Page 58 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2013 YEAR IN REVIEW

LIONS DOMINATE IN
56 NORTHERN CONFERENCE
DECIDER
A dominant Brisbane Lions outfit overcame early Aspley resistance to run out 46-point winners at Yeronga on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and claim back-to-back NEAFL Northern Conference flags.
2011’s wooden spoon seems a distant memory for the boys in maroon, blue, and gold, Brisbane emulating last season’s thumping victory over NT Thunder, with a 19.11.125 to 11.13.79 triumph.
“I’m a very happy man, and it’s great that we were able to go through and win after finishing first at the end of the regular season,” Harding said.
“I thought it was the two best sides playing, so it was a fitting way to finish.”
Jack Crisp followed in the footsteps of fellow Brisbane onballer Claye Beams in winning the Joe Grant Medal as best afield, collecting 28 disposals, seven clearances and two goals, but it must have been a close-fought affair, considering the impressive games of Callum Bartlett, Patrick Wearden, and Jesse O’Brien.
Cornelius kicked a game-high six goals and plucked 11 marks, Lisle snagged a couple, and Close and Michael put Aspley’s undersized defence under the pump all afternoon.
The defeat means Aspley trio Nathan Clarke, Stiller, and Conway missed the opportunity to win consecutive flags with different clubs, while veteran Aspley mentor John Blair couldn’t add to his tally of four premierships.
Despite that, it’d be remiss of anyone to deem Aspley’s year anything other than a major success, and with another pre-season in the legs of the Hornets’ crop of exciting youngsters, they’ll be an even bigger force to contend with in the revamped NEAFL next year.
NEAFL NORTHERN CONFERENCE FINAL