For the third time in as many years Brisbane will feature in the final Saturday in September.
The Lions booked their place in this year’s Grand Final with a thrilling 29-point win over Collingwood in Saturday night’s preliminary final in front of a huge crowd of 96,023.
It was a see-sawing affair, with the gutsy Lions wrestling back the momentum after Collingwood kicked six unanswered goals in the second quarter.
It was the Lions' stars who inserted themselves in the second half that proved the difference, Cam Rayner and Will Ashcroft both kicking two goals in the third quarter to give the Lions the lead at the final break.
From there, Brisbane kicked four goals to Collingwood’s two in the fourth quarter to hold on to the lead and win 15.10 (100) to 11.5 (71) at the MCG.
Brisbane midfielders Hugh McCluggage (37 disposals, 10 clearances) and Zac Bailey (21 disposals, two goals) dominated across the ground, including inside 50 where Bailey scored his two majors from stoppages.
Fifth-gamer Ty Gallop was the unlikely leading goalkicker for his team, the tall forward booting three goals, whilst Rayner, Ashcroft and Bailey were the other multiple goal scorers with two each.
Darcy Wilmot was outstanding in defence with 25 disposals, nine intercept possessions and eight marks. The defender’s ability to win one-on-ones and shift the Lions’ defence to attack was outstanding.
From here, Brisbane will now face Geelong in the Grand Final for the first time in AFL/VFL history.
Heartbreakingly the Lions could be without midfielder Jarrod Berry who was subbed out of the game in the second quarter after dislocating his shoulder in a tackle.
There were a number of injury scares for the reigning premiers with Josh Dunkley and livewire forward Kai Lohman also leaving the ground and going down into the rooms with injury concerns. Both players were able to return to the game.
But there was no injury bigger than a suspected calf strain to Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury who was subbed out of his 425th game in the first five minutes.
The 37-year-old veteran left the ground with calf tightness without touching the ball and was replaced in the side by Roan Steele.
The injury was part of a frenetic start deserving of a preliminary final, with nerves and pressure at a maximum.
After the Magpies slotted the first goal of the game through cult hero Mason Cox, the Lions settled and put through four of their own to lead by 20 points at the first break.
Brisbane dominated possession in the opening quarter with 50 more disposals and 25 more marks as itcontrolled the play.
But as they always do, the Magpies fought back and flipped the game on its head in the second quarter, led by small forwards Jamie Elliott, Lachie Schultz and Pat Lipinski.
Former Saint Tim Membrey also played his role, settling after not touching the ball in the opening term. The tall forward kicked two in the second to give Collingwood the lead at half-time.
But after the main break, the Lions showed why they are the reigning premiers as their class lifted them again to another level.
Elliott tried his best for the Pies, kicking two third-quarter goals and taking an absolute screamer in one of the highlights of the match, if not the year.
But it was the spread of Brisbane’s talent that overshadowed Collingwood in the final quarter, with the Lions securing their win with four goals to the Magpies' two in the last term.
COLLINGWOOD 1.1 7.1 9.4 11.5 (71)
BRISBANE 4.3 4.6 11.9 15.10 (100)
GOALS
Collingwood: Elliott 4, Membrey 2, Cox 2, Schultz, Lipinski, Houston
Brisbane: Gallop 3, Bailey 2, Rayner 2, W. Ashcroft 2, Dunkley, Morris, McCluggage, Cameron, Lohman, Zorko
BEST
Collingwood: N. Daicos, J. Daicos, Elliott, Sidebottom, Cox
Brisbane: McCluggage, Bailey, Wilmont, Ashcroft, Zorko
INJURIES
Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury (calf)
Brisbane: Jarrod Berry (shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Roan Steele (replaced Scott Pendlebury in the first quarter)
Brisbane: Bruce Reville (replaced Jarrod Berry in the second quarter)
Crowd: 96,023 at the MCG
