Match Report
Thanks a lot for following along as Brisbane returned to form with another ruthless finals performance in a 53-point victory against Adelaide. The reigning premiers will continue their campaign for an AFL premiership three-peat with a preliminary final against Hawthorn. But for now – here is the full report from the Lions’ semi-final win.
Zac Bailey was the man of the moment earlier this week when he passed up at a huge financial commitment from the Crows to extend his stay with the Lions. He showed his value tonight as one of the best, if not the best, players in this semi-final victory.
Obviously we felt the pressure all week, “Fages” put it on us to respond, but at the end of the day, we can talk all we want. We want to come out and make sure our actions are right today.
[Chris Fagan] put it on us. And usually we respond when he does that.
I felt like last week, sorry to keep going back, but it was like we’re watching the game go by, where as we know we really had to come out and take the initiative tonight and really put it on the Crows because their pressure is incredible. We tried to take it away from. So was a great way to start.
Charlie Cameron lit up the Lions’ forward half especially when the game was on the line. The goalsneak finished with five goals and is talking to Fox Sports …
Centre bounce and just being tougher in the contest [were a focus]. So credit to the boys at centrte bounce, giving us the looks. It was one-on-one and it’s tough. Our forward line got the opportunities and made the most of it. We spoke about [the start] before the game.
Last week, it was disappointing, four touches, so I tried to come out and just get going early. Add speed and energy around the contest. I got my looks and had a tough matchup with Max again. We had a good battle, got a bit feisty at one point, but he’s a great player and, good defender.
Full-time: Brisbane 21.18.144 defeat Adelaide 13.13.91
The ruthless Lions are through to a fifth consecutive preliminary final and their dream for a premiership three-peat survives for at least another week as they bounced back to form with a resounding 53-point victory over the Crows.
Charlie Cameron finishes with five goals, Zac Bailey lives up to the tug-of-war for his services with three majors for the Lions, while the retiring Taylor Walker at least gave the Crows reason to smile with two consolation goals.
Q4: 1 min remaining: Brisbane 21.18.144 – Adelaide 13.13.91
The consolation goals keep flowing as Alex Neal-Bullen kicks his first and the Crows are more focused on adding to Walker’s goal tally than the result in this semi-final.
Q4: 3 mins remaining: Brisbane 21.18.144 – Adelaide 12.13.85
Bruise free footy on both sides now as Cameron boots his fifth of the game for the Lions and Keays immediately responds for the Crows. The smiles are a bit bigger on one side of the celebrations though.
Q4: 4 mins remaining: Brisbane 20.18.138 – Adelaide 11.13.79
The Crows rebound from the last line and move the ball with ease through the middle to find Walker on the lead. He makes no mistake with a comfortable 55m kick to boot a second goal for the term as his signs off in some style amid great disappointment.
Q4: 5 mins remaining: Brisbane 20.18.138 – Adelaide 10.13.73
The Lions link up to set up McCluggage for a mark deep in the forward pocket. But his left foot snap almost goes the wrong way.
Q4: 7 mins remaining: Brisbane 20.18.138 – Adelaide 10.12.72
Levi Ashcroft gets his goal and Harris Andrews turns away from the celebrations to remonstrate with a group of Crows. It looks like the Lions co-captain wasn’t impressed by a late hit on Charlie Cameron.
Q4: 9 mins remaining: Brisbane 19.17.131 – Adelaide 10.11.71
Hugh McCluggage boots his second of the night as this is turning into a training run for the Lions. It might be time to rest some of their more important or fragile players, with McCluggage one who has missed a lot of footy this season.
Q4: 11 mins remaining: Brisbane 18.16.124 – Adelaide 10.11.71
Taylor Walker has had a dirty night in what will be his farewell game. But he leaves with a trademark long bomb from outside the arc that sails straight the middle of the goal posts. That is Walker’s 714th goal in his 319th match.
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Q4: 12 mins remaining: Brisbane 18.16.124 – Adelaide 9.11.65
Will Ashcroft wins the ball from the middle and picks out Eric Hipwood inside 50m. The Lions key forward kicks his second. And the Lions have their highest score in a final since the 2004 qualifying final against the Saints.
