Keidean Coleman (left) and Darcy Wilmot celebrate during the match between St Kilda and Brisbane at Marvel Stadium in round three, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

BRISBANE has secured its first win of the season in a grudge match against St Kilda, the Lions walking away 33-point winners on Saturday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.

The reigning premiers kicked into gear after half-time, kicking 13 goals to six in the second half to win 17.11 (113) to St Kilda's 11.14 (80) in front of a crowd of 31,854.

SAINTS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats

The tightly-fought contest blew out in the final term, the Lions kicking the last six goals of the game to extend their lead from two points at three-quarter time to 33 at the final siren.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing for the Lions who found themselves down two on the bench after Noah Answerth was ruled out with concussion and Darcy Gardiner injured his shoulder in a huge bump from St Kilda's Liam Ryan in the fourth quarter.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

The fiery war of words that has taken place between these two sides recently flowed out onto the surface of Marvel Stadium with melees and spot fires occurring throughout the match.

Star Saint Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera once again found himself with a tag, this time followed closely by Brisbane midfielder Jarrod Berry for the first half. The two found themselves in a wrestle prior to the first bounce, with Berry falling to the ground before the game had even started.

Much talked about recruit Tom De Koning combined with Wanganeen-Milera at the first bounce, the Saints midfielder bursting out of the centre stoppage to have a shot on goal 11 seconds into the game. But the miss was a sign of things to come, with both sides inaccurate with 11 straight behinds to start the game.

08:04

Highlights: St Kilda v Brisbane

The Saints and Lions clash in round three of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Fagan and Lyon had both spoken about the importance of starting matches well in their pre-match media commitments and it seemed both teams were desperate to achieve approval from their respective coaches by applying physicality and pressure.

But the high pressure resulted in a low scoring affair, the first goal coming 20 minutes into the first term when another of the Saints' new recruits, Liam Ryan, put through the only major of the quarter.

After scoring just five points in the first term, Brisbane finally got one of its own when Logan Morris added a goal shortly after before former West Coast captain Oscar Allen also slotted one. 

Tempers flared when fire-starter Ryan bumped Berry off the ball, sparking a brawl between the two sides. It also sparked Ryan into action, the small forward kicking the next two consecutive goals to give the Saints an eight-point lead at half-time.

01:27

'It's spicy at the moment': Saint fells Berry as tensions boil over

Liam Ryan appears to force Jarrod Berry to the ground in this incident, before Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is penalised in a heated exchange

After being starved for goals in the first quarter, scoring opened at the start of the third term with four goals scored in six minutes.

Forwards Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron hit the scoreboard for their first of the day, while Berry and Zac Bailey scored their own - Bailey's coming from an exceptional chase-down tackle in front of goal.

Some contentious free kicks including a Jack Higgins scoop pass to Cooper Sharman, as well as a Logan Morris downfield free kick, added to the drama as goals continued to flow in the third.

00:41

Saint's 'full scoop' brings controversy as Sharman salutes

Cooper Sharman boots his third major after Jack Higgins appears to shovel the ball back into play on the boundary

Alix Tauru, who hadn't touched the ball up until 26 minutes into the third term, took a Virgin Australia Mark of the Year contender, taking out Noah Answerth in the process. The defender left the ground looking worse for wear and was ruled out with concussion.

01:15

Flying Viking speccy sees Lion down before bizarre review

Alix Tauru sticks a super mark which sees Noah Answerth come from the field, before a score review eventually rules a behind

Not long after, Saints key forward Cooper Sharman, who had kicked three goals, was involved in an incident of his own when a wayward elbow from Darcy Wilmot collided with his head. Sharman was taken from the ground and was also ruled out.

A huge bump between Ryan and Darcy Gardiner to start the final term saw the Lions defender grabbing at his shoulder in pain, but his effort resulted in a Lohmann goal at the other end.

00:56

Big bump downs Gardiner as key defender hurts shoulder

Darcy Gardiner comes from the field with a shoulder injury after receiving a heavy hit from Liam Ryan, as Kai Lohmann goals from distance

Fatigue began to set in for the Saints and the Lions lifted to another level, their fresh legs after coming off the bye potentially playing a role in their ability to run out the game. 

The Lions forwards put on six goals straight to get their side their first win for 2026. 

01:00

Clutch Lions roar late as rampant flurry closes door

Keidean Coleman, Jaspa Fletcher and Charlie Cameron each fire electric finishes to hand Brisbane late ascendancy

ST KILDA     1.7    5.9    9.12    11.14 (80)
BRISBANE   0.5    4.7    10.8    17.11 (113)

GOALS
St Kilda: Ryan 3, Sharman 3, Higgins 2, Owens 2, Tauru
Brisbane: Allen 2, Morris 2, Bailey 2, Lohmann 2, Cameron 2, Rayner 2, Berry, McCarthy, Coleman, Fletcher, L.Ashcroft

BEST
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Sharman, Sinclair, Ryan, Wilkie
Brisbane: W.Ashcroft, Berry, Dunkley, Coleman, Morris

INJURIES
St Kilda: Sharman (concussion)
Brisbane: Answerth (concussion), Gardiner (shoulder)

Crowd: 31,854 at Marvel Stadium