Power play: Lions victorious after dramatic Gabba blackout delay

There are several talking points to emerge from the Brisbane Lions’ victory over Melbourne at the Gabba on Friday night, but only one is going to dominate conversation for the next week. And it’s not the knee injury to Max Gawn that derailed the Demons’ night.

With 12 minutes remaining in the match, and the Lions 40 points up and virtually home, there was a booming noise – and darkness descended inside the ground and out. Players, officials and crowd alike were left bewildered and play was stopped.

The apparent cause was a fire in a light tower. Under AFL provisions, play had to re-start within an hour, otherwise the game would be concluded with the scores allowed to stand. After 38 minutes, play did resume – and even then, the match still had one final twist.

The Demons rattled home, kicking five straight goals to cut the margin to just two goals with just under two minutes remaining, causing more than a few heart flutters in the crowd. The Lions held on, but it was a less than convincing finish.

A power outage halted play at the Gabba.Credit: Getty Images

Gawn was injured in the sixth minute of the match, when teammate Jack Viney crashed into the side of his leg. The talismanic ruckman went straight to the rooms and cut a morose figure before returning to the bench.

Gawn’s injury – and the match’s bizarre interlude – overshadowed Brisbane’s opening of their account for 2023. The Lions, so disappointing last week against Port Adelaide, seized the early advantage and looked like running away with the match when the power blew.

The Lions had taken control after Gawn went down, winning the next 11 clearances straight to race to a 25-point lead at quarter time, with No. 2 draft pick Will Ashcroft playing a starring role and recruit Josh Dunkley also featuring.

Max Gawn injured his knee.

Ashcroft was superb, showing a cool head, clean hands and creativity at the stoppages. Mostly he played off a wing, but coach Chris Fagan had no hesitation in rotating him through centre bounces. In his second game, he gathered nine clearances and 31 disposals.

In fact, the Lions were completely dominant around the ball, with total clearances 60 to 32. Dunkley helped himself to another nine and Lachie Neale eight. Clayton Oliver fought hard as his team made its final surge, but it was too late.

The Lions’ win was also highlighted by a vintage performance from former captain Dayne Zorko. In his first game for the year, Zorko was dynamic, kicking two goals from half-forward, giving off a couple more, and often steadied his team when the Demons threatened.

Players waited on the arena after the lights went out.Credit: Getty Images

Melbourne were already missing Steven May, withdrawn before the match with a hamstring injury, and defender Jake Lever often looked like he was doing the work of two men as he desperately tried to stem the flow early in the game.

The Demons succeeded in slowing the Lions down, pulling back a 31-point margin to 20 with a goal to Bailey Fritsch in the shadow of half-time. Ben Brown, moving more freely than he has in years, was another to make a mark on the contest.

The lights went out at the Gabba.Credit: Channel Seven / Twitter

After half-time, though, it was the Lions who surged. Charlie Cameron had a moment of brilliance, toeing a ball through on a half-volley. Zac Bailey, another player who can make a big impact with a handful of touches, took another half-chance.

Conor McKenna made an intercept and fast break from half-back that finished with Zorko’s second goal to stretch Brisbane’s margin to 39 points, all but ensuring the Lions would salute before the match was stopped.

BRISBANE LIONS 6.2 8.4 13.5 14.9 (93)
MELBOURNE 2.1 5.2 7.5 13.4 (82)
Goals – Brisbane Lions: Daniher 4 Cameron 2 Bailey 2 Zorko 2 Berry Ashcroft McInerney McCarthy. Melbourne:Fritsch 3 Brown 3 McDonald Petracca Neal-Bullen Hunter Chandler Oliver.
Best – Brisbane Lions: Zorko Ashcroft Dunkley Andrews Neale Berry. Melbourne: Oliver Lever Brown Brayshaw Petracca Fritsch.
Injuries – Brisbane Lions: Nil. Melbourne: May (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Tomlinson; Gawn (knee).
Umpires: Fisher Stephens Heffernan Mollison.
Crowd: 30,047 at The Gabba.