A FAST finishing Brisbane Lions Academy ran over the top of a tiring Northern Territory outfit in game two of the triple-header at People First Stadium yesterday. Both sides came in off heavy losses to Gold Coast Suns Academy and Tasmania respectively, but it was the Territory who raced out of the blocks to kick the first three goals of the game and lead by as much as 32 points midway through the second term.

However a combination of the Lions Academy throwing some magnets around and finding more avenues to goal, as well as the Territory beginning to tire on the spread after a ferocious first half, lead to the Lions piling on 10 goals to three from that point and running out 12-point winners, 12.9 (81) to 10.9 (69).

NORTHERN TERRITORY 3.3 | 7.5 | 9.8 | 10.9 (69)
LIONS ACADEMY 1.3 | 4.4 | 8.5 | 12.9 (81)

GOALS:
Northern Territory: E. Campbell 3, L. Case 3, H. Timms 2, D. Ah Sam, L. Howie
Lions Academy: J. Gillespie 3, J. Bannister 2, S. Kernick 2, M. Bush 2, C. Kellerman, S. Kleinschmidt, H. Wolbers

RMC BEST:
Northern Territory: G. Lawford, H. Timms, B. Brown, D. Mbemap, K. Lowah
Lions Academy: S. Kernick, F. Dunstan, M. Bush, D. Pearson, J. Bannister

NORTHERN TERRITORY:

#3 Eric Campbell
Forward | 170cm | 15/03/2010

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 3 goals

The lively small was busy close to goal, always looking dangerous and threatening to be the difference, particularly in the second half. He booted three goals, two of which came in that third quarter, the only one to put it through the big sticks in the term. He is only light in frame and small in stature, but has some great forward craft and once he was able to get goalside it was all over for his opponents. Boasts some nice forward craft.

#6 Tyler Kelly
Defender | 178cm | 04/04/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 6 rebound 50s

A reliable rebounding option for the Northern Territory, Kelly read the play well and got into the right spots to drive the ball out of the back 50. He competed strongly in the air and proved an important piece in the puzzle of keeping the Lions Academy forwards at bay for the most part. Finished with the second most touches on his side, and was largely effective by foot, driving the ball from danger.

#14 Billy Brown
Defender | 190cm | 12/04/2010

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 5 rebound 50s

A real competitor in the air, Brown was really busy in the opening term racking up the ball by running up and looking for secondary touches further afield, before settling into that back 50 and remaining accountable. He had 10 of his 14 touches through the first half, and his one-on-one work as well as his ability to distribute the ball with effective weighting on the kick was impressive. Was one of the best with his strong efforts behind the ball.

#16 Hugo Timms
Forward | 196cm | 17/12/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 2 goals

The over-age tall was a difficult matchup for any opposition and provided a target inside 50 for the Territory. His long-range bomb in the fourth term kept his team in contention, having also clunked a big mark in the second term and converted from close range. Such strength overhead and a real difficult opponent to beat once he can get the fly, Timms caught the eye with his presence and size in the front half of the ground.

#17 Daniel Mbemap
Ruck | 185cm | 03/12/2010

Stats: 8 disposals, 4 tackles, 26 hitouts

Despite standing at 185cm, Mbemap showcased a ridiculous vertical jump to dominate the ruck. He racked up 26 of his side’s 36 hitouts compared to the Lions Academy’s total of 23. While he did have gradual impact around the ground as the game went on, his best work came at stoppages where he was able to get first hands to it and ensure the Territory midfield had first access to the pill.

#18 Kairyce Lowah
Midfielder | 182cm | 07/05/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 4 clearances

Lowah was another over-ager who caught the eye with his sheer power and strength. He cracked in around the stoppages and drifted back at times to assist the defence, able to thump the ball down the ground with a cannon of a left peg. While he could have been cleaner at times to make life easier on himself, when he had the ball he was able to break through multiple tackles to keep it in motion.

