Match report
It is almost impossible to sum up that game in the immediate aftermath – go and watch the replay instead (with this goal-by-goal account to hand). But before you do, quickly relive what we just witnessed with the full report from Brisbane’s incredible nine-point triumph against Hawthorn in a preliminary final for the ages at the MCG …
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The Lions players were quick to go to Jarman Impey after the final siren. The Hawks defender looked about as shattered as you could imagine. But as I said earlier, hard to argue that call wasn’t there. And then McCluggage still had to take the moment from a tough angle.
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Dayne Zorko was important to the Lions getting the ball forward for what turned into the match-defining play. The veteran tries to make sense of what he just witnessed and how he felt when McCluggage lined up for the shot.
He had multiple opportunities throughout the game. So he lines up that. Always confident. He works extremely hard on his set shot goals. He probably rushed a little bit. I didn’t like that he rushed, could’ve take a little off the clock, but oh my god, can’t believe he did it again.
[When the Lions lead was 21 points … ] We thought, oh, the game’s done. And then the Hawks kick the next four. Certainly didn’t think it was done, but they did get some more looks, that was concerning. So had to cut off a few leads and tighten a few things up in there. And we did. They didn’t get away from us. It kept it a margin that we could come back.
The 30 second sign went up. So I thought he’d actually take his 30 and maybe be the hero after the siren. But he rushed through it. He’s a beautiful set shot. He’s a beautiful kick.
That’s the footy you want to see. Oh, it’s the entertainment, right? We would love to be a little bit tighter in defence no doubt about it. But the game doesn’t allow that all the time. So look, we knew it was going to be a moment by moment thing tonight.
Hugh McCluggage just kicked the match-winner to launch the Lions into a fourth consecutive grand final. The Lions midfielder is speaking to Fox Sports.
Unbelievable. I’m absolutely speechless. It was just such an arm wrestle there, back and forth, and the crowd was amazing. We had momentum in the third. They played really well in the fourth and we just came out on top.
They got that run going and centre bounce as well. They really got some territory, they’re an amazing team. Like, the Wiz and and Gunners as well. They’re hard to stop if you give them good looks. I’m just super super proud of the boys for fighting back at the end.
I was thinking I’ve kicked these. I warmed up and kicked a lot of them and I had a couple in the game as well. So just run straight, kick it and take the moment. Probably could have taken a bit more time off the clock now that I think about it
Among all the chaos of that finish – the Lions are through to a fourth consecutive grand final as their bid for a premiership three-peat remains alive.
The conjecture will be around Impey’s holding the ball decision. In my view it was clearly there, not that that will make the result any easier to take for the Hawks.
Will Ashcroft wins the ball from the middle, charges forward and picks out Kai Lohmann alone in the pocket. The pair had been critical to the Lions victory, and Lohmann seals the win with a goal after the siren.
Full-time: Hawthorn 19.8.122 loses to Brisbane 20.11.131
Woooow! The Lions have won a preliminary final for the ages. And they are into a fourth consecutive grand final with a shot at a third straight premiership.
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Q4: 20 secs remaining: Hawthorn 19.8.122 – Brisbane 19.11.125
The Lions are back in front. Impey collected the ball deep in defence but tried to lock the ball in. McCluggage held him tight and the umpire had no choice but to blow the whistle. He kicks his third and … oh my …
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Q4: 1 min remaining: Hawthorn 19.8.122 – Brisbane 18.11.119
The Lions bomb the ball inside 50 again but this time Sicily takes his turn to stand up and take a strong pack mark. The Hawks find a couple of stoppages at half-back
Q4: 2 mins remaining: Hawthorn 19.8.122 – Brisbane 18.11.119
The Lions win the centre clearance through Will Ashcroft and Jarrod Berry off the wing. The Hawks defenders take a pair of critical marks but can’t find a way past half-back.
Q4: 3 mins remaining: Hawthorn 19.8.122 – Brisbane 18.11.119
Mitch Lewis soars over a pack to pull down an incredible pack mark. The key forward goes back to kick his fourth goal and take back the lead for the Hawks.
