An electric performance from Charlie Cameron has helped his Brisbane Lions hold off a plucky Giants outfit, with the star forward booting seven goals in a 21-point win.

Cameron’s haul of 7.2 equalled the record for the most goals at Manuka Oval, joining St Kilda legend Stewart Loewe, who booted seven goals against North Melbourne in 2001.

While the Giants were plucky and constantly challenged Brisbane throughout the game, the Lions held their opponent at arms length for the whole match to run out winners 16.12 (108) to 13.9 (87).

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QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT

The Giants made a late change, with Daniel Lloyd ruled out and replaced by Ryan Angwin. Adam Kennedy was named the sub. The Lions made no late changes, with former starting midfielder Jarryd Lyons named as the sub for the second straight week.

The Lions got the fast start, with Lincoln McCarthy and Eric Hipwood kicking the opening two goals.

The majors came after some quick ball movement from the Lions’ back-half, with Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon lauding Brisbane’s “blue collar footy”, while also labelling the ease at which it was exiting the Giants’ forward half as “a real concern”.

Hawks great Jordan Lewis said: “This is causing some trouble for the Giants, those last few transition plays from Brisbane.”

Brisbane’s slick ball movement continued, with Charlie Cameron taking a mark and converting his set-shot to give the Lions a 17-point lead.

“They look pretty sharp, Brisbane,” Lyon said. “Once they go forward of centre, they have got options everywhere. As long as they can go around Sam Taylor, they look likely to score most times.”

Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell added: “Early alarm bells for the Giants.”

The Giants finally got on the board towards the end of the first term, with Lachie Ash and Finn Callaghan combining to find Aaron Cadman, who marked an goaled. That was three top-10 picks linking up.

The Lions responded immediately, with Will Ashcroft streaming inside 50 to nail a goal on the run. But Xavier O’Halloran gave the Giants fans something to cheer about with a long-range goal.

“Nothing wrong with the Giants’ attitude and pressure … they’re a little bit off from a talent point of view, but I reckon the coach would be thrilled with the way they’re attacking it,” Lyon said.

Cameron then brought some magic to Manuka Oval. The star forward leapt into the Canberra air and got boot to ball, angling the footy through the goals in a super individual effort.

“That’s a goal of the year candidate … if he meant it, genius. That is unbelievable,” Lyon said.

The Lions went into the first change holding a 19-point lead.

But that lead was cut by six at the start of the second term when O’Halloran marked and kicked his second goal.

And when Brent Daniels concerted a set-shot after earning a free kick, the Giants were within a kick.

“They’re back in town the Giants,” Russell said.

A strong mark from Joe Daniher up the field set up a fast Brisbane entry and Cameron’s third goal.

But the Giants continued to press, with surprise packet O’Halloran booting his third while skipper Toby Greene added another.

The Lions, however, steadied late in the quarter with goals to Cameron Rayner and Joe Daniher to lead by 19 points at half-time.

And Brisbane continue its ominous form after the main break, with Jack Gunston kicking his second and Cameron booting his fourth.

“Alarm bells everywhere for the Giants now,” Russell said.

Cameron then booted two goals on the trot to take his tally to six — and when Zac Bailey kicked his first, the Lions led by 41 points.

And to rub salt into the wounds of the Giants, superstar defender Sam Taylor limped off with a hamstring injury.

“This is a massive story … His form as a defender has been off the charts,” Lyon said.

“Horrible news for the Giants.”

But the Giants again found a way to fight back. Brent Daniels kicked two classy goals from the pocket, before Jesse Hogan converted a set-shot goal to reduce the margin to four goals at the final change.

Cameron, though, flipped the momentum back in the Lions’ favour, pouncing on a bad mistake from Lachie Whitfield to kick his seventh goal.

“Counting up the goals – he might run out of fingers. He might need to use his toes,” Lewis laughed.

Hipwood then booted his second major to give Brisbane breathing space.

The Giants, to their credit, never relented as Hogan kicked his second goal followed by Harry Himmelberg’s first goal.

“They’ve got a nervous 10 minutes,” Lyon said of the Lions.

Cameron had a chance to kick a Manuka Oval record eighth goal, but shanked two set-shots late in the quarter.

Ultimately the Lions held on for a 21-point win.

THE 3-2-1 …

3. SENSATIONAL SEVEN AS ‘COLEMAN’ CAMERON MAKES STATEMENT

Even Charlie Cameron was losing count of how many goals he’d kicked on Saturday night, using his fingers to add up how many majors he’d slotted against the Giants.

