Brisbane 14.11 95 d Geelong 12.13 85
The Lions celebrate a crucial Cam Rayner goal in the final term.Credit: via Getty Images
Lions look to go one better
Brisbane have given themselves a chance to avenge last year’s grand final loss with a thrilling 10-point preliminary final win over Geelong.
The Lions’ victory reflected their year. They had to wrestle back momentum when they looked like they were going down for the count.
Geelong led by 25 points early in the third term after a Patrick Dangerfield goal and looked to be edging ahead before the Lions regrouped.
Brisbane started to win the ball back through the midfield dominance of Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley, while Dayne Zorko was superb off halfback.
They were also forced into a smaller forward line set up when big man Oscar McInerney was subbed out of the game in the third term with a dislocated shoulder. This forced Chris Fagan to throw Joe Daniher into the ruck.
In his absence, Brisbane forwards Callum Ah Chee, Cam Rayner, Zac Bailey and Charlie Cameron stepped up, and their mobility troubled the Geelong defence.
The Cats lost drive when Max Holmes suffered hamstring soreness in the third term. He was subbed out early in the last quarter.
The victory has set up a grand final showdown against the Swans at the MCG next Saturday, following the Lions’ heartbreaking four-point loss to Collingwood last year.
It is also a quick turnaround for the Swans. They made the grand final in 2022, but were thrashed by Geelong.
The last time Brisbane and Sydney met this year, the Lions won their round 19 clash at the Gabba by two points.
Next Saturday will be the first grand final between non-Victorian teams since 2006. Incredibly, Fitzroy and South Melbourne last played off in a grand final in 1899.
Oscar McInerney of the Lions receives medical attention after injuring his shoulder.Credit: Getty Images
Headache at the selection table
Brisbane have a big decision to make this week regarding ruckman Oscar McInerney.
McInerney dislocated his shoulder in the second term against the Cats and was taken into the rooms for treatment.
He bravely started the third quarter on the ground, with his left shoulder heavily strapped, but he could not see out the term and was subbed off. It did not help that he is a left-handed ruckman.
If McInerney does not come up this week, which will be a strong possibility, Chris Fagan has two options: take a huge gamble on ex-Cat Darcy Fort or once again rely on Joe Daniher.
If Daniher were to play in the ruck, Fagan would then have the option of bringing in another forward. This set-up worked well against Geelong.
Patrick Dangerfield tackles Lion Hugh McCluggage to the ground.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Danger’s tackle a low in a game of highs
Patrick Dangerfield faces the possibility of missing the opening round next year because of a sling tackle during the preliminary final.
Dangerfield grabbed Lions midfielder Hugh McCluggage and threw him to the ground in an action that has come under MRO scrutiny several times this year.
McCluggage’s head appeared to bang into the MCG turf, but the Lion was able to take the free kick and play out the game.
If Dangerfield’s action was one of the lowlights, there were any number of great moments.
Two Lions took hangars. Cam Rayner took a beauty in the last quarter, but Kai Lohmann took the best of the night. The blond-haired forward flew high to sit on Cat Zach Guthrie’s head and grabbed a speccie that will be added to an ever-growing highlight package. He looks a real star.
Kai Lohmann took a spectacular mark over Zach Guthrie.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
There were also two stand-out tackles in a desperate final term. Geelong defender Tom Stewart dragged down a rampaging Zac Bailey as he streamed towards a certain goal in a moment that gave the Cats a big chance to win back the lead.
But Brisbane defender Jack Payne was not to be outdone. Soon after Stewart’s heroic save, Payne laid a beauty on Mitch Duncan in Geelong’s forward 50 with the game still on the line.
The goal of the night came from Gryan Miers. The mercurial Cat stopped the ball on the boundary line deep in the Geelong pocket, and then in a split second swung around and booted it off the ground towards goal. It looked like a soccer cross.
As Miers’ kick ball bobbled across the face of the goals, Oliver Henry closed like a soccer striker and arrived in time to tap the Sherrin through with his right boot for a major.
It would have elicited a nod of approval from grand final great Wayne Harmes such was its audacity. For those unsure of the Harmes reference, take a look at the highlights of the 1979 grand final.