Q4: 4 mins remaining: Hawthorn 18.8.116 – Brisbane 18.11.119
The Lions defence stands tall under persistent pressure before a rushed behind allows them to go end-to-end. It isn’t pretty until Bailey finds Levi Ashcroft inside 50. The young midfielder goes back to take his shot before passing off to McCluggage much closer but on a much tighter angle. But McCluggage is up to the task and Lions reclaim the lead.
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Hawthorn 18.7.115 – Brisbane 17.11.113
It’s all Hawthorn as they pepper their goalline without quite being able to hang on to a mark. 97, 835 fans at the MCG won’t forget this preliminary final for the ages.
Q4: 7 mins remaining: Hawthorn 18.7.115 – Brisbane 17.11.113
Watson has six goals. And the Hawks have the lead.
Q4: 8 mins remaining: Hawthorn 17.7.109 – Brisbane 17.11.113
The Hawks win another centre clearance after the Lions controlled that part of the game for 100 minutes. The Lions are able to bring this entry to ground and gradually clear. They will need another goal or two though, the way this game has been going.
Q4: 9 mins remaining: Hawthorn 17.7.109 – Brisbane 17.11.113
A repeat of the Hawks fast break a few moments ago – Meek taps to Ward who sets off and picks out Gunston on the lead. The Hawks are back within a kick.
Q4: 9 mins remaining: Hawthorn 16.7.103 – Brisbane 17.11.113
Watson works his magic with a mark off Harry Morrison’s scrambled kick at a stoppage. But the goalsneak has to send it beyond 55m. He steps to the right and launches a long bomb that hooks around for a goal.
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Hawthorn 15.7.97 – Brisbane 17.11.113
The Lions lock the ball forward until the Hawks finally clear. They are very nearly all the way through until Ty Gallop stops the rush with a desperate tackle. On the rebound, McKenna has a few steps toward goal before being tackled. Not sure why that wasn’t a free kick for incorrect disposal, but the Lions will take the behind.
Q4: 11 mins remaining: Hawthorn 15.7.97 – Brisbane 17.10.112
The Hawks storm out of the middle again and send the ball deep inside 50. Quick hands off the deck release Watson but the snap shot sails wide. He had a teammate alone in the goalsquare and waves an apology.
Q4: 12 mins remaining: Hawthorn 15.6.96 – Brisbane 17.10.112
Josh Ward wins the ball from the middle and delivers it down Gunston’s throat. The evergreen forward kicks truly and, dare I say it, the Hawks are back in this.
Q4: 13 mins remaining: Hawthorn 14.6.90 – Brisbane 17.10.112
Mabior Chol has barely touched it today. But he gives the Hawks some hope. The key forward drifts to the arc all alone as the Hawks surge the ball through the centre square. He kicks truly from outside 50m.
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Hawthorn 13.6.84 – Brisbane 17.10.112
Logan Morris boots his second for the term – and the game – as the Lions spread of talents across the forward half become too much for the Hawks.
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Hawthorn 13.6.84 – Brisbane 16.9.105
Moore wins a free kick for a high tackle within range. But the half-forward hurries his shot and it sails on the near side of the goal post.
Q4: 16 mins remaining: Hawthorn 13.5.83 – Brisbane 16.9.105
Dylan Moore gives the Hawks a sniff with a goal from next to nothing. It comes from a hurried kick forward but he made the most of the opportunity.
Q4: 17 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 16.9.105
Zac Bailey was the main man last week but has had to hand over the reins today. He earns a free kick for a high tackle but misses the set shot.
Q4: 18 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 16.7.103
Logan Morris has barely been sighted except for a pair of behinds. But the young key forward has his first goal after a mark on the lead, and the Lions are threatening to pull away.
Q4: 19 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 15.7.97
The Lions are back on the attack as they lock the ball forward. The Hawks will be clinging on unless something dramatic changes very quickly.