Q4: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane 17.16.118 – Adelaide 9.11.65
Daniel Curtin lets Zac Bailey know exactly what he thinks of the Lions’ two-time All Australian turning his back on the Crows. The young gun picks up Bailey in a tackle and shakes him all about. That’s holding the ball and Bailey is not impressed perhaps with his pride hurting as much as his body. Thilthorpe strolls in for his second goal.
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Brisbane 17.16.118 – Adelaide 8.11.59
Zac Bailey was always likely to be in the spotlight after revealing that he would turn his back on the Crows’ lucrative offer to stay with the Lions on a lengthy deal. He has shown all his value tonight but misses a fourth goal with a poor set shot that barely registers a behind.
Q4: 16 mins remaining: Brisbane 17.15.117 – Adelaide 8.11.59
Izak Rankine was better in the third term but is yet to hit the scoreboard until popping up with a behind.
Q4: 17 mins remaining: Brisbane 17.15.117 – Adelaide 8.10.58
Cam Rayner has been much more important to the Lions tonight than his goal tally might suggest with 17 disposals as a creative force. He fills his pocket with a second major.
Q4: 18 mins remaining: Brisbane 16.15.111 – Adelaide 8.10.58
Wayne Milera finds some space to slot a goal from just inside the arc. The Crows have kept trying to get the ball in his hands this evening though he still hasn’t been able to have his usual influence.
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Q4: 18 mins remaining: Brisbane 16.15.111 – Adelaide 7.10.52
Sam Draper very nearly becomes one for the fireside talks as he wildly swings an arm at a Crows opponent and is fortunate not to connect. Not sure what he was thinking there, but that was almost a week or more on the sidelines at the worst time of the season.
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Q4: 19 mins remaining: Brisbane 16.15.111 – Adelaide 7.10.52
Callum Ah Chee marks inside 50 against his former side. He hasn’t been close enough to goal to have his usual impact tonight. And he misses a set shot this time even while on familiar ground.
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The Lions are – surely – 30 minutes away from a fifth straight preliminary final as they become more and more familiar with the Saturday twilight game at the MCG. Expect the Hawks to host the reigning premiers at 5.15pm, while the Swans will host the Dockers on Friday night – though the AFL still need to confirm the finer details.
3QT: Brisbane 16.15.111 – Adelaide 7.9.51
The Lions have one foot and several more toes in a preliminary final against the Hawks at the MCG as Bailey sets up Morris to add a sixth goal for the term. The Crows have 30 minutes to somehow find a spark to reignite their fading hopes.
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Q3: 1 min remaining: Brisbane 15.15.105 – Adelaide 7.9.51
Hipwood takes a strong mark in the middle of the park as he continues on his return to form. Morris fails to hang on to a long kick into the deep forward pocket. But from the stoppage, Bailey collects a handpass then earns a free kick for a high tackle. A little skirmish adds some spice for the final term before Bailey adds to the Crows’ misery.
Q3: 2 mins remaining: Brisbane 14.15.99 – Adelaide 7.9.51
The Crows win the ball from the middle and rush it forward through handball. Ben Keys gathers inside 50 and snaps his first. He cops the brunt of a late hit but there wasn’t a lot in it.
Q3: 3 mins remaining: Brisbane 14.15.99 – Adelaide 6.8.44
The Lions go end-to-end and soon find Conor McKenna in space in the goalsquare. McKenna marks, briefly pauses, then steps around to snap his first of the night.
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Q3: 4 mins remaining: Brisbane 13.15.93 – Adelaide 6.8.44
Zac Taylor has struggled to have much of an impact on his return from a hamstring issue. He misses a simple shot on the run.
Q3: 5 mins remaining: Brisbane 13.15.93 – Adelaide 6.7.43
Ty Gallop has earned his stripes on his return to the Lions’ lineup this week. The young defender prevents a goal to the Crows as he runs back with the flight and knocks the ball through for a behind.
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Brisbane 13.15.93 – Adelaide 6.6.42
Taylor Walker might not have much more than a quarter of football left to make his mark, at least without a dramatic turnaround in this game. The Crows veteran misses his set shot and is still without a goal in his 319th game.
