Brisbane's top draft pick Jared Brennan stamped himself as an AFL star of the future while the one the got away, Nick Riewoldt, reminded fans in Queensland what they lost as the Lions defeated St Kilda by 32 points.

Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews and Saints mentor Grant Thomas experimented in an entertaining practice match at the suburban ground of Coorparoo in which the Lions ran out winners 16.8 (104) to 11.6 (72).

Brennan, from the Northern Territory, was No.3 on the AFL's 2002 draft and was picked up by the Lions as part of a complicated set of deals at the end of last season.

The 18-year-old played in both attack and defence until he went off early in the last quarter with cramp and is a good tip to force himself into the strong Lions team when the home and away season starts in a fortnight.

But for Lions fans it was also a case of being reminded what they lost with Gold Coast born and bred Riewoldt starring at centre half forward for the Saints.

After being held by fullback Daniel Bradshaw in the first half of the first quarter the 20-year-old went up the ground and kicked four goals, continually out playing All Australian centre halfback Justin Leppitsch.

In an obvious test for Brennan, Matthews shifted the youngster onto Riewoldt after the big break and broke even until the St Kilda star went off halfway through the third term.

The match was a see-sawing affair and the Lions, who are missing seven premiership players, only managed to gain a buffer in the second half.

Old hands like Michael Voss, who kicked four goals, Luke Power and Bradshaw, who went to full forward in the last quarter and kicked two goals, did well for the Lions.

For the Saints Troy Schwarze and Stephen Powell with two goals performed strongly while dual Brownlow Medallist Robert Harvey showed he still had plenty to give in 2003.

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