The Lions are on top in all of their strongest areas of the game – contest and clearance, controlled possession, defensive intercepts and with their half-forward doing the rest of the damage. The Hawks have a lot to turnaround but surely they have more shots to fire. Here we go …
3QT: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 15.7.97
The Lions have done what they do best in what once again could be remembered as the premiership quarter. The reigning premiers piled on seven goals to the Hawks’ one with Kai Lohmann taking centre stage with a team-high six disposals, three marks and three goals for the term.
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Q3: 1 min remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 15.7.97
The Lions defence holds up as the Hawks make a desperate surge from the centre ball-up. Impey marks the ball in the centre circle but the Hawks have run out of clear avenues to goal.
Q3: 2 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 15.7.97
The Hawks bomb the ball inside 50 again and Draper stands up to pick off the mark. A sublime transition passes through the hands of Will Ashcroft and Rayner among others before finding Lohmann in the pocket. He ignores Hipwood 20m out directly in front. But the kick is never in doubt even from a difficult angle.
Q3: 3 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 14.7.91
The Hawks get the ball forward but Andrews is controlling the airways in typical fashion.
Q3: 4 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 14.7.91
Another centre clearance to the Lions but Impey sets off to rebound. The Hawks defender tries to handpass as he is tackled by Lohmann and barely gets a fingernail to the ball. Lohmann makes no mistake from behind the arc and the reigning premiers are on the march.
Q3: 5 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 13.7.85
From the kick-in Impey looks for Weddell running into open space on a wing. But Ryan Lester and, crucially, Charlie Cameron are right on his tail. Cameron wins the ball back, finds McKenna inside 50. The small forward finds Hipwood standing alone at the top of the goal square and he pumps through a third.
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 12.7.79
Lohmann launches and pulls down a strong mark on the lead. The snap shot hits the belly of the ball and barely scores a behind.
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.5.77 – Brisbane 12.6.78
The Hawks enter the forward 50 without finding a target as the Lions clear the ball over the boundary. From the throw-in, Wilmot is all at sea as he blocks Watson’s attempt to run into the pack and gives away a free kick. The small forward snaps but is too short on the shot.
The Lions have scored seven goals straight from 15 centre clearances.
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.4.76 – Brisbane 12.6.78
Kai Lohmann snaps from the tightest of angles alongside the behind post to give the Lions the lead. Ashcroft boots the ball off the ground as the Lions win another centre clearance. McKenna burns off Sicily in space but the snap flies across the face where Lohmann stands his ground to mark under pressure.
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.4.76 – Brisbane 11.6.72
McCluggage takes his chance this time. The Lions win a free kick in the forward pocket with Josh Battle all over Oscar Allen. The key forward is forced from the field under the blood rule and the midfielder is happy to make amends for an earlier miss.
Q3: 10 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.4.76 – Brisbane 10.6.66
Hipwood takes a strong mark under immense pressure inside 50. The Lions key forward really has changed the way he plays since recovering from an ACL tear. The set shot floats through for a goal.
Q3: 11 mins remaining: Hawthorn 12.4.76 – Brisbane 9.6.60
Watson gathers in the forward pocket off a throw-in and is taken high in a tackle. He seemed to slip rather than bend at the knees for the right call from the umpire. Watson hooks the kick narrowly inside the goal post for a little nerve settler for the Hawks.
Q3: 12 mins remaining: Hawthorn 11.4.70 – Brisbane 9.6.60
The Hawks burst forward with Watson off the leash charging along the wing. But Andrews’ long arms cut off the long pass to the deep forward – the Lions co-captain has his zoned perfectly measured this term.
Q3: 13 mins remaining: Hawthorn 11.4.70 – Brisbane 9.6.60
Jarrod Berry takes matters into his own hands with charge off the wing. The crowd cries for “how far?” but the Lions winger is allowed to run to the edge of the centre square and launch a 60m bomb.
Q3: 14 mins remaining: Hawthorn 11.4.70 – Brisbane 8.6.54
The straight shooting has dried up and Hipwood isn’t prepared to try his luck. The tall forward marks 20m out on a reasonable angle but chips back to McCluggage directly in front but 40m from goal. The midfielder slices the shot – he isn’t known for his goalkicking.