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Q3: 9 mins remaining: Brisbane 13.15.93 – Adelaide 6.5.41
Oscar Allen earns an off the ball free kick inside 50. He slices the shot through for a behind. But the former Eagles co-captain is well on the way to his first finals victory.
Q3: 11 mins remaining: Brisbane 13.14.92 – Adelaide 6.5.41
Harris Andrews is beaten for perhaps the first time tonight as Riley Thilthorpe takes a strong grab and kicks the goal. The Lions’ co-captain has responded well to lowering his colours against the Swans but he is annoyed with the outcome of that contest. Kai Lohmann looks proppy and is grabbing at the back of his knee.
Q3: 12 mins remaining: Brisbane 13.14.92 – Adelaide 5.5.35
The Lions are playing with a spare player through the midfield as the Crows are trying – most unsuccessfully – to shore up their defence. Dayne Zorko sends a long bomb through for his first of the night.
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Q3: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane 12.14.86 – Adelaide 5.5.35
The Lions are toying with the Crows as they shift the ball from side to side. Darcy Fort takes an unlikely shot at goal but can only find a behind.
Q3: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane 12.13.85 – Adelaide 5.5.35
Logan Morris has one of the quieter nights among the Lions. The rising star joins the party with a stunning snap from the wrong side of the boundary.
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Q3: 16 mins remaining: Brisbane 11.13.79 – Adelaide 5.5.35
The Crows need to take any and every opportunity now if they are to find a way back into the game. But Josh Rachele misses with a tough shot for a behind.
Q3: 18 mins remaining: Brisbane 11.13.79 – Adelaide 5.4.34
Lohmann flies high and gets two hands to the ball. It seems to slip out just as his feet hit the ground. But the umpire calls play on – a touch harsh. And without any sense of theatre.
Q3: 19 mins remaining: Brisbane 11.13.79 – Adelaide 5.4.34
The Lions pick up where they left off with the opening goal of the term. The onball brigade wins the centre clearance and Zac Bailey almost extends the lead with a hurried shot. He can only manage a behind but Kai Lohmann soon makes amends.
Izak Rankine has been the No 1 rated player in the competition as he has averaged 36 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals across the past four matches. But Josh Dunkley is doing a number on the Crows’ creative outlet – no surprise there – with Rankine only finding two kicks and six handballs, with one clearance and no score to the main break. Turning that around will be the first item on Matthew Nicks’ agenda in the rooms.
The Lions’ goalsneaks in Charlie Cameron (four goals), Zac Bailey (two), Cam Rayner (one) and Kai Lohmann (one) have helped punish the Crows. But Will Ashcroft (15 disposals, two clearances), Josh Dunkley (11, three), Jarrod Berry (11, three) and Lachie Neale (10, two) have ripped open this semi-final with their dominance at the coalface. The territory dominance has helped the reigning premiers to lead the inside 50s 37-25 where their versatile and pacey attack has then done the damage.
Sam Berry (14 disposals, five clearances) has battled hard for the Crows, while Hugo Hall-Kahan (13) and Wayne Milera (11) have tried to open up the Lions on the outside. But the Crows have not been able to get as much out of their key and craftiest forwards with Darcy Fogarty their only multiple goalkicker with two and Josh Rachele having some bright moments. Riley Thilthorpe and Taylor Walker have only kicked one behind apiece, and the Crows will more out of their key forwards if they are to find a way back into the contest.
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HT: Brisbane 10.12.72 – Adelaide 5.4.34
The Crows made their move with the opening three goals of the second term. But the Lions were just as impressive as they responded with the next four even as Oscar Allen missed a hopeful snap from a set shot on the wrong side of the boundary after the siren.
Q2: 1 min remaining: Brisbane 10.11.71 – Adelaide 5.4.34
The Crows lock the ball forward after Ty Gallop’s attempt to switch the play leaves Lions hearts in mouths when he misses the target. But five stoppages later the Lions are able to clear to a throw-in on the wing with the main break now in sight and a 37-point advantage in their hands.
