Brisbane outclassed North Melbourne in Friday’s Gather Round match at Norwood Oval, meaning North Melbourne is still without a win in the 2024 season.
The Lions, who were without a win going into the game, started strong with a seven-goal first quarter and never looked back. With ease, they won 16.16 (112) to 6.6 (42) by 70 points.
As the Kangaroos’ small backline once again failed to contain opposition attackers, Joe Daniher scored five goals.
With 35 disposals, Harry Sheezel led the Roos with pride, and Charlie Comben (25 touches) looked promising as a key defender when he was added back to the team.
Highlights of the Brisbane vs. North Melbourne AFL R4 match
Gather Round sees the Lions and Kangaroos square off at Norwood Oval. Against their stunned opponents, the Lions led by 56 points at the half. They went on to win their first game of the season with ease, finishing with a 1-3 win-loss record despite some resistance from the Roos in the third quarter.
14 of Lachie Neale’s 27 disposals came in the first term, setting off an early avalanche. Hugh McCluggage (36), Josh Dunkley (31), and other midfielders then joined in to give their team the upper hand in the middle of the ground.
With three goals in a more involved performance, including a spectacular final-quarter marker, Eric Hipwood put a difficult week behind him.
Brisbane’s early pressure was effective in setting the tone, pressuring North into making frequent mistakes and securing possession of the ball in its front half, which allowed them to score seven goals in the first quarter and quickly build a 33-point lead.
The Lions faced a North defence that at times appeared to be at sea, but they had plenty of opportunities to score, unlike in any of their three previous losses when they struggled to convert inside 50s to scores.
The Kangaroos were thrashed both at the contest and on the spread, losing badly in the first half.
To their credit, they came back stronger after the main interval, scoring goals in quick succession through Eddie Ford and Paul Curtis, before the Lions settled down once more. Alongside Sheezel and Comben, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Tom Powell engaged in fierce combat.
Has North secured a valuable defender?
Although Charlie Comben was far from flawless, he was a true bright spot for the Roos in his new position as a key defender, having only played in 10 games in five seasons. Joe Daniher, the opposition, scored five goals, but not all of them were directly assisted by Comben. The 22-year-old took a proactive stance and defeated Brisbane’s leading player more times than not. In the end, he had three contested marks, a game-high 13 interceptions, and 25 disposals.
Brisbane Lions 7.3 11.9 13.11 16.16 (112)
North Melbourne 2.0 3.1 5.5 6.6 (42)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Daniher 5, Hipwood 3, Cameron 2, Lohmann 2, McCarthy 2, Gardiner, Zorko
North Melbourne: Curtis, Duursma, Ford, Greenwood, Larkey, Xerri BEST
Brisbane Lions: McCluggage, Daniher, Neale, Zorko, Dunkley, Lohmann, Payne
North Melbourne: Sheezel, Comben, Davies-Uniacke, Powell, Tucker
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Bailey (ankle)
North Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: James Tunstill (replaced Lachie Neale in the fourth quarter)
North Melbourne: Liam Shiels (replaced Dylan Stephens in the third quarter)
Aondofa Vershima 
Jonathan Jonathan