Q3: 15 mins remaining: Hawthorn 11.4.70 – Brisbane 8.5.53
The Hawks scramble the ball to their goal line but can’t get a clear shot on goal. Gunston picks the ball off the ground and hurries a snap for a behind.
Q3: 16 mins remaining: Hawthorn 11.3.69 – Brisbane 8.5.53
Watson flies on to Neale’s shoulders but gets no where the ball as Massimo D’Ambrosio marks under little pressure barely 20m from goal. The midfielder misses an absolute sitter. But the umpires missed just as much of an easy call.
Q3: 17 mins remaining: Hawthorn 11.2.68 – Brisbane 8.5.53
The Hawks transition quickly and Jai Newcombe gets on the end of a scuffed, centring kick to set up a shot on goal. The co-captain slices it slightly and puts a blemish on the Hawks copy book
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Q3: 19 mins remaining: Hawthorn 11.1.67 – Brisbane 8.5.53
The Lions pick up where they left off by winning the ball out of the middle and locking it forward. But they are unable to find a mark within range as the Hawks defence holds firm.
The Hawks have opened up their half-time lead with Nick Watson, Mitch Lewis and Jack Gunston each kicking three goals, while Charlie Cameron has just as many as the only Lions player with multiple majors. The reigning premiers’ midfield have found plenty of the footy with Will Ashcroft (16), Hugh McCluggage (14), Josh Dunkley (14) and Lachie Neale (13) leading the way. But the Lions need to tidy up their work in the forward 50 if they are to mount a comeback.
Hawthorn have their noses in front trying to earn a grand final berth to face Fremantle at the MCG. The Dockers seemed to get out of their preliminary final unscathed and the AFL has just confirmed no charges were laid during or in the aftermath of the win against the Swans.
The dead-eye Hawks kicked six straight in the second quarter to edge ahead of the Lions. The reigning premiers have been strong around the stoppages with 24-17 for clearances and 32-29 inside 50s. But it is hard to contain a side that has barely missed.
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HT: Hawthorn 11.1.67 – Brisbane 8.5.53
After a blistering opening term there was no let up in the second as the sharpshooting Hawks take a 14-point lead into the main break. With the siren seconds away Watson races through the stoppage to crumb off the ruck’s hands at a throw-in. The small forward sprints around and snaps the goal to stretch the Hawks’ lead.
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Q2: 1 min remaining: Hawthorn 10.1.61 – Brisbane 8.5.53
The Lions rebound from the back half and McCluggage gets involved a couple of times in the transition. The midfielder collects again on the edge of the centre square but tumbles the shot on the run from 50m and the ball is touched on the way through.
Q2: 2 mins remaining: Hawthorn 10.1.61 – Brisbane 8.4.52
Charlie Cameron goals on the run to put the Lions right back in it. Will Ashcroft scrambles the ball forward where Hipwood gathers off the deck and dishes out a handball. Cameron collects it inside 50 and has eyes only for goal.
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Hawthorn 10.1.61 – Brisbane 7.4.46
The Lions slow the play down a touch as they switch the play from side to side with uncontested marks. The more considered buildup opens up a marking chance as Lohmann flies high on the lead. He spills the ball but is taken high in the marking contest and slots the set shot.
Q2: 5 mins remaining: Hawthorn 10.1.61 – Brisbane 6.4.40
The Lions rebound from the back half to find Lohmann in a one-on-one with Hardwick. Neither player can mark but Lohmann ends up with the ball in his hands to pick out Hipwood on the other side of goal. The tall forward snaps from a tight angle but the shot is too narrow for a behind.
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Hawthorn 10.1.61 – Brisbane 6.3.39
Sicily flies back with the flight to take a brave pack mark. The Lions are resorting to kick-and-hope forward 50 entries.
Q2: 7 mins remaining: Hawthorn 10.1.61 – Brisbane 6.3.39
Darcy Fort gives away a sloppy free kick from a throw-in against the undersized Josh Weddle. The versatile Hawks steps around the corner to snap the goal.
