Brisbane stick in AFL top four as last-quarter surge scraps North Melbourne threat

Chris Fagan has celebrated his a centesimal sport as Brisbane coach as his facet solidified their spot in the AFL’s top-four with a grinding 23-point win over North Melbourne.

Lincoln McCarthy supplied a spark in assault as Jarryd Lyons, Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey and Lachie Neale did a lot of the grunt work across the packs in the Lions’ 9.14 (68) to six.9 (45) victory on Saturday evening.

McCarthy stepped up in massive moments, kicking the second of his two objectives in the beginning of the ultimate time period to provide Brisbane worthwhile respiration house in a low-scoring affair.

They held North to only two objectives in the second half as they dominated contested possession, clearances and ahead entries after the primary break.

Small ahead Charlie Cameron had simply 5 kicks however completed with 2.3 in a harmful cameo for the Lions, whose win gave Fagan a good 50-50 file from his 100 video games on the helm.

The 59-year-old reached the milestone in his first showdown with Kangaroos counterpart David Noble, his former right-hand man.

Hobart’s Blundstone Arena was a becoming setting for the battle between two Tasmanian coaches and whereas Fagan’s males began sizzling favourites, they have been compelled do it the arduous manner in chilly and moist situations.

North’s Nick Larkey was an aerial threat in assault earlier than halftime and kicked two objectives in a run of four straight to assist in giving the Kangaroos the higher hand early in the second time period.

But the tall forwards misplaced their level of distinction after the primary break as heavy rain fell and turned a scrappy contest into an out-and-out slugfest.