The All-Australian was at his devastating best, booting a career-high 7.2 from 15 disposals, 12 score involvements and six marks in a performance that ultimately broke the Giants.

Cameron’s haul of seven goals equalled the record for the most goals at Manuka Oval, joining St Kilda legend Stewart Loewe, who booted seven goals against North Melbourne in 2001.

Cameron benefited from quicker Brisbane ball movement and ample space inside his own forward 50.

He booted two goals in the first quarter then another in the second. But it was a three-goal blitz in the third term that ultimately proved the difference between his Lions and the Giants at Manuka Oval.

Cameron’s top highlight came in the first term when he produced a “miracle” feather touch to nail what could be the goal of the year. The crafty Cameron was already in the air as he attempted to grab the bouncing footy inside forward 50. But when the ball failed to bounce up to him, Cameron got a brilliant deflection from his right boot that would leave even the highest paid soccer stars jealous as the footy rolled through for a goal.

“That’s a goal of the year candidate … if he meant it, genius. That is unbelievable,” Lyon said.

Cameron moved into second place on the Coleman Medal table with 20 goals for the season.

After two years of making the All-Australian squad but missing out on the final 22, Cameron is well placed to make the final cut this year.

2. ‘BIG TICK’ FOR JOE AS ‘PLAN B’ MOVE COMES OFF

Joe Daniher and Sam Taylor’s battle was a classic subplot within a fascinating plot.

While Giants defender Taylor entered the game in stunning form, Lions forward Daniher was on the up in what had been a rollercoaster season to date.

Taylor looked ominous early on Sunday, taking three intercept marks in the first quarter while Daniher was held goalless from two disposals. The Giants star was thriving close to his defensive goal.

So Daniher took matters into his own hands in the second term – and it paid dividends.

Instead of remaining close to goal, Daniher intentionally pushed hard up the field. He had six kicks, four inside 50s, four marks and one goal in the second quarter – and five of those six disposals were outside the 50m arc.

Conversely, Taylor didn’t take a mark for the quarter.

“I think it’s a great step forward for Joe,” Lyon said.

“If you get beaten early, go to Plan B – and his Plan B is to take Taylor away from where he’s most comfortable, go to where he’s been most comfortable and he’s turned the tables on one of the great defenders in the comp.

“It’s a big tick in the development of him as a player.”

Lewis added: “There will be games where he’s the main man inside the forward 50, but the early indications in this game were he wasn’t going to be as dominant as he would’ve liked because of the direct match-up.

“Brisbane have looked better with an open forward line with Charlie Cameron having a bit of space to move. He’s a beautiful, long penetrating kick of the footy, so it’s good to see a key forward is multi-dimensional and if one part of his game is not working, he can go to Plan B.”

Daniher continued to present strongly after half-time as Cameron feasted close to goal.

And in a devastating blow for the Giants, Taylor was subbed out of the game in the third quarter after appearing to suffer a serious hamstring injury during a chase.

“This is a massive story … His form as a defender has been off the charts,” Lyon said.

“Horrible news for the Giants.”

1. GLIMPSE OF GIANTS’ BEST IN TOP PICK TRIO’S PLAY

There was a significant passage of play for the Giants midway through the first term.

Lachie Ash (Pick 4, 2019) had the ball in the centre square and switched the ball to the wing where Finn Callaghan (Pick 3, 2021) marked the footy.

The classy left-footer then unloaded a superb kick inside 50 where key forward Aaron Cadman (Pick 1, 2022) marked and converted his set-shot.

In an era where the Giants’ ability to maintain their top talent is constantly questioned, the trio’s ability to link up against the Lions on Saturday night was significant.

“That’s the sort of talent this Giants team has got,” Lyon told Fox Footy.

“They’re the type of players that if they can keep them together for a lot of games, they can take them to being good finals team.”

Despite the final 21-point margin – and the fact the Lions led by at least 19 points for the entire second half – the Giants were as plucky and brave as you could ask.

Adam Kingsley’s side won the disposal (+98), tackle (+9) and contested possession (+8) counts. Josh Kelly broke the record for most disposals in a game at Manuka Oval (41), while Stephen Coniglio (38) wasn’t far behind.

Lyon said he was thrilled with the Giants’ relentless attitude.

“They haven’t taken a backward step, the Giants. Not once today,” he said.

“Their effort hasn’t wavered. It hasn’t reflected the scoreboard … the effort has been really consistent and it’s just taken a really good side to hold them off.”

Lewis added: “They have been in all their games, the Giants. They haven’t been blown off park. Their competitive nature is there.”

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