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Hawthorn 9.1.55 – Brisbane 6.3.39
The Lions are known for being more methodical with their buildup but are going toe-to-toe with the Hawks in a shootout. The reigning premiers transition at speed with a long kick to the goalline where Draper marks. But the tight angle is too much for the Lions ruck and the hooked shot floats out of bounds on the full.
Q2: 10 mins remaining: Hawthorn 9.1.55 – Brisbane 6.3.39
Logan Morris gets two hands to a high ball just inside the arc but the umpire calls play on. The Hawks rebound and go long into the forward pocket again where Andrews masterfully gets a hand on the ball while running with the flight.
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Hawthorn 9.1.55 – Brisbane 6.3.39
The Hawks go end-to-end off the Bailey miskick and open up a game-high lead. Impey hammers a kick over the last line of defence to reach Gunston alone on the goalline. The long kick into the forward 50 is working as well as the Hawks could hope.
Q2: 12 mins remaining: Hawthorn 8.1.49 – Brisbane 6.3.39
Zac Bailey has been well contained but gets off the leash to charge through the centre square. He takes one too many steps and has to hurry a kick that the Hawks comfortably defend.
Q2: 13 mins remaining: Hawthorn 8.1.49 – Brisbane 6.3.39
The Lions win the ball out of the middle to make the clearance count 18-10. The Hawks have looked better with their chains in transition but that their stoppage work is a mounting concern.
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Hawthorn 8.1.49 – Brisbane 6.3.39
Sam Draper spills a simple mark on the wing and the Hawks pounce to make him pay. Lewis leaps high to outreach Andrews and nails the set shot from at least 55m out. Lewis has three goals.
Q2: 15 mins remaining: Hawthorn 7.1.43 – Brisbane 6.3.39
Logan Morris charges to the arc to mark on the lead after the Lions rebound cleaning and at pace. The young key forward hooks his kick for just the second blemish from 11 set shots across both teams today.
Q2: 16 mins remaining: Hawthorn 7.1.43 – Brisbane 6.2.38
Watson stands at the centre ball-up with Will Day taking a breather on the bench. The Hawks smooth-mover has only had two touches with Josh Dunkley doing a familiar job on him. Watson wins the clearance but the Lions pick the ball off at half-back.
Q2: 17 mins remaining: Hawthorn 7.1.43 – Brisbane 6.2.38
Shootout alert! Cam Rayner wins a free kick in the middle and quickly sends the ball long. Charlie Cameron has eyes only for the ball as Hardwick loses the flight to allow the Lions small forward to mark and goal.
Q2: 18 mins remaining: Hawthorn 7.1.43 – Brisbane 5.2.32
The Hawks go end-to-end to find Gunston leading hard towards the arc. The veteran holds off Gardiner for a strong grab then kicks the ball straight through the middle.
Q2: 19 mins remaining: Hawthorn 6.1.37 – Brisbane 5.2.32
For the second time in as many quarters the Hawks are off to a scintillating start. Newcome gets the centre clearance from a free kick and sends a bomb deep into the forward pocket where James Sicily has drifted forward and is too strong for Hugh McCluggage in a one-on-one marking contest. The Hawks co-captain snaps the goal to take back the lead.
Two of the best young players in the game set a ridiculous standard through a mouth-watering first term. Nick Watson kicked the opener and added a second while putting fear in the Lions defenders. On the other side, Will Ashcroft controlled the game between the arc as he gathered a game-high nine disposals, two clearances and booted a team-lifting goal.
QT: Hawthorn 5.1.31 – Brisbane 5.2.32
The Lions edge the first term by the narrowest of margins. That was some blistering football from both sides that more than lived up to the hype.
Watson wins the ball back on the wing with equal doses of pace and pressure. Newcombe bursts forward, handpasses to Chol inside 50, takes the ball back and checksides a shot on the siren … for a behind. Oh, that would’ve given the Hawks some momentum going into the break.
Q1: 1 min remaining: Hawthorn 5.0.30 – Brisbane 5.2.32
The Hawks are winning enough of the ball in their front half but the Lions look comfortable picking off their forward 50 entries.
