Brisbane v Richmond qualifying final: The Lions come of age as sloppy Tigers fail to respond under pressure
Is the Tigers’ pressure era over? Once the voracious monsters at the man and ball, Brisbane beat the Lions at their own game to set up a preliminary final birth and leave Richmond with a do-or-die clash. It was a “literal bashing”, Mark Robinson writes.
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It was the coming-of-age of Brisbane.
Twelve months to the final when Richmond pummelled them at home, the Lions out-hunted and outplayed the best team in the competition and now travel to the preliminary with bubbling confidence.
They kicked goals early. They picked fights. They hung in in the second quarter when the Tigers were at fever pitch and then, when the opportunity presented, the Lions stepped forward and Richmond stepped down.
It came near the end of the second quarter, and while so much is spoken about the system, this victory was underpinned by pressure and commitment amid a seven-minute stretch leading up to halftime.
That’s when the game was won on the scoreboard.
It was also when the Lions came of age.
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The Tigers raged in the palpitating final quarter and were so close to swiping victory.
The final margin was 15 points.
For the final 25 minutes, it felt like a one-point margin, as both teams desperately clung to the outcome of every kick, every contest and tackle.
It was an incredible contest. Maybe the best of the year. It was fierce and exhilarating fast, just how these two teams like to play.
In the end, a Hugh McLuggage snap goal – which was given the green light from the score review – kept the Tigers at bay.
Another score review which went against Richmond minutes earlier – a one-in-a-hundred left foot dribble from the pocket from Shai Bolton that snicked the post – was perhaps a game changer.
For a moment, the margin was nine points. After the review, it was back to 15 points.
Finals are about confronting pressure, dealing with it, and slowly work it to be a weapon.
The seven-minute stretch was absolute all that.
The Lions kicked three goals in that game-winning period.
It was Cam Rayner from 55m. The sparkling Charlie Cameron from a stoppage and beside the behind line. And Lachie Neale from 55m near the siren.
The Neale goal came after a 100m penalty against the Tigers. They were undisciplined several and Shai Bolton the main culprit. He was involved in two of them for two goals for Brisbane.
They started the seven minute stretch down 31-26.
When it was over, they led 44-31.
In that period, Brisbane’s pressure was 220 to Richmond’s 152, a literal bashing.
They won the tackle count 7-1. Contested ball was 8-6. Inside 50s were 4-3
They were accurate and accomplished.
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The Tigers were opened up and did not respond.
The Lions had huge contributors. Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron stood up, Ryan Lester stuck to Jack Riewoldt which allowed Harris Andrews to stalk the incoming ball, and the Lions won the midfield led by McCluggage and Jarryd Lyons.
Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale was statless in the first quarter and had matched Dustin Martin by the end.
The Tigers were sloppy. Kicks missed targets. They were caught with the ball. They just didn’t get their way when the pressure was hot which they usually do.
Brisbane stopped their flow. They didn’t allow rampant ball movement out of the back half. The Lions didn’t yield when the Tigers flexed.
“The mental strength we showed ... I was really proud of what they did,’’ coach Chris Fagan said post-match.
Fagan didn’t agree the lions had carried a monkey on their back from losing their two finals last year.
And the goalkicking monkey, which Fagan said disappeared a month ago, did not surface last night.
At quarter time last night, there were goals to Daniel Rich, Jack Riewoldt, Oscar McInerney, Liam Baker, Daniel McStay and Kamydn McIntosh.
Fagan won’t say it, but it was crucial the Lions matched Richmond on the scoreboard.
In last year’s qualifying final, the Lions kicked 4.6 to 3.0 in the first quarter. At half time, it was 4.10 to 7.3, Richmond’s way.
Last night it was 3.1 in the first quarter and then 7.2 for Brisbane at halftime.
At the end, it was 10.9 to Richmond’s 8.6
Of course, football is not all about accuracy.
But it helps if you want to win a qualifying final. Just ask Geelong.
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Originally published as Brisbane v Richmond qualifying final: The Lions come of age as sloppy Tigers fail to respond under pressure