Lions too good for Pies at Brighton Homes Arena

With a 52-point win at Brighton Homes Arena on Friday night, Brisbane was too good for Collingwood. The team was back to the style and joy that made it so successful in 2023.

At halftime, the Lions were ahead by five points. In the second term, they took full advantage of the strong breeze and scored four goals in a row, setting the stage for their 10.12 (72) to 3.2 (20) win.

It improved their record to two wins and one loss. Next Wednesday, they will play the Western Bulldogs, which is the first of a busy stretch of games in the middle of the season.

Sophie Conway led the team to win by scoring two of her three goals before halftime. Her second goal was a great finish from 45 meters out.

The flashy winger ended up with 16 possessions, and seven of them led to goals.

Conway had a lot of help. Midfielder Belle Dawes had 22 points, one goal, and six clearances. She was her normal high-energy self and was in the running for best player on the pitch. Taylor Smith continued to quickly improve by scoring three goals.

Ally Anderson broke the record for most passes made in a game last week with 43. This week she had another 21, Nat Grider and Bre Koenen were great on defence, and Jade Ellenger (19) ran hard on the side.

After a tough loss to North Melbourne in their first game, the Lions have been slowly getting better over the last two weeks. They played great defence to beat Melbourne, and then they played a lot of the run-and-link-up game that won them the premiership last year against the Pies.

Collingwood got off to a fast start. Alana Porter scored one of the game’s first three goals.

Bri Davey (24 points and a goal) fought hard against a Cathy Svarc tag, and Brit Bonnici (16 points and a goal) never stopped.

BRISANESE 2.1 6.6 7.11 10.12 (72)
A. COLLINGWOOD 1.2 1.2 1.2 3.2 (20)

GOALS
Brisbane’s Smith, Conway, O’Dwyer, and Dawes all scored three goals, while Collingwood’s Porter, Bonnici, and Davey scored one each.

INJURIES
Nil in Brisbane
Collingwood: 0 points

LATE CHANGES
Brisbane scored a goal, but Collingwood’s Eleri Morris got sick and Sarah Sansonetti took her place in the starting lineup.