Q1: 2 mins remaining: Hawthorn 5.0.30 – Brisbane 5.2.32
Conor McKenna special delivery with a kick-off-the-ground goal. Will Ashcroft earns a free kick out of the middle and the Hawks defenders let the ball bounce out for a throw-in deep in the pocket. McKenna pounces with a first kick off the ground to open up space then follows up to chip the ball a second time and through for a goal.
Q1: 3 mins remaining: Hawthorn 5.0.30 – Brisbane 4.2.26
The Hawks bomb the ball long into their forward pocket and this time it clears Harris Andrews as Gunston nudges Darcy Gardiner under the ball to mark. The veteran steps around to his right and snaps his first of the day.
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Hawthorn 4.0.24 – Brisbane 4.2.26
The Hawks keep peppering away with deep inside 50 entries but can’t quite find a mark with the Lions desperate in defence.
Q1: 5 mins remaining: Hawthorn 4.0.24 – Brisbane 4.2.26
Watson races away from a pack on the wing and collects the ball off the deck at top speed. The kick falls short of the leading Gunston and the Lions are able to clear.
Q1: 6 mins remaining: Hawthorn 4.0.24 – Brisbane 4.2.26
Lachie Neale wins a free kick as Jai Newcombe crashes into him again. No one can get hands to the sky high quick but Hipwood is the first player to respond and get to the bouncing ball, gathers and snaps a goal over his shoulder. Good feet for a big man. And the Lions lead for the first time in the game.
Q1: 7 mins remaining: Hawthorn 4.0.24 – Brisbane 3.2.20
Will Ashcroft loves the big stage and he lights up the MCG again. The dual Norm Smith medallist runs into space with an overlap on the wing, keeps on going, crosses the arc and nails the shot from a tight angle.
Q1: 8 mins remaining: Hawthorn 4.0.24 – Brisbane 2.2.14
Logan Morris gets busy up on the wing and turns to find Eric Hipwood without an opponent just inside the arc. The key forward slices the shot and it is never on target as he adds a behind.
Q1: 10 mins remaining: Hawthorn 4.0.24 – Brisbane 2.1.13
The Hawks bomb the ball over the Lions’ last line of defence for Jack Gunston to run on to a bouncing ball and into an open goal. But the ball takes a deceptive turn and skips away from the veteran forward as Ty Gallop launches a rocket for Oscar Allen to grab on the wing.
Q1: 11 mins remaining: Hawthorn 4.0.24 – Brisbane 2.1.13
The Lions lock the ball forward but are unable to find a mark inside 50. Darcy Fort takes the ball out of the ruck from a throw-in but the quick snap crashes into the goal post.
Q1: 12 mins remaining: Hawthorn 4.0.24 – Brisbane 2.0.12
Back-to-back goals to Mitch Lewis as he takes goes on a long lead to mark outside the mark and just inside the boundary line. The key forward has little trouble with the distance.
Q1: 13 mins remaining: Hawthorn 3.0.18 – Brisbane 2.0.12
The Hawks key forwards can’t get to a sky high kick inside 50 as Watson competes to bring it to ground. The Lions search for a way out of defence but Mitch Lewis pounces with a fierce tackle to earn a simple shot at goal. Lewis converts and a roar goes up around the MCG.
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Hawthorn 2.0.12 – Brisbane 2.0.12
The Lions level with a strong pack mark from an unlikely source as Levi Ashcroft gets on the end of a kick from his brother Will.
Q1: 15 mins remaining: Hawthorn 2.0.12 – Brisbane 1.0.6
A moment of calm in what has been a frenetic first five minutes befitting a preliminary final. The ball bounces between the Hawks as the players begin to find their feet.
Q1: 16 mins remaining: Hawthorn 2.0.12 – Brisbane 1.0.6
Who else but Watson? The Hawks bomb the ball deep inside 50 and Watson comes steaming through to crumb the pack, Lester panics and grabs a handful of shirt. Watson makes the most of it as he spins and throws his arms in there, but hard to argue with that one. Watson has two as he kicks a simple set shot from 15m out.
