By Nick Wright
A season of so much promise has ended in heartache for the Lions faithful.
Featuring in their first grand final since 2004, hope was alive that Brisbane had completed their seven-year journey under coach Chris Fagan to end a two-decade premiership drought.
The Brisbane Lions were in the fight, but lost their first grand final in 19 years at the death.Credit: Getty
But it was not to be, a 12.18 (90) to 13.8 (86) defeat sending Collingwood into hysterics. So, what have we learned from the Lions’ gut-wrenching loss?
They fell just short – but do the Lions have to lose to win?
After four top-four finishes in the past five years, the Lions finally reached the last Saturday of September.
They had learned from their misgivings of seasons gone by, having lost in the penultimate round twice, but could not get over the final hurdle.
However, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has developed this side each year, with several of its young stars beginning to blossom. And Fagan declared post-game this would not break his side.
“There are lots of teams in the history of the game who have lost close grand finals and gone on to win premierships in the ensuing years,” Fagan said.
“That will be my attitude: what can we learn today to make us a better team next year?
“Grand finals don’t have to define you or destroy you, they can make you.”
The Lions’ 2023 full squad has an average age of just 22.6 years, and as it stands only veterans Daniel Rich and Marcus Adams – neither of who featured in the finals series – have been confirmed retirements.
This group’s best years are still ahead of them, especially with rookie star Will Ashcroft still to return from injury.
“I think there’s a lot there, we’ll keep looking to see if we can improve,” Fagan said
“It doesn’t feel like we need much, but we just need to make sure we turn up in the preseason with the right attitude, and with a determination to improve.”
Slow start, scrambled finishes prove costly
For the second week in a row, Brisbane failed to match their rivals coming out of the blocks. Last week, Carlton were able to kick the opening five goals before the Lions mounted a fightback.
While Collingwood were kept to two goals before the Queenslanders found some mojo, their future success could well be dependent on how they start such big games.
The game inevitably became an arm wrestle, particularly as key Magpies’ defender Nathan Murphy was ruled out with concussion early in the second quarter, but the way Brisbane were overpowered at the end of the early quarters proved costly.
Teammates check on Nathan Murphy before he was subbed off.Credit: Paul Rovere
In the opening two terms, Collingwood kicked a goal on the siren. In the third, with two minutes remaining, the Lions’ defence switched off believing the rampant Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill would kick for his fifth goal.
Instead, he fed an unmarked Scott Pendlebury, who kicked his first grand final goal in his 383rd AFL contest to give the Magpies the lead.
Brisbane proved they are a force when they have the running, but to go one step further next year, will need to find greater consistency in the dying stages.
Future leaders? McCluggage and Coleman’s signatures an early year priority
Hugh McCluggage came to life in the latter exchanges of the season, and despite the result, only further cemented his re-signing needed to be a priority for Brisbane early in 2024.
Whenever co-captain Lachie Neale has been shut down in the midfield, his vice-captain has been the man to stand up.
Hugh McCluggage was brave in defeat.Credit: Getty
McCluggage was brilliant early in the second quarter to give the Lions the lead – kicking a goal and having a hand in Charlie Cameron’s double. His late assist for Joe Daniher’s third with just a minute and a half on the clock to put his side within four points etched his name into folklore.
He went on to finish with two goals, 21 disposals, four clearances and five tackles. Off contract at the end of next year, the 25-year-old proved on the game’s biggest stage he was the future of the club and a key leader in the making.
He will be joined in the priority signings by Keidean Coleman, who has stood up in the clutch moments to close out the year.
Jack Payne’s ankle injury in the preliminary final forced the 23-year-old to up the ante, registering his highest season disposal tallies in the last two clashes. Coleman’s season-high 26 disposals (second most in the match), six tackles and two clearances under extreme pressure kept Brisbane in the fight.
Would Payne and Gunston have made a difference?
A late season injury to veteran recruit Jack Gunston lost him his place in the Lions’ side, as Brisbane’s near flawless finals campaign convinced Fagan to refrain from changing a winning formula.
While fully fit from the MCL setback that cruelled his campaign, no doubt a lack of game time also played a factor in keeping him on the sidelines.
Would Jack Gunston have made a difference?Credit: Getty Images
However, the 31-year-old is a proven performer on the game’s biggest stage – a premiership-winner with Hawthorn, who kicked four goals and finished second in the Norm Smith Medal tally in the 2013 triumph.
Key Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy’s withdrawal due to concussion late in the first-quarter opened a door for Brisbane’s forward line to strike. However, despite Cameron and Joe Daniher kicking two goals each, a couple of costly set shots ultimately were costly.
Gunston has had an indifferent season at times – taking himself out of selection contention to address a form slump earlier in the year – but his experience in this arena could have proven crucial in front of goal.
Defender Jack Payne also failed to make the final team, unable to displace Darcy Gardiner in his bid to overcome an ankle injury. Payne was one of the league’s great improvers this year, but could he have stopped a rampant Hill?
While Gardiner was kept quiet in terms of stats (nine disposals, one clearance) ultimately Collingwood’s wealth of chances suggest this was always going to be one for the Magpies.
What Lions coach Chris Fagan had to say:
“I’ve been around footy for a long time, I’m pretty pragmatic about things. I think the team that won today probably is the team that should have won, given they had more shots on goal,” Fagan said.
Chris Fagan.Credit: AFL Photos
“Having said that, we had our chances. People always talk about this in finals: moments.
“They kick a goal right at the end of the first quarter, they kick a goal right at the end of the second quarter - those sorts of moments, and when you lose by four points you look back at those things and go ‘we could have defended a bit better then’.
“I thought our ball movement wasn’t consistently good, there were times where we weren’t brave enough to take the game on. But a little bit of that was to do with their method of defence and reaction time.
“I think they intercepted our surge kicks better than we anticipated them, and when you lose by four points all those little things matter.”
What Collingwood coach Craig McRae had to say:
“Two years ago we started this,” McRae said.
“Thank you to the Magpie army, you drive us every week to win those close games, you inspire us. This one’s for you.
“Today was already the best day of my life, my wife gave birth to our little girl at 7.45am. Darling, I’m coming home tonight with the Cup. I love you.”