The four crucial moments behind Giants’ heartbreaking collapse

In ordinary circumstances, Giants midfielder Tom Green is the most articulate of athletes, taking a keen interest in modern history in his spare time.

Less than an hour after Brisbane’s epic 44-point comeback, however, a speechless Green had no idea that his side had earned themselves an unwelcome distinction in the game’s record books. The Giants had just been on the wrong end of the equal second-biggest comeback win ever seen in AFL/VFL finals, behind Geelong’s recovery from a 47-point deficit in a preliminary final 93 years ago.

After a standout individual performance featuring 33 disposals and one goal, Green was blunt in his summation of what had happened to his side, especially set in the context of their six-point loss against the Swans the week before.

“Just a seriously wasted opportunity,” Green said. “Finishing top four, losing a qualifying final [to the Swans] by a goal, and then a semi by five points, having leads in both games. Yeah, a wasted opportunity, and we’ve cost ourselves.”

So how did a Giants team that was so fluent and fearless for so much of the game get pulled back by a Brisbane side that looked out of ideas and energy?

Harris Andrews and Callum Ah Chee of the Lions celebrate the win.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

The audacious goal that made the Lions roll the dice late

Third quarter: Giants 80 Brisbane 42

With 18 minutes of the third quarter gone, the Giants had reached new levels of confidence. Their running game had pulled Brisbane all over Sydney Showgrounds, leaving them tired and frustrated.

The Giants’ confidence was so high that even defender Lachie Ash scored his first goal of the year, extending their lead to 44 points.

Lachie Ash of the Giants celebrates kicking a goal.Credit: Getty Images

Brisbane’s Kai Lohmann won a mark right to the left of the goal square in front of the Giants’ star halfback Lachie Whitfield. The easiest thing for Lohmann to do would have been to cut around his body, but he decided to play on, sold a dummy to Whitfield and kicked through.

The Lions had decided to go all in and Giants coach Adam Kingsley spoke afterwards about his side’s inability to cope when the opposition rolled the dice.

400 career goals for Charlie Cameron

Third quarter: Giants 80 Brisbane 55

For much of the night, Cameron had cut a frustrated figure, unable to deal with the relentless and trademark pressure from the Giants.

But throughout his career, Cameron has had the ability to pop up with crucial goals – and his 400th in the third quarter helped point the way towards a comeback.

Despite a heavy tackle from Ash, Brisbane’s Will Ashcroft managed to get a kick away, which was gratefully volleyed by Cameron. It was messy, but it was the Lions’ third goal in a row – and it suddenly showed they were capable of hauling themselves back into the contest.

The soccer rues of Daniels

Fourth quarter: Giants 99 Brisbane 80

Momentum was swinging back and forth, with the Giants scoring two late goals in the third quarter through Jesse Hogan and Xavier O’Halloran, and captain Toby Greene getting his third of the night at the very start of the fourth quarter.

A dejected Brent Daniels after the Giants’ loss.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

But the Lions responded through Eric Hipwood and Cameron, who both kicked majors to keep the game in the balance.

The Giants kicked forward and won a free kick 10 metres directly in front of goals, which gave the home side an almost guaranteed six points and the opportunity to kill the Lions momentum.

But in a moment of instinct, Brent Daniels instead played on, trying to soccer the ball through. It resulted in a behind when a goal was desperately needed – and that split-second decision would become decisive.

Daniher steps up and seals the game

Fourth quarter: Giants 100 Brisbane 105

Brisbane full forward Joe Daniher can surprise and delight like few others in the AFL and did so in spectacular fashion with two late goals that won the game for his side.

Joe Daniher climbs for a mark over the Giants pack.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan summed up the player’s ability to step up when his side needed him to and finish the most unlikely of comeback victories.

“He will do some things and you will scratch your head and go, ‘What is he doing?’ But under pressure tonight, and it doesn’t get any bigger than that, he kicked them straight through the middle,” Fagan said.

After kicking a free from a tight angle on the left, Daniher pulled his side within a point of the Giants with just over two minutes to go.

A long, raking kick from Lohmann into the 50 set up a one-on-one contest between the Giants’ key defender Sam Taylor and Daniher.

Daniher managed to beat his man, giving him the opportunity to break the Giants’ hearts for the second week in a row. He wasn’t going to miss.