AFL 2023: Brisbane Lions survive huge scare against Fremantle, win 77-74
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan was not worried about how his side got the four points out west, as his side claimed a rare win away from home to keep themselves alive for a top-two finish.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is not fazed that his side failed to snatch second spot on the ladder on Sunday.
Nor did he seem too put out by the way his team had to scrap to claim a three-point victory over Fremantle, who sit 15th.
Fagan seemed happy to be leaving Perth with four premiership points and a rare win away from the Gabba.
A win by a little more would have seen the Lions jump ahead of Melbourne, who is now in second spot.
With three games to go, just over one per cent separate the two teams.
Port Adelaide is significant percentage behind those two teams, while Collingwood is now two wins clear on top.
Fagan is content being among that company.
“We clearly want to finish as high on the ladder as we can,” he said.
“I think we’ve won today and Melbourne won by a bit more, so they’ve just jumped above is. “But that’s okay.
“Look, in this game we’re just trying to finish top four. If you can get top two, that’s great, but it’s not the be all and end all because the new season begins when you get to finals.”
Fagan said there was a lot of extra drive from his players on Sunday after their disappointing loss to the Gold Coast the week before.
He said they had spoken about not worrying about positions on the ladder and who was playing against who, and just take each game as it came.
A top-two final spot would make the Lions goal of winning a flag a whole lot easier though.
But while they didn’t play their best football against Fremantle, Fagan was pleased with how they managed to fight the game out.
“It looked like we were battling with ourselves. When I say battling with ourselves, battling with our minds during the game,” he said.
“We couldn’t really get to play any of our really good footy, but we just stuck at it and grounded it out.
“Here we are, with 14 wins and three games to go and we’re in a good position to challenge. So hopefully we get a lot of confidence from it in a strange sort of a way. We won’t when we look at the tape, but just because we hang in.
“They would have no doubt set themselves for us today. And you could tell that they did.
“We had a lot of players down, but we found a way to win on the road which is pleasing.
“Next week we’ve got Adelaide, who is still a sneaky chance. So, they’re going to come to the Gabba and try and play their best footy. Got Collingwood the week after that. Then the Saints in the last game, so that doesn’t get any easier.
“But they’re all good challenges.
“You’d rather have those sorts of games coming into finals than that not.”
Ruck Oscar McInerney and Keidean Coleman are expected to return from injury against the Crows.
Fagan said McInerney tried to get himself up for the game against the Dockers, but they were mindful about having him return from an ankle injury too early.
The coach said it was important to get a game into Darcy Fort ahead of finals.
“Darcy Fort probably lowered his colours a little bit to (Luke) Jackson today,” he said.
“He never stopped trying. I thought, particularly after half-time, he was pretty good.
“So, it was good for him to get that game under his belt, because you never know when you might need him.”
Lions hold off Dockers in thriller, keep top-two chances alive
The Brisbane Lions’ premiership chances improved significantly in round 21.
The Lions scraped home by three points against the 15th-placed Fremantle at Optus Oval on Sunday, to snatch a rare win away from the Gabba.
But more importantly, the 11.11 (77) to 11.8 (74) victory has given them in sight of a top-two finish.
The other round 21 results left Melbourne in second spot, just 1.1 per cent ahead of the Lions. Port Adelaide has dropped to fourth place.
A week after recording a disappointing away loss to the Gold Coast Suns, Brisbane again looked in trouble away from the Gabba at three-quarter-time.
Scores were level and then Fremantle’s Jye Amiss put the home side ahead with the first goal of the final term.
Strong final quarters from Lachie Neale and Eric Hipwood, who kicked a late goal to make life difficult for Fremantle, got the Lions home.
A final placing in the top two would be a massive advantage for the Lions, who would get the chance to win two home finals to qualify for the Grand Final.
They are unbeaten at the Gabba this season, with a 9-0 record and still have games against Adelaide and St Kilda there still to come.
They may still need to beat Collingwood, at Marvel Stadium, in round 23, to confirm that place in the top two.
CHAMPS COME GOOD LATE
Several Brisbane players needed to lift after half-time to get their side across the line. And they did.
Charlie Cameron booted two goals just before three-quarter-time to even give Brisbane a chance of the win.
Josh Dunkley had just one possession in the first term and three for the first half. He finished with 17.
Neale was kept to only four touches in the opening quarter and finished with 25 and eight clearances.
Zac Bailey was a welcomed return from injury too.
Coach Chris Fagan would have loved Lincoln McCarthy’s whole game though. He had 17 touches, but his eight tackles came at important times. His last was inside the Lions forward 50m area, that resulted in what was Hipwood’s sealer.
DOCKERS HAVE FOUND ONE
Expect Hayden Young to be a part of the Fremantle midfield plans going forward.
He’s more than a handy defender, but he’s shown enough in the past two weeks to suggest he should be unleashed up the ground.
After his 29 possessions against Brisbane, the Dockers coaching staff can’t move him now.
Young had 19 touches, playing mainly in midfield, in Fremantle’s upset win over Geelong.
He’s added extra pace to the midfield, and his 10 touches in the first term gave his side a great start against the Lions.
He also had two clearances.
As a result, Fremantle held a quarter-time lead (four points), for just the third time this season.
In fairness, Brisbane squandered their chances.
Notably, Cameron had two set shots, well within distance, and missed them both.
FINAL CHANCES SNUFFED
The Dockers remain in 15th spot on the ladder after the loss and now can’t play finals.
The season is that close, that a result the other way would have kept the Dockers within reach of the top eight.
They are still three wins and percentage behind eighth-placed Greater Western Sydney.
Their run home is not the worst, with games at Optus Stadium against West Coast and a struggling Port Adelaide. They finish the season with a rare MCG appearance, against Hawthorn.
Coach Justin Longmuir would love what he has seen from some of his kids though.
Liam Henry continue to grow on a wing and had another 24 possessions on Sunday.
Luke Jackson made the most of the absence of Oscar McInerney, with 44 hit-outs, 24 touches and a goal.
They are already looking like one of the sides who’ll miss finals this season, but will be expected to rebound in 2024.
DOCKERS 2.2 5.4 8.8 11.8 (74)
LIONS 1.4 3.5 8.8 11.11 (77)
BEST PLAYERS:
Dockers – Serong, Young, Brayshaw, Jackson, Henry, Pearce.
Lions – Berry, Zorko, Neale, Rayner, McCarthy, Andrews.
GOAL KICKERS:
Dockers – Sturt 3; Schultz 2, Frederick 2; Amiss, Treacy, Jackson, Corbett.
Lions – Cameron 2, Daniher 2, Gunston 2; McCluggage, McCarthy, Berry, Ah Chee, Hipwood.
VOTES
3 Serong (DOCKERS)
2 Berry (LIONS)
1 Zorko (LIONS)
Expert trade Q&A: Why are the Bombers so quiet?
Essendon has been suspiciously quiet this AFL trade period. Is something brewing? Replay the expert Q&A and FOLLOW LIVE for the latest news.
Browne to step down — but which Pies lifer will replace him?
Collingwood president Jeff Browne will depart the club at the end of the year, with the club already sounding out its replacement. Here’s who is in line to take up the big job at the Pies.