AFL LIVE Saturday round four 2025: Marvel Stadium’s crowd issue explained; Tiger cubs impress against reigning premiers

The still-unbeaten Brisbane Lions reinforced why they have few, if any, weaknesses, but Richmond showed a willingness to persevere on an afternoon in which they lost by 28 points at the MCG, 18.10 (118) to 13.12 (90).

Memories of their stunning round one win over Carlton have quickly faded for the Tigers, but coach Adem Yze was pleased how his team battled hard against the premiers, who led by 55 points late in the third term.

Having been crunched by Port Adelaide (72 points) and St Kilda (82) over the past fortnight, this threatened to get ugly for the Tigers, but they ran this game out strongly.

While this contest always shaped as a stretch, the Tigers enjoyed several promising moments – a Sam Lalor tackle on Hugh McCluggage and goal in the second term prompting AFL great and Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall to acknowledge how influential the No.1 draft pick can be.

“He is an exciting player, he can do it in all phases of the game,” Dunstall said during commentary on Fox Footy.

Lalor had earlier delivered a spot-on handball to Sam Banks for a running goal, as the Tigers remained in touch before half-time.

Lalor, spending time in the midfield and up forward, finished with a career-high 24 disposals and two goals, including a snap in front of goal from where he had directly worked with assistant coach Blake Caracella an hour before game time.

This is where the Tigers are at. It’s as much about moments, and chains of play, rather than four-quarter victories, as they reshape their list under Yze.

That Jacob Blight has been used in a variety of roles this year, including second ruck, shows that Yze is throwing the magnets around in a bid to find a line-up that will eventually return to the finals.

Experienced stars Jacob Hopper (32 disposals, eight clearances) and Tim Taranto (29) were industrious, the hard-running Seth Campbell has speed and can sniff a goal, while Luke Trainor is an emerging defender.

More was needed from Tom Lynch, well held by Jack Payne, but the Tigers’ system of maintaining six forwards ensured the Lions had to defend honestly.

For Chris Fagan’s men, it was a day when they took care of business.

Whenever the Tigers threatened, they responded. For all the pre-season talk about what the absence of Joe Daniher would mean, the Lions have a bevy of options inside attacking 50.

The smooth-moving Logan Morris bobbed up, while Zac Bailey and Charlie Cameron added potency.

The true answer, however, to the Daniher question won’t be known until September.

The Lions held a half-time lead for the first time this season, buoyed by the robust work of Lachie Neale (42 disposals), Josh Dunkley (30), and McCluggage (26). One point of focus this week will be the repeated goals they conceded late in quarters.

Will Ashcroft delivered an early nomination for goal of the year. With no options inboard in the third term, the reigning Norm Smith medallist dribbled through a stunning shot from just inside the boundary from about 45 metres out, prompting teammates to rib him at the final change that he may have another prize coming his way.

Earlier, younger brother Levi delivered his first goal on the hallowed turf where, before he was drafted, he celebrated last year’s Lions flag with Will.

It was Dunstall who best summed up the Lions, who are on a four-game winning streak heading into next Saturday’s Gather Round clash against the Western Bulldogs in Adelaide.

“It’s hard to find a weakness in the Brisbane Lions,” Dunstall said.