Q1: 17 mins remaining: Hawthorn 1.0.6 – Brisbane 1.0.6
Josh Dunkley wins the next centre clearance but the Hawks pick off the kick and find Nick Watson just inside the boundary on the rebound. Lester won’t mind Watson drifting this far from goal but he is already looking lively.
Q1: 18 mins remaining: Hawthorn 1.0.6 – Brisbane 1.0.6
An immediate response from the Lions as they win the centre clearance through Sam Draper and Charlie Cameron gets on the end of the tumble to kick. The Lions small forward marks on the lead and kicks truly.
Q1: 19 mins remaining: Hawthorn 1.0.6 – Brisbane 0.0.0
First blood to the Hawks. First blood to Nick Watson. Ryan Lester starts on the dynamic forward but fails to keep pace with him as the ball trickles towards the goalline but not before Watson can kick it off the ground for the opener.
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First ball-up
Rival rucks Lloyd Meek and Sam Draper leap high in the centre circle as the AFL preliminary final gets under way at the MCG. But play has quickly stopped after Jai Newcombe collided with Lachie Neale in the middle and left the dual Brownlow medallist sprawled out on the turf.
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The Welcome to Country and national anthem are done. The toss has been won by the James Sicily and the players are now in position … here we go.
The Hawks meet the modern-day Lions in a final for the first time as they aim to end the back-to-back premiers’ bid for a rare three-peat – yours truly took a deep dive into where the preliminary final will be won – and lost:
Evergreen Jack Gunston (61 goals) remains the focal point while a spread of pacey half-forwards link the play and offer their own threat near goal. Nick Watson (57) is the standout as arguably the best small forward in the game, but Dylan Moore, Jack Ginnivan and Connor Macdonald can hit the scoreboard and will be just as critical in pressuring the Lions’ at-times shaky defence.
Brisbane have their own fleet of half-forwards who showed they still set the standard when they came out with a point to prove and blew away Adelaide. Veteran goalsneak Charlie Cameron (55 goals) leads the way while Kai Lohmann (48) has taken his game to another level. Zac Bailey and Cam Rayner are two of the most powerful front-half players in the competition and can also pinch-hit in the midfield. The spread of goal threats, even before considering young key forward Logan Morris (67), will test the Hawks’ defence and the ability for the likes of James Sicily to rebound off intercepts.
Hawthorn and Brisbane meet with a grand final spot on the line. Fremantle have already booked their ticket to a second AFL grand final after storming over the top of Sydney in a preliminary final last night. Jonathan Horn was at the SCG to watch the Dockers turn the tables with the last six goals of the game against the undermanned Swans.
The Fremantle Football Club have never had a night like this. They’ve never been forced this deep down the well to win a big game. They’ve never had so much thrown at them. They’ve never been in such a hostile environment. They’ve never, in a big game, flipped so quickly from a meek, nervy, fumbly team to an offensive powerhouse.
Here are the two lineups as named:
Hawthorn
FB: 6 James Sicily, 37 Tom Barrass, 15 Blake Hardwick
HB: 10 Karl Amon, 4 Jarman Impey, 24 Josh Battle
C: 1 Harry Morrison, 12 Will Day, 16 Massimo D’Ambrosio
HF: 8 Dylan Moore, 18 Mabior Chol, 33 Jack Ginnivan
FF: 5 Nick Watson, 2 Mitch Lewis, 19 Jack Gunston
FOLL: 17 Lloyd Meek, 3 Jai Newcombe, 25 Josh Ward
INT: 23 Josh Weddle, 42 Bailey Macdonald, 28 Cam Mackenzie, 9 Connor Macdonald, 40 Max Beattie
Brisbane
FB: 22 Ty Gallop, 31 Harris Andrews, 35 Ryan Lester
HB: 3 Jaspa Fletcher, 27 Darcy Gardiner, 15 Dayne Zorko
C: 7 Jarrod Berry, 6 Hugh McCluggage, 33 Zac Bailey
HF: 23 Charlie Cameron, 13 Logan Morris, 26 Conor McKenna
FF: 30 Eric Hipwood, 16 Cam Rayner, 1 Kai Lohmann
FOLL: 2 Sam Draper, 5 Josh Dunkley, 9 Lachie Neale
INT: 32 Darcy Fort, 44 Darcy Wilmot, 8 Will Ashcroft, 10 Levi Ashcroft, 4 Oscar Allen
Brisbane were quick to bounce back as they brushed aside their horror qualifying final defeat to Sydney with a commanding win against Adelaide. Jonathan Horn was suitably impressed – but far from surprised – by the way the Lions responded.
