THE BRISBANE Lions have pulled themselves up off the canvas to record their first win of the season, defeating arch-rival Collingwood by two points in dramatic circumstances at the Gabba.

Friday night football came to Brisbane for the first time in seven years and, for a large chunk of the second half, it looked like the Lions would pay the penalty for some wasteful first-half conversion with a second straight defeat.

But Leigh Matthews’ side found plenty when it counted, kicking the last three goals of the game through Anthony Corrie, Jonathan Brown and Jed Adcock to secure a 13.18 (96) to 13.16 (94) victory.

Adcock’s snap with four minutes remaining brought the crowd to its feet and put the seal on a typically whole-hearted personal performance in which the 22-year-old midfielder was constantly in the thick of the action.

The final result would have been tough to swallow for a Collingwood side which seemingly had the game in its grasp when leading by 15 points halfway through the last term.

But the Magpies just couldn’t put the Lions away, allowing for the thrilling finale – in which Paul Medhurst missed an opportunity to put Collingwood back in front only seconds after Adcock’s match-winner.

Earlier, in an enthralling first half, the Lions had more than their fair share of the play but missed some gilt-edged chances to build an even bigger lead.

After waiting most of the first quarter for a goal against West Coast the previous week, the Lions were on the board within a minute in round two – Daniel Bradshaw seizing on Chris Egan’s misdirected clearing kick and snapping truly on his right foot.

Collingwood answered almost immediately when Leon Davis marked on the lead and for the remainder of the first quarter it was almost level pegging, the Lions taking a two-point lead into the first break.

The evenness carried through to early stages of term two, with the Magpies – mainly through Travis Cloke’s increasing influence – initially looking the side most likely to break clear. When Dale Thomas won a holding the ball decision and converted, Collingwood were a goal in front.

However, the Lions rallied to kick the next three majors, including a brilliant 55m roost with the wet ball from Josh Drummond, which capped off a flowing move from half-back.

At one stage, the Lions were 17 points in front and could easily have been more – Brown and Power missing kickable chances while the momentum was with the home side.

The value of conversion was underlined moments later, as Didak conjured a crumbing goal from nowhere against the flow of play to reduce the Magpies’ deficit to 11 points at the long break.

It was underscored even further in the third quarter when Collingwood, while somewhat wasteful itself, booted five consecutive goals to take a 16-point advantage into three-quarter time.

Fortunately for the Lions, they were able to find their kicking boots when it counted – in the dying moments of the game.

For the Lions, Luke Power and Simon Black provided great support to Adcock in the midfield, while Joel Macdonald provided plenty of drive from half-back. Jared Brennan did some handy things in the midfield and Joel Patfull got the better of Cloke in the second half – a defensive performance that was ultimately influential.

Collingwood was led by skipper Scott Burns and Dane Swan who had 28 touches apiece, with Didak kicking two goals from his 24 possessions. Medhurst looked especially dangerous across half-forward in the second half but undid some of his good work by kicking 1.4 Second-gamer Nathan Brown again showed plenty of promise opposed to Jonathan Brown.

Brisbane Lions 3.5   8.10    9.14   13.18 (96)
Collingwood    3.3   7.5    12.12   13.16 (94)

GOALS

Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 3, Charman, A Corrie, Brown 2, Drummond, Black, Power, Adcock.
Collingwood: Cloke, Rocca, Didak 2, Davis, O'Bree, Thomas, Egan, Swan, Fraser, Medhurst.

BEST

Brisbane Lions: Adcock, Johnstone, Brennan, Power, Black.
Collingwood: Didak, Cloke, Brown, Davis, Burns.

INJURIES

Brisbane Lions: Drummond (quad).
Collingwood: Goldsack (face).

Reports: Nil.

Umpires: M Vozzo S Meredith S Jeffery.