‘Pretty special’: Detail shows Brisbane Lions are all class

Brisbane have completed a stunning 35-point turnaround, with a slick second half performance showing their class.

Brisbane have completed a stunning 35-point turnaround, with a slick second half performance downing Geelong by nine points in slippery Queensland conditions.

In what was the re-scheduled Opening Round fixture after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Chris Fagan’s side’s 10.10 (70) was enough to trump the Cats’ 9.7 (61) — now leaving the Lions 3-0 in what is a total contrast to their start to last year.

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The visitors were forced into a last-minute change, with five-time All-Australian Tom Stewart ruled out with a PCL injury he sustained last weekend against St Kilda. His absence meant that Mark O’Connor was called upon at the eleventh hour. The Lions also made a last-minute ruck change that saw premiership player Darcy Fort replace Oscar McInerney, who was withdrawn through illness.

Geelong held momentum for the majority of the first half, kicking seven goals in a run that at one point saw them more than four goals ahead. But after the main break, it was all Brisbane — with the home side converting seven majors of their own to close out the second half, and ultimately the match.

In one of the match’s bigger highlights, Bruce Reville nailed a sweet kick from range to give the Lions their first lead of the match, just minutes after being subbed on for a sore Kai Lohmann.

Super sub Reville NAILS his second kick of the night with this beauty!

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And in the final term, dead-eye Dayne Zorko nailed a set shot with six minutes to play to extend his side’s lead out to nine points, as a Jarrod Berry major running into an opening goal not long after provided the icing on the cake.

Jhye Clark converted a set shot from close range with two minutes until the final siren, but it was all too late for Chris Scott’s side, who now sit at 1-2 with Melbourne and Adelaide in their next two matches.

Hugh McCluggage (30 disposals, eight tackles, seven clearances, seven intercept possessions) was one of Brisbane’s best for the night, while up forward, all 10 of the Lions’ goals came from different goalkickers.

Max Holmes (29 disposals, nine marks, 620 metres gained) was among Geelong’s better performers, with skipper Patrick Dangerfield the only player on the entire ground to kick two or more goals.

3. SENIOR STARS STAND UP TO PULL OFF EPIC 35-POINT TURNAROUND

It looked rather unlikely heading into half time that Brisbane would walk away winners on Saturday night, but an ultra-strong finish from the home side ensured they go another week undefeated in 2025.

Trailing by as much as 26 points before the main break, Geelong looked both cleaner and more effective moving the ball than their preliminary final opponents of 2024. It became evident that the Cats planned on slowly breaking Brisbane’s defence opposed to bombarding it, and it meant taking away one of the Lions’ greatest assets.

“They’ve been fantastic. They obviously lowered their colours last against St Kilda after a great Round 1 victory, but I think they’ve made a bit of an adjustment throughout the game too,” three-time premiership Lion Jonathan Brown told Fox Footy at half time.

“When the Cats have been able to shift the ball from one side of the ground to the other, it takes Harris Andrews out of the way and opens up the way for (them).

“I feel as if their application to the defensive side of the game has been front of mind today.”

Fellow three-time Brisbane flag winner Alastair Lynch added: “I think from the wet conditions early on, the Lions were playing a territory game, (but) they haven’t adjusted to that and got the ball off the line.”

Both changes in Brisbane’s skill level and the standing up of some senior players helped drag the Lions back into the game, with Hugh McCluggage standing tall to deliver five score involvements from his eight disposals in the third term.

“It was a pretty special second half there, I think we kept them to 13 points and we were able to play a little bit more of our way, so it was great,” the star Lion told Fox Footy in the rooms post-game.

The hosts’ control of the game also picked up considerably in the second half, as Fagan’s side registered 40 uncontested marks alone in the third term. By comparison, the Lions collected 28 uncontested marks for the entire first half.

Premiership ruck Darcy Fort’s last-minute inclusion proved valuable, even if it was at the expense of Oscar McInerney, who didn’t front up due to illness. By the first break, Fort had registered up 13 hitouts, four disposals, two clearances and two score involvements to leave Cat Sam De Koning chasing tail from the first bounce.

A sore De Koning was eventually subbed out in the final term, with his defensive counterpart Tom Stewart missing the match as a late out due to his PCL injury.

2. LIONS DUO PICK UP SLACK FOR SUPERSTAR TEAMMATE AFTER CAT’S ‘FINE JOB’

Among a plethora of headline player match-ups on Saturday night, the attention dual Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale received was at the top of the list.

It was tough Cat Tom Atkins who was assigned the task of nullifying Neale’s influence around stoppage, with the 130-gamer taking the points across the first half.

“He’s got a run-with tag from Tom Atkins, and I think he’s done a fine job in the early stages of this game,” three-time premiership Lion Alastair Lynch said on Fox Footy.

“Importantly, Atkins is getting the ball himself; he’s had four clearances (before quarter time) … at stoppages, he’ll play Neale from behind and keep him inside.”

The extra attentiveness on Neale around the ground evidently affected his output, with all six of the co-captain’s kicks in the first half ineffective.

A reset at half time left coach Chris Fagan, Neale, or both of them looking for a fresh start – which led to last year’s premiership player moving up forward to start the second half.

“With Neale going forward, they’d rather have Atkins still in the middle of the ground. But I’m sure that Lachie Neale will start to drift up (from the forward lien) and get the match up he wants,” Lynch told Fox Footy at the start of the third quarter.

Late inclusion Mark O’Connor was the player who went to Neale in the forward line, with the Lion registering seven disposals and two marks for his best quarter of the match.

The former Docker was held to 20 disposals at the final siren, a figure that by his standards is much lower than he’s used to. But as Neale was well-held, star Lions duo Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley combined for 28 contested possessions, 15 clearances and 13 inside 50s to take the load off their closely-watched teammate.

1. CATS’ STAR RECRUIT NOT ‘HONOURED ALL THE TIME’... BUT STILL DELIVERS

After his whirlwind club debut against Fremantle in Round 1 before a minor calf injury set him aside last week, Bailey Smith reminded everyone that his first outing of 2025 was no fluke.

The 24-year-old thrived in the slippery conditions up on the Gabba, particularly in the first half to register 13 disposals, seven inside 50s, six tackles, five clearances and 367 metres gained by the main break.

The former Bulldog was particularly impactful during the second quarter, helping Geelong somewhat kick away in the high-intensity clash.

“Bailey Smith’s been a great addition, (he) was arguably the best on ground the first week against Fremantle. Tonight, especially in this second quarter, he’s really powered Geelong in front,” Brown told Fox Footy on the cusp of half time.

“Three inside 50s this quarter, so it’s time for somebody to put a bit of work into him now,” Brereton added.

Surprisingly finishing with just four score involvements for the match, Smith’s 25-disposal game made him again one of the better players for his new club, but Alastair Lynch felt that at times he may have been under-utilised in transition.

“With these conditions being slippery, he hasn’t been honoured all the time, but we’ve seen on numerous occasions he’ll get two or three touches in a chain,” Lynch highlighted

“His workmate both offensively and defensively almost typifies Geelong’s first half; working very hard.”

Smith showed no signs of a nagging calf injury that kept him out of last week’s loss to St Kilda in a small win for Cats fans amid a frustrating loss.

Originally published as ‘Pretty special’: Detail shows Brisbane Lions are all class