After 106 games in four years, one can still never be quite sure whether the good Brisbane or the bad Brisbane will turn up on any given day. But all they need is a runway of a few weeks. All they need is a kick up the backside, a big occasion, a packed MCG and a cutthroat final. They played some of their best football against Hawthorn in August, have a good record against them in the Fagan era, and relish playing on their home ground. A lot is made of the coach’s little hooks – to run towards the fire, to dance on ice, to charge the opposition Braveheart style. All of them are another way of saying “embrace risk”. But all of them are dependent on the little girl with the little curl.
The Hawks and Lions players have been out on the MCG warming up before 90,000+ fans descend.
Nick Watson is a key to the Hawks’ premiership hopes after booting 57 goals in just his third AFL season. Jonathan Horn wrote about the small forward who already looms as a generational player in our free weekly AFL newsletter From the Pocket: sign up for it here.
There’s long stretches where he won’t be sighted. But he’s always the dominant presence on the field. He’s the Hawthorn player who gets in the opposition’s head, whether it’s the defender seeking to exit without being mown down, or the match committee preparing for a game. A fortnight ago, Fremantle opted for the insurance policy of Brandon Walker, who hadn’t played since early March. Walker was picked for his speed, and he performed admirably. But he was unable to mitigate the Watson moments. The first came when Walker momentarily lost contact with him, Watson motored in on his blind spot, parted a pack of Dockers, and volleyed a goal at full pelt. No one else in Australia could have kicked that goal. No one else would have even attempted it. And no one could have stopped him.
Final teams are in with no late changes.
Hawthorn named an unchanged lineup from the 23 that impressed with an ambush of Fremantle in their qualifying final at Optus Stadium.
Brisbane resisted the urge to recall Noah Answerth after he contained Nick Watson the last time these two sides met, with the defender still sidelined with an ankle injury. That allows Ty Gallop to retain his spot after he made the most of his opportunity in the semi-final win against Adelaide.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the AFL preliminary final between Hawthorn and Brisbane at the MCG. The winner of this game will face Fremantle in the AFL grand final at the MCG next Saturday.
Hawthorn have been able to sit back and watch as all but two other teams have dropped out of contention since their rollicking qualifying final victory against the Dockers. As the final siren sealed that rousing triumph on the road, the widely held view was that Sam Mitchell’s side would avoid meeting Brisbane until a possible grand final matchup. But a finals series very rarely, if ever, follows the script – and here we are, a week earlier than forecast, with the Hawks instead crossing paths with the two-time reigning premiers for a spot in the decider.
The Hawks have quietly become the form side of the competition with only one defeat – and a draw – in their past eight matches. Though that loss was one they would prefer to forget as they were hammered by a certain team from the sunshine state.
Brisbane roared back to life with a commanding win against Adelaide in a semi-final, after dishing up one of their all-too common listless performances against an undermanned Sydney a week earlier. The Lions have shown over several years that as much as they can fail to show up for a game here and there, they are just capable of rising as the stakes do. And the path they have ended up on is much the same as the past two years, when they won Saturday twilight preliminary finals at the MCG and went on to win back-to-back flags.
The Lions are now two wins away from sealing a rare premiership three-peat, and becoming just the third side in almost seven decades to claim as many flags in successive seasons. The previous two were of course the Hawks in 2013-15 and the Lions themselves in 2001-03.
For all of their recent success, the Hawks and the Lions meet for the first time in a final since 1986 when the latter were still under the Fitzroy banner and yet to merge with the Brisbane Bears. First ball-up will be at 5.15pm in Melbourne / AEST. I’ll drop in the team news shortly. Meanwhile, shoot me an email with your thoughts and predictions. Let’s get into it!
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