in the second term and the Lions eagerly followed, at one stage kicking five straight goals to enjoy an 8.5 (53) to 3.7 (25) halftime buffer.

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey was caught on TV cameras firing a rocket under his troops at halftime but as loud as it no doubt was the spray seemed to fall on deaf ears.

The Lions kicked the first two majors of the third to jump to a 39 point lead before Pavlich finally bagged his maiden goal 10 minutes into the term.

Fremantle finished the quarter full of momentum, capped by a remarkable Rhys Palmer goal from the boundary, to trail 11.10 (76) to 7.9 (51) at the last break.

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