BRISBANE Lions Academy came home firing in the last quarter of the Under 18s friendly with the Gold Coast Suns Academy, kicking three of the last four goals of the game to beat their Queensland rivals by five points.

Both sides brought a highly contested match in a seesawing affair at People First Stadium in the Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions first half saw them take an eight-point lead into half-time but were challenged in the second half as the Suns turned proceedings with their transition inside 50 improving.

The Suns kicked the first goal of the fourth, taking a ten-point lead early in the fourth quarter until the Lions stormed home late.

Gold Coast Suns Academy (33) def. by Brisbane Lions Academy (38)

GOLD COAST SUNS

#8 Aleira Usher
Forward | 168cm | 10/10/2005

Usher was effective with the moments she had, able to showcase a few weapons and willingness to attack the footy head-on. Her game sense allowed her to break through a pack and generate some drive moving forward in transition. Whilst she was not able to get her hands on it all the time inside 50, she was lively and created a presence at the drop of the ball, and later in the contest was moved into some centre stoppages.

#18 Nyalli Milne
Midfield/Forward | 169cm | 26/05/2006

Milne played a different role than usual this week, playing a lot deeper defensively which saw her adapt her abilities to the position. Her natural drive and speed were on showcase with moments she had breaking lines out of defensive 50 and moving it long in transition. She showed some versatility with her intercept marking ability, typified in the second quarter with two strong grabs overhead in the space of a minute.

#25 Siobhan Ross
Midfield | 171cm | 16/03/2006

Ross was composed and impactful with her run around the ground, bringing her energy to each contest and finding the space to offer as an option. Her defensive work was well calculated, creating marking contests and spoils to force a loose ball or turnover. Ross’ defensive 50 exits were long and cleared any possible danger, however, sometimes turned it over by foot and occasionally got caught up by her own pace.

#29 Georja Davies
Ruck/Forward | 183cm | 17-01-2007

The 2007-born talent had a strong influence in her role, and executed well to the game plan, providing a lot of physicality around the contest and stoppages. Her ruckwork was strong and around stoppages was eager to get first hands on the footy or create a contest.

#30 Havana Harris
Forward | 182cm | 01/07/2006

Harris’ impact was felt from the first minutes of the contest, impacting at the drop of the ball inside 50, but also holding her width well around the contests to serve as an outlet when the ball came out. Whilst her kicking let her down early, her work by hand was clean and efficient under pressure until her footwork improved as the game went on. She set up a scoring shot in the first with a nice snap from 50 to drag the deepest forward out. Late in the contest, she pushed back defensively when the game was in the balance and was able to inject herself into the marking contests as the ball came in.

#31 Dekota Baron
Forward | 178cm | 03/01/2007

The bottom-age talent moved well inside forward 50 and was able to provide a bit of speed at the drop of the ball. Her work rate continued to soar throughout the match, as she balanced her ruck and forward time well to still make an impact around the ruck contests. As she spent more time inside forward 50 towards the back end of the match, her leads were smart and rewarded as she was on the end of a nice set shot to her name, as well as good smarts out the back to run into an open goal.

BRISBANE LIONS

#3 Zimra Hussain
Utility | 160cm | 01/01/2006

Hussain’s energy levels were expressive, willing to put her head over the footy at every opportunity and find a way to stamp her authority with the ball in hand. Her fierceness allowed her to get good spots across the ground, which she capitalised on to set up one of Brisbane’s first goals. Her clean hands out of the contest kept the ball moving and her tackle pressure was elite when the score was tight. She kicked a terrific goal in the fourth quarter to put the Lions back in front, snapping from 30 metres out, which capped off a great day out for her.

#11 Mia Geere
Midfield | 171 | 08/04/2008

The 16-year-old provided spark, expressing an offensive role out of defensive 50. Her breakaway speed out of defensive 50 was able to ease the pressure off the defensive unit, as well as some moments of great ball reading to create a spoil and turnover in dangerous areas of the ground. Her work ethic got her to the right spots and she was able to impact at ground level. Geere got on the scoreboard in the last quarter with a 50-metre penalty that got the Lions back within two points.

#12 Isabella McDonough
Midfield | 168cm | 13/02/2006

McDonough brought attention to herself early with her tackle pressure around the contests, finding a way to make an impact without the ball in hand. As the contest went on she found a lot more of the ball, able to break free from the stoppages and offer some drive through the corridor. McDonough’s game awareness was one of the best on the field, and her work ethic got her in the right spots to keep the Lions in control around the ground. Her composure let her down in transition at times with a few wayward kicks, but overall it was a positive performance.

#21 Lilu Hung
Forward | 176cm | 07/06/2005

Hung’s strength inside forward 50 and at the ruck contests gave her the upper hand around the ball which was felt in the second half. Her tackle pressure was terrific early in the contest, forcing stoppages inside forward 50, and later in the match some turnovers which helped turn the game late for the Lions. Her bodywork was effective late in the fourth as she was able to create separation from her opponent and take an uncontested mark 25 metres out. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to capitalise on the set shot.