Page 54 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW

NEAFL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
LIONS SUPREME IN CONFERENCE DECIDER
BRISBANE LIONS 22-12 (144) defeated QUEANBEYAN 11-9 (75)
Coach Nathan Clarke saluted the senior trio of Amon Buchanan, Cheynee Stiller and James Hawksley as “three great people” as they exited the Brisbane Lions in glorious fashion at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
There was genuine emotion as the retiring Buchanan and the de-listed Stiller and Hawksley wore the Lions jumper for the last time as the Reserves side capped a sensational season with a thumping 69-point win over Queanbeyan to claim the overall NEAFL Championship.
Among the celebrating Lions was first-year rookie Sam Michael, who capped a sensational finals campaign by winning the best afield Andrew Ireland Medal.
Michael, who had played in the 2011 Redland Reserves premiership side, was one of 14 Lions players celebrating the rare treat of a second senior grand final win in six days.
Jordan Lisle was among them. And after kicking five goals in the first grand final he added a further eight against Queanbeyan
in another standout performance as he rivalled Michael and Buchanan for the medal.
After conceding the first two goals to a near full-strength Queanbeyan outfit the Lions led at every change on their way to a
commanding 22-12 (144) to 11-9 (75) victory.
They’d started to get on top late in the first term, leading by eight points at quarter-time, and thereafter were never seriously challenged.
The margin was 32 points at halftime and 38 points at the last change before the visitors, enjoyed the freedom of the moment, kicked the last six goals.
After fielding the maximum 18 listed players in the Northern Conference showdown coach Clarke had only nine listees on his teamsheet for the championship match.
Aaron Cornelius, included in the travel party, didn’t take his place in the side due to injury and joined Claye Beams, Jack Crisp,
Sam Docherty, Josh Dyson, Patrick Karnezis, Billy Longer, Patrick Wearden and Elliot Yeo as omissions from the first grand final line- up.
This meant the only nine listees were Buchanan, captain Stiller, Hawksley, Callum Bartlett, Lisle, international rookie Niall McKeever, Michael and fellow rookies Steve Wrigley and Justin Clarke.
In their place the Lions included Jackson Starcevich (19), Josh Smith (18), Rhys Power (18), Sam Gribble (17), Aden Rutledge (17), Blake Gambale (17), Luke Rogerson (17), Ben Fuller (17) and Josh Stiller (16); Michael Wyld, who had been named in the squad, was unable to make the trip due to a prior commitment.
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2012 Year in Review