#23 Gary Lawford
Midfielder | 179cm | 02/05/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 7 inside 50s

The standout player for the Territory and arguably in the game, Lawford was huge from start to finish. He impact the game both ways, not just as a clearance player, but defensively as well. While he was not pinpoint with his passes all the time, he put it to dangerous spots and almost had a goal himself in the second term but it was just touched on the line from the long-range set shot. At times he might have done a touch too much and got into trouble, but he really posed problems for the Lions with his repeat efforts.

#28 Lukah Case
Forward | 184cm | 21/10/2009

Stats: 5 disposals, 1 mark, 3 goals

With limited opportunities, Case booted three goals in the first half to really get the score ticking over in favour of the ‘home’ side. He snapped his first out of congestion, and after a terribly timed fumble which would have seen him kick another not long after, he converted a set shot from long-range. His third was a clever dribble from close range after getting goalside in the second quarter.

BRISBANE LIONS ACADEMY:

#1 Samuel Kernick
Forward/Midfielder | 163cm | 12/06/2011

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals

Our pick for best-on in terms of his impact-per-possession, Kernick is only small but boasts elite forward craft and natural footy smarts. He kicked both of his goals in the second term from reading the play and converting, and always looked dangerous when he was within range. Moved into the middle for the fourth quarter, he won a couple of crucial clearances and got the game on the Lions Academy terms, leading to multiple majors and eventually the win.

#9 Sebastian Kleinschmidt
Forward | 177cm | 12/07/2010

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 1 goal

A lively player who looked dangerous in the front half, Kleinschmidt kicked a nice goal in the second term after missing a couple under pressure earlier in the term. His ability to read the play and make well-timed leads was a big tick, and while another snap late in the game hit the behind post, it showed the 177cm forward was always active and looking dangerous around the big sticks.

#17 Finn Dunstan
Midfielder | 183cm | 08/05/2010

Stats: 25 disposals, 4 tackles, 6 clearances, 7 inside 50s

Accumulating the most disposals on the ground, Dunstan was a busy bee out of the midfield and responsible for the bulk of Brisbane’s clearances. He racked up half a dozen in the match, and while most revolved around gained valuable distance, he covered the ground well, applied pressure and constantly forced the ball forward to put the opposition defence under pressure.

#18 Darcy Coleman
Defender | 183cm | 25/07/2010

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 5 inside 50s

Coleman had a mixed bag on the day, providing a strong intercepting presence and slick evasive moves, even if at times he did a touch too much or was under pressure and forced into turning it over. His sidestep on the wing in the opening term to then drive the ball forward was important, and he had equal measures of offensive and defensive moments, dropping back to intercept in the goalsquare and then switch the play for his side.

#19 Max Bush
Forward | 184cm | 22/09/2010

Stats: 23 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals

Kicked an early goal after juggling a mark then slammed home another from the goalsquare in the third term, Bush unassumingly got involved in transition consistently. He took a number of key marks and kept his options going forward, bringing teammates into the game and allowing the scoreboard to tick over both directly and indirectly with his actions. A strong aerial presence for the Lions Academy.

#20 Jake Gillespie
Forward | 185cm | 24/08/2010

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 marks, 3 goals

The opposite to Case, Gillespie barely got near it due to opportunities in the first half with just two handballs to his name. That all changed in the second half with three goals from six disposals, and clunking three marks. Realistically he could have kicked another couple with some chances both through missed shots and an unlucky unpaid mark, but overall was a threat once he got going, Played taller than his 185cm size might suggest.

#23 Darcy Pearson
Defender | 185cm | 29/01/2010

Stats: 21 disposals, 9 marks, 7 rebound 50s

Pearson provided an aerial presence in defence and was a constant driver of the ball from the back half. He was able to clunk one contested mark from his nine – though there were a number where he was still under pressure in the vicinity, and he looked to clear the danger at all costs. At times he had the odd turnover, but for the most part he was able to keep the ball in the Lions Academy’s keeping and link up well with teammates in transition.

#30 Jude Bannister
Forward | 191cm | 24/04/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals, 4 behinds

Another Lions forward who particularly came alive in the second half, Bannister finished the game with six scoring shots. He had a few chances in the second half to ice the game earlier, but his second goal – a set shot from a free kick 35 metres out – did the job. His strength overhead was important, and he was not far off a massive day with some better luck and accuracy on goal.