Lions fans trooped to the Brighton Homes Arena hoping for a second big result of the AFLW season, and the Lions delivered in spirit if not the final score. They went down to Carlton 6.8 (44) to 9.4 (58), but by the final siren the 14-point margin did little to reflect the gritty contest on display.
The Blues claimed the game in a blistering second term, posting five unanswered goals that threatened to ruin the night for Brisbane. Yet the Lions rallied—it was their third term that carried the roar, as they outpaced Carlton with repeat inside-50 entries, bridging the gap to under 10 points when the siren sounded for three-quarter time.
Inside-50s were clearly in Brisbane’s favour, winning 49 to 31, a telling indicator of their intent—if only those entries had produced more majors. Courtney Hodder’s goal-line volley in that third term sparked the crowd. Orla O’Dwyer’s running finish followed, both serving as reminders that the Lions weren’t going down without a fight. Sleek forward pressure and strong midfield runs from Belle Dawes, Breanna Grider, Tahlia Hickie, and Jade Ellenger kept belief alive to the last.
The second-quarter blow landed just after an early goal from Dakota Davidson, and Carlton cashed in through Keeley Sherar, Dayna Finn, and Breann Harrington, building a 29-point lead by half-time. Still, the Lions pressed on until eventually it ran out of clock.
Goal scorers for Brisbane were Hodder, Davidson, Poppy Smith, O’Dwyer, Ruby Svarc, and Charlotte Davison. Carlton’s goals came from Tara Bohanna (3) and Erone Fitzpatrick (2)—the latter hobbling from the field late with a leg injury. The home crowd numbered 2,805, and many of those left believing the performance yet pointed toward promise.
AFLW Match Data shows Belle Dawes with 20 disposals—the highest for Brisbane. Tahlia Hickie pulled down 13 hitouts, anchoring the ruck. O’Dwyer gathered 9 touches and laid 2 tackles. Hodder had 11 disposals and 3 tackles. Davidson added 10 disposals and a goal.
“There was some good energy and we showed excellent fight in that third quarter. It gives us something to build on, but the scoreboard is the scoreboard,” Brisbane Lions AFLW coach Craig Starcevich commented.
“We’ll look back at the inside‑50 conversion and see where we missed opportunities. Overall, pleased with the response, but keen to improve execution going forward,” he added.
What’s Next – Round 4: Lions vs Kuwarna
Brisbane now sets its sights on a road trip to Norwood Oval to face Kuwarna (Adelaide Crows)—named in honour of the Kaurna people during Indigenous Round. The match is scheduled for Sunday 7 September at 12:35 pm ACST.
The Crows will be a stern test. Still, if Brisbane can secure more clean inside-50 entries and keep up their third-term pressure, they can run with one of the season’s heavyweights. Fan voices already reflect quiet optimism: this clash offers a chance to convert promise into tangible results away from home.
Still in the Hunt
The scoreboard may show a loss, but Lions supporters and players alike left Brighton Homes Arena feeling they’re still very much in the hunt. The structure, effort, and field position were there—now it’s just the finishing touches they need. As one fan put it, “I’ll keep singing the chant—because that’s what we do,” and with another week’s work behind them, Brisbane will be ready to roar again.
Published 2-Sept-2025
