AFL Finals Brisbane v Collingwood: All the analysis and fallout as Lions book their place in grand final

Carlton gave them a scare but Brisbane’s ability to steady and own the big moments has them in good shape to challenge Collingwood in the grand final.

Lachie Neale of the Lions celebrates. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Chris Fagan knows as well as anyone just how hard preliminary finals are to win.

During his Hawthorn years, the Hawks made hard work of reaching grand final day.

So when the Lions coach was asked about carrying heavy favouritism into Saturday’s clash against Carlton at the Gabba, he deferred to those days as a warning.

It’s never as easy as the world wants to make it seem.

Brisbane booked its expected place alongside Collingwood in the grand final but not without an almighty early scare.

The Blues burst out of the blocks with the first five goals of the contest and the Lions were on the canvas.

The home fans were silent. This wasn’t the script. Brisbane simply doesn’t lose at the Gabba – that’s what we were told.

There was plenty of support for the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

But it wasn’t the Gabba on Saturday night. At least not the one we have become accustomed.

Whoever let the 14-odd thousand Blues fans through the gates can claim some credit for Carlton’s red-hot start in the preliminary final.

The sea of Navy Blue roared repeatedly as Carlton’s core of stars played all the right notes.

Sam Docherty. Harry McKay. Charlie Curnow. All cashed in early with an ominous onslaught that in previous years would have put Brisbane to bed.

It took until the final minute of the first quarter for Eric Hipwood to kick the Lions’ first goal and it arrived to a chorus of boos, signalling just how far back Brisbane would have to come to claim victory.

It felt eerily similar to the same stage 12 months earlier, when the Cats piled on an early lead in the 2022 prelim before kicking away for a morale crushing 71-point thrashing.

But Fagan promised his side had learned from its past finals failures. And this was the stage to prove it.

It started with some Hugh McCluggage magic from congestion to hit Oscar McInerney on the lead and the big man saluted for the Lions’ second.

Then Keidean Coleman’s wand of a left foot found Joe Daniher lace out and he pegged the lead back further.

With Daniher’s goal came a crucial swing within the crowd. Suddenly Lions fans had something to cheer about and after going missing in the first term, they were ready to do their part.

The Lions stood up when it mattered. Picture: Lachie Millard

As the second quarter hit its crescendo Brisbane’s ball-winners got to work.

Josh Dunkley showed why he was so coveted last off-season with a willing display at the coalface, well-aided by an ever-improving Lachie Neale who simply refused to lose.

But the quarter belonged to former skipper Dayne Zorko, who tallied a ridiculous 330m gained from 11 disposals in the second stanza alone.

He and Connor McKenna were everywhere. The Irishman bobbed up for every handball receive and line breaking run the Lions needed, and even saluted with a snap for goal that sailed through to extend the advantage.

Just as they did a fortnight ago against Port Adelaide, once the Lions hit their stride there was no coming back for the Blues.

Throw a blanket over the Brisbane players who stood up when called upon.

From Lincoln McCarthy’s one versus three in the middle of the ground to set up a Daniher goal, to Cal Ah Chee’s turn and burn on the 50m arc to push the Lions out beyond three straight kicks.

Chris Fagan is the oldest ever coach to make a grand final. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Even key defender Ryan Lester – the Lions’ second-longest serving player on the list behind Daniel Rich – bobbed up for his first goal of the season.

This was an ominous warning for what awaits Collingwood next weekend at the MCG.

The Blues came late with a burst that sent shivers through the Gabba crowd but with the game in the balance, Brisbane’s biggest question mark – its back line – stood tall.

Harris Andrews, Ryan Lester and the deputising Darcy Gardiner – the latter responsible for McCarthy’s late goal to seal the Lions’ grand final berth.

So many times this season, their calm under pressure had been called into question. But on Saturday night, under the brightest spotlight and with the weight of expectation on their shoulders, the Lions saluted.

History awaits on the last Saturday in September. Twenty years later, can they do it again?

Originally published as AFL Finals Brisbane v Collingwood: All the analysis and fallout as Lions book their place in grand final