Brisbane Lions news: Goal kicking, momentum swings at core of curious trend

After appearing almost bulletproof during their nine-game winstreak, some familiar failings from earlier this season have reared their head at the wrong time for Brisbane.

Only two weeks ago the Brisbane Lions were being lauded as premiership favourites.

Now they need some luck just to finish inside the top four.

With one game to play until finals – a game Brisbane now must win to absolutely guarantee a place in the top eight – Chris Fagan’s side is walking a form tightrope.

After appearing near-bulletproof for two-and-a-half months, some familiar failings from earlier this season have reared their head at the worst possible time.

Inaccuracy in front of goal was a major talking point at the start of the campaign and returned against the Giants when the Lions kicked 8.16 in an 18-point loss.

Some crucial missed opportunities – particularly in the third quarter – ultimately came back to bite them on Saturday at the MCG.

Joe Daniher reacts after missing a shot on goal against Collingwood. Picture: Getty Images

Fagan’s words after the match hinted at his frustration over an issue he thought they had rectified.

“We’ll take some learnings from the game … the main one will be take your opportunities in front of goal, which is a thing I’ve had to talk about too often this year I reckon.”

But Brisbane’s goal kicking woes are only part of the puzzle that Fagan must solve before September.

Because another early-season trend has returned and this one could be much harder to solve: momentum.

The Lions led GWS by 30 points at quarter-time but conceded the final six goals of the game to be overrun.

And it was deja vu at the MCG as they watched a five-goal lead just before quarter-time get eaten up at the death when Beau McCreery put Collingwood ahead with two minutes to play.

Even worse, the Lions were 17 points clear at the 20-minute mark when Charlie Cameron kicked truly, yet were unable to see out the win.

“It was a game where when we had momentum we should have taken our shots more than we did, particularly in that third quarter,” Fagan lamented.

“Margins of three goals aren’t big margins in footy anymore. They can be cut back pretty quickly. To Collingwood’s credit they kept going and we just folded right at the end.”

It was the fourth time this season the Lions have led by at least four goals only to lose the match.

The first was the Opening Round capitulation when Carlton stormed back from 46 points down in the second quarter to win by a point at the Gabba.

Chris Fagan says the Lions’ form still stacks up even though they have lost their past two games. Picture: Getty Images

And the following week in the West, the Lions held a 25-point advantage in the first quarter but were then overrun by Fremantle.

Add to that mix the draw with Adelaide in round nine, where the Crows came from three goals down in the final quarter, and the Lions have left five wins on the table this season by being unable to close out games from a strong winning position.

Collingwood was the master of momentum last season. The Magpies made a habit of fourth-quarter surges to seal tight wins and used that blueprint to pip the Lions at the line in last year’s grand final.

They did so again on Saturday.

Perhaps what makes this season’s premiership race seem so open is that no side has proven it can do what Collingwood did last year.

Every top eight team has its flaws. Fagan is crystal clear on what Brisbane’s are.

The coach declared he would “remain optimistic” about the Lions’ finals chances and so he should, because their best might be better than anyone’s.

His test is to get them playing that way for four quarters, which in 2024 is a puzzle few teams have been able to solve.

Originally published as Brisbane Lions news: Goal kicking, momentum swings at core of curious trend