Brisbane Lions pull off insane 10-goal turnaround to stun the Bulldogs
Reigning premier Brisbane has roared back from a huge hole to stun the Western Bulldogs in an AFL comeback for the ages.
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Reigning premier Brisbane has incredibly overturned a 39-point third-quarter deficit to overcome the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, prevailing 18.10 (118) to 14.13 (97).
It is the first time in 77 years the club has started its season 5-0, and it took an almighty effort to overrun a spirited Dogs outfit, with Chris Fagan’s side kicking 14 goals to five in the second half.
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A five-goal second half from Lions forward Eric Hipwood was instrumental to the Lions’ cause, with the Bulldogs simply unable to contain their rival’s transition threat as the game wore on.
Smooth-moving midfielder Hugh McCluggage added 32 disposals and seven score involvements.
All in all, it was a 60-point turnaround from Brisbane to stay perfect in its flag defence.
The Lions trailed by 39 points early in the third quarter after a seven-goal-to-one second term by the Bulldogs, led by star key forwards Sam Darcy and Aaron Naughton, but produced one of the comebacks of the season to get themselves back in the game and eventually win in front of a raucous crowd.
Led by the crafty Zac Bailey and dominant target Hipwood, the Lions would respond by booting seven goals to two in the third term to trail 78-72 at the final break before kicking the first three goals of the fourth quarter behind livewire Callum Ah Chee, as well as forwards Logan Morris (four goals) and Hipwood.
The Dogs, who lost James Harmes early in the first term to a foot injury, showed grit to kick back into the game in the final term through goals from Matt Kennedy and Bailey Williams, but the red-hot Lions would ultimately be too strong and slick and damaging disposal would see them hold the lead.
The Lions ultimately smashed the Dogs in the clearance battle (52-34) as star on-ballers Lachie Neale, Will Ashcroft and McCluggage produced their best footy at the right time to ensure repeat inside-50s and opportunities for Hipwood, Morris, Bailey and Ah Chee.
The win marks the fifth come from behind victory for Brisbane as the 2024 premier continues to find a way to emerge victorious, the Lions improving to 5-0 on the season.
Despite the Bulldogs’ second-quarter blitz, the reigning premiers were never going to lie down and fold. It was just a matter of time before the ball movement improved.
The Lions pieced together six unanswered goals in the third term after previously finding themselves down by as many as 39 points — closing the gap to a goal at the final change — and an at-times-scrutinised forward led the way.
Hipwood was tremendous in the fightback, notching six disposals, four marks and three goals in the third quarter alone as Brisbane stunned the Bulldogs.
Hipwood also took a flying mark early in the final term, soaring over Rory Lobb to send the Brisbane fans into raptures, and added two more majors to take his barely-believable second-half tally to five.
It came after the 27-year-old had managed just one touch in the first half.
“We changed a few things structurally,” Hipwood told Fox Footy post-game.
“I got up around it (the ball) a little bit more, and to be honest, we just started to move the ball a little bit better.
“We got contests right, and that’s king. On these small grounds, contest is king, so we got that right and I was able to benefit from a couple in the goalsquare.
“To come from behind like we did, it was pretty special.”
Originally published as Brisbane Lions pull off insane 10-goal turnaround to stun the Bulldogs
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