Conor McKenna was on top form for the Brisbane Lions who defeated Saint Kilda 56-84 at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium in round 15 of the AFL season on Friday.
The Lions are genuine premiership contenders and have the players to go deep into finals but they will have to improve on their horror run of losses at the Melbourne Cricket Ground; the iconic 100,000 capacity stadium where the Grand Final will be played on Saturday, September 30.
Brisbane are now up to third on the season ladder with nine rounds of the home and away season remaining ahead of September’s finals series.
McKenna, who never won a finals match during his six seasons at Essendon, collected 18 disposals (16 kicks & 2 handballs) and 6 marks off the half back flank.
Speaking post-match Lions coach Chris Fagan took exception to suggestions that his team’s away form could undermine their premiership credentials.
"I think we've played eight games on the road and we're 4-4 on the road which is not a bad road record," Fagan said.
"There's some banter about we're not much of a team on the road. I don’t know if any of you study the world of sport, if you're 50 per cent on the road, you're actually pretty good.
"The (NBA champions Denver) Nuggets, their home record was 31-7 (sic, 34-7) and their away record was 19-22 and they won it. If we can be around 50 per cent, I'll be happy with that.”
On Thursday, Geelong produced their best performance of the season to defeat the Melbourne Demons 78-63 at their GMHBA Stadium home. The crucial four points lifted Geelong to ninth on the season ladder; just one win outside the top eight finals spots.
The reigning premiers are now 7-7 for the season but they will have to win six of their remaining nine matches to be assured of finals football. That is a tough ask given they have one of the toughest draws for the remainder of the home and away season.
Zach Tuohy, who on Friday will equal Jim Stynes’s 264-game record as the highest number of AFL games by an Irish player, collected 18 disposals (12 kicks & 6 handballs) and 2 marks. The Portlaoise start also booted a behind.
Kerry’s Mark O’Connor finished the four quarters with 13 disposals (5 kicks & 8 handballs) and 2 marks.
Geelong coach Chris Scott remains optimistic that the Cats will defend their title in September.
"(It's) a little bit daunting if you focus on the longer term, but hugely exciting to focus on what we can do in the moment," Scott said.
"We understand that some things have gone against us, and we haven't delivered as well as we could have, but that doesn't preclude us from doing it from here on in."
On Sunday, Meath forward Conor Nash played for Hawthorn in their 101-34 hammering away to the Gold Coast Sun at Heritage Bank Stadium on the Gold Coast.
The Hawks, second from bottom on the season ladder, are now 6-10 for the season and definitely won’t play finals this year.
Nash collected 24 disposals (15 kicks & 9 handballs) and 1 mark.
Round 15 was the last of this season’s ‘bye rounds’. A full fixture will return from rounds 16-24.
