Friday, 3 September 2004 Saints live to fight another day The Saints will need to take a deep breath, reflect and regroup before planning to take on either Sydney or West Coast next week after going down to Brisbane by 80 points in Friday night’s qualifying final at the Gabba. [more] [listening to: Everything Is Cool - Reel Big Fish ] 11:23:44 PM comment [ ] trackback [ ] G! • My Hobbies Lions truly ROAR-some! The Brisbane Lions have roared into a preliminary final and dealt St Kilda an 80-point physical and psychological battering at the Gabba in Friday night’s qualifying final. A deceptively undermanned Lions side took the first significant step towards winning a fourth consecutive premiership, while the Saints - after their first final since 1998 - must reverse the hammering to their self-esteem before attempting to redeem themselves against the winner of Sydney and West Coast’s elimination final. It was a complete and resounding victory by the Lions, who lined up without injured spearhead Alastair Lynch, ruckman Clark Keating who failed to recover from a virus, and the versatile and experienced Darryl White, who pulled out moments before the match after also falling ill.  [ more ] [listening to: Snoop Dog, Baby - Reel Big Fish ] 11:00:16 PM comment [ ] trackback [ ] G! • My Hobbies Devastating Lions hammer Saints AFL defending premiers Brisbane are through to a preliminary final in two weeks after thrashing St Kilda by 80 points in their qualifying match at the Gabba. The Lions dominated from the opening bounce, chalking up their 11th home finals victory from as many attempts by winning 23.11 (149) to 10.9 (69). They are now just one triumph away from a fourth consecutive grand final berth. To put Brisbane’s recent success in perspective, they now have one more finals triumph (15) then St Kilda, who have been around 114 years longer. Brisbane’s lead stretched to 100 points at one stage before some late recovery work by the Saints when the game was long gone. Bullocking forward Jonathan Brown bagged six goals for the triple premiers, although he could again be in strife with the judiciary after being reported at quarter-time for rough play on the Saints’ Jason Blake. Daniel Bradshaw added four goals and the retiring Craig McRae three in what may be his last home match. If minor premiers Port Adelaide beat Geelong on Sunday, Brisbane will play their preliminary final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground because of an AFL-MCC deal. St Kilda meanwhile, will their morale severely dented, will now play the winner of the encounter between Sydney and West Coast in a sudden death match next weekend. The Saints came to Brisbane with high hopes of avenging a 45-point defeat two weeks ago, but were desperately disappointing. Nick Riewoldt bagged three goals and Fraser Gehrig two but the Victorian team’s midfield was largely ineffective. Luke Ball was their leading possession-getter with 20, compared with Brisbane’s Simon Black who racked up 37 in a stellar performance. Nigel Lappin, together with Black one of the favourites for this year’s Brownlow, added 32, while Richard Hadley, third in the Rising Star award, and Luke Power managed 23 each. [listening to: Did It Again - Kylie Minogue ] 10:53:44 PM comment [ ] trackback [ ] G! • My Hobbies Report sours Lions win Brisbane 23.11 (149) bt St Kilda 10.9 (69) JONATHAN BROWN is in danger of joining fellow spearhead Alastair Lynch on the sidelines after being reported for rough play in the Lions 80-point qualifying final savaging of St Kilda at the Gabba. The triple premiers overcame a mystery virus that claimed two key men before the match to book a preliminary final berth in a fortnight. But Brown, already sidelined three times this year through suspension, will have to find favour at the AFL tribunal to play another game this year after his part in a post-siren melee at quarter-time. He was reported for holding Saints relief ruckman Jason Blake in a headlock during the push and shove which ended an explosive opening term that featured a string of heated melees. Brown managed to put the spectre of another suspension behind him to bag six goals in front of a highly appreciative Gabba crowd of 33,582. So vital is Lynch, battling a hamstring strain, and Brown to the Lions forward set-up that few pundits would have confidently predicted a record-equalling fourth straight premiership without them. But such was Brisbane’s dominance tonight, with their class midfield brigade running riot and Daniel Bradshaw’s four-goal performance at full-forward, that only a fool would mark them as underdogs. After the Saints were touched up by 45 points a fortnight ago at the Gabba, coach Grant Thomas stressed his young team would demand respect on this trip north. But the visitors, whose man-marking was loose and skill level disappointing, earned none and will find it hard to rebound from the humiliation. Young sensation Nick Riewoldt was one of a bare handful to come through without a dent to