The Brisbane Lions have gone down to Box Hill in their VFL Semi-Final clash thanks to an after the siren goal.
The Lions, who led by 33 points at three quarter-time, couldn’t contain the Hawks as they booted nine goals with the breeze in the final term to snatch a three-point win.
A tightly contested first term saw the Lions and Hawks boot three majors each thanks to Will McLachlan, Fergus McFadyen and Brandon Ryan.
Seven behinds helped the Lions hold a four-point quarter time lead after kicking with the wind to start the game.
Ruck duo Henry Smith, who booted a season-high four majors for the game, and Oscar McInerney were enormous for the Lions throughout the contest.
McInerney collected 21 touches, eight clearances, 25 hitouts and a goal while Smith did his damage forward of centre adding 14 disposals and 13 hitouts to his scores.
Momentum was fickle in the second as both sides piled on goals in bunches as the margin stayed at four points at the main break.
Six goals a piece came in clumps as the Lions responded to the Hawks first three goals of the quarter with six of the next nine thanks to Jack Manly, McLachlan’s second, back-to-back majors from Conor McKenna as Sam Marshall and Smith both hit the scoreboard.
The Lions defence repelled well all day with Darragh Joyce having 26 disposals to go along with a game-high nine intercept possessions and seven rebound 50s.
Kicking with the breeze in the third quarter, the Lions booted four goals and seven behinds while keeping the Hawks scoreless to lead by 33 points.
Two from Smith and majors from Darcy Craven and McInerney helped the Lions take ascendency in the match.
A hectic final term saw 12 goals kicked as the game opened up and turned into a shootout.
Despite goals from Smith and Ryan, it was enough as the Hawks nine goals flipped the match on it’s head with a major after the siren finishing the Lions season.
James Tunstill and Deven Robertson toiled hard in the midfield with 20 and 21 possessions respectively with the latter effecting eight clearances.
Final Score
Box Hill 18.7 (115) def Brisbane Lions 16.16 (112)
Goals: Smith 4, McKenna 2, McLachlan 2, Ryan 2, Craven, Manly, Marshall, McCarthy, McFadyen, McInerney
Best: Smith, Joyce, McInerney, Robertson, Brain, Beecken
