AFLW finals: Brisbane Lions defeat Hawthorn in qualifying final at Ikon Park

After stealing the $1 million McClelland Trophy away from the Lions, Brisbane was out for revenge against the plucky young Hawks. They got it in spades with a blistering third quarter.

Brisbane is one win away from a sixth AFLW Grand Final after holding off Hawthorn by six points in a qualifying final thriller at Ikon Park.

A three-goal third term blitz put the Lions in the box seat heading into the final term, but a brilliant snap goal from Lou Stephenson brought the Hawks within a kick with eight minutes remaining.

Lions forward Ellie Hampson narrowly missed a shot on the run with a minute left which would have put the game beyond doubt, but the Hawks could have forced the game into extra time with a late goal before Poppy Boltz took a diving intercept mark on the wing with 10 seconds remaining.

After not encountering Brisbane during their breakout 2024 season, the Hawks proved they were legitimate flag contenders as they matched the Lions at the coalface with a bruising brand of football.

Players scuffle after the siren at Ikon Park. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

The strong-bodied combination of Mattea Breed and Eliza West kept Lions star Ally Anderson at bay in the first half, but she responded to rack up a game-high eight possessions in the crucial third term.

While it was only their third meeting, a rivalry has clearly formed between the reigning premier and the Hawks side coached and captained by former Lions.

There were tense scenes on the siren when Dakota Davidson lost her footing in an altercation with Hawks firebrand Aine McDonagh, sparking other Lions players to rush in and remonstrate.

Jasmine Fleming was brilliant for the Hawks, but appeared to be battling an ankle complaint during the third term and went to the bench three minutes before the siren with a similar concern.

Brisbane will host the winner of Adelaide and Fremantle in a home preliminary final at Springfield, while the Hawks will return to Ikon Park for a semi-final next week against either Port Adelaide or Richmond.

Ainslie Kemp left the field following this incident involving Belle Dawes.#AFLWFinals | #AFLWHawksLionspic.twitter.com/9cNDdeplUB

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) November 10, 2024

LION IN HOT WATER

Brisbane will be sweating on a possible MRO case against Isabel Dawes after the midfield hard nut caught a Hawks defender high in a clumsy collision early in the second quarter.

Dawes appeared to be shaping to tackle Ainslie Kemp but threw her arms back before collecting the Hawk front-on and making contact with her chin.

Kemp was dazed on the ground, but passed a HIA test and returned to the field after halftime, which could help Dawes avoid a suspension – she would’ve almost certainly missed the rest of the Lions’ finals campaign had Kemp been concussed.

Hawthorn livewire Aileen Gilroy could also be looked at for a crunching tackle on Lion Cathy Svarc midway through the first term, even though Gilroy was awarded a free kick for holding the ball.

Hawthorn’s Ainslie Kemp heads to the bench after a big hit in the second quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

SVARCS FLY

Cathy Svarc responded brilliantly after she was run down by Gilroy and produced one of the best quarters of her career in the third term, booting two of the Lions’ three goals and setting up the other.

A clever side step from Ruby Svarc opened up space for the winger to kick to her older sister, who marked strongly and delivered a set shot goal to pull the Lions back within a kick at halftime.

A slick one-two with Lily Postlethwaite sent Svarc running into an open goal for her second only minutes later, before she brought the goalless Taylor Smith into the game with a handball over the top which put the Lions six points clear at the final break.

DAKOTA’S PERFECT START

Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich said Dakota Davidson was a “stoic” character who would immediately bounce back after a torrent of verbal abuse left her in tears the previous week against St Kilda.

Dakota Davidson bounced back after verbal abuse last week. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

The star of last year’s finals series did just that, booting multiple goals for the first time since round 2 and opening the Lions’ account with a cool finish from close range to settle her side.

With leading goalkicker Smith mostly shut-out of the game by Emily Everist, Davidson stepped up again to mark strongly early in the final term and increased the advantage to two goals with a set shot goal.