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Brisbane 10.11.71 – Adelaide 5.4.34
The Crows stream forward and pick out Rachele on a lead inside 50. But here comes Ryan Lester to cut the angle and punch the ball across the boundary.
Q2: 5 mins remaining: Brisbane 10.11.71 – Adelaide 5.4.34
Charlie Cameron is on one tonight. The Lions’ livewire marks inside 50 but sprays the shot for a behind. It’s not long until he gets an opportunity to make amends with a mark just inside the boundary. It’s a tough shot but he’s on target as a cheer goes up before the shot just fails to clear the last defender on the line.
Q2: 7 mins remaining: Brisbane 10.9.69 – Adelaide 5.4.34
Darcy Gardiner takes a strong grab on the wing and barely blinks as Rory Laird comes crashing into him from behind. The Crows veteran takes his time to get to his feet but looks OK to play on. Lohmann marks inside but misses with the set shot.
Q2: 9 mins remaining: Brisbane 10.8.68 – Adelaide 5.4.34
The Lions are shaking off the Crows’ challenge with another mouth-watering blitz. Charlie Cameron gets in behind the Crows defence to boot his fourth. The Crows were right back in this with the first three goals of the second term, but the Lions have well and truly responded with four of their own.
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Q2: 10 mins remaining: Brisbane 9.8.62 – Adelaide 5.4.34
Bailey almost has two in as many minutes as he races away from a pack again. But from 10m out on a slight angle he slams the shot into the post. The Crows clear but the ball quickly rebounds back to the goalsquare where Bailey dishes backwards to Eric Hipwood for the key forward to kick his first.
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Q2: 11 mins remaining: Brisbane 8.7.55 – Adelaide 5.4.34
Zac Bailey bursts away from a tackler and snap a goal. That is a goal out of next to nothing – and to make matters worse, he may well have been a Crow next year.
Q2: 12 mins remaining: Brisbane 7.7.49 – Adelaide 5.4.34
Rayner marks just inside 50 and not far from the boundary. He unloads a long-range snap but mistimes the kick and it floats high for a stoppage at the top of the goalsquare.
Q2: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane 7.7.49 – Adelaide 5.4.34
Callum Ah Chee crashed into Riley Thilthorpe in the buildup to the Lions’ last goal. The Crows key forward is off the ground and hopefully won’t require a head injury assessment. The collision didn’t look too nasty, at least.
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Brisbane 7.7.49 – Adelaide 5.4.34
Alex Neal-Bullen has a shot to keep the Crows’ momentum flowing but misses to the right. Lohmann helps the Lions transition from end-to-end with a couple of critical touches. Charlie Cameron gets on the end of a kick and hits a nerve-settler for the Lions.
Q2: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane 6.7.43 – Adelaide 5.3.33
The Crows win the centre clearance through Jordan Dawson and Berry squares from the boundary to find Darcy Fogarty in the pocket. The sharpshooter doesn’t miss these and he has two in as many minutes.
Q2: 16 mins remaining: Brisbane 6.7.43 – Adelaide 4.3.27
The Crows string a few passes together with Walker helping open up space for the runners. Rachele has a hand in another attack before dishing off to the reliable boot of Darcy Fogarty to goal on the run. Game on!
Q2: 17 mins remaining: Brisbane 6.7.43 – Adelaide 3.3.21
Ill-discipline from Charlie Cameron helps the Crows move the ball from end-to-end. But it takes a tough snap from a set shot from Rachele to make the Lions pay. The Crows have been well worth their place in the semi-final since being opened up in the first five minutes.
Q2: 18 mins remaining: Brisbane 6.7.43 – Adelaide 2.3.15
The Lions spring forward again and Cam Rayner has a shot on goal for a behind before Kai Lohmann lets another opportunity go begging with a snap that sails out of bounds on the full. For all that this has been an impressive start from the Lions, they have left some goals on the table.
Q2: 19 mins remaining: Brisbane 6.6.42 – Adelaide 2.3.15
The Crows’ troubles started in the middle from the opening ball-up but they get the first centre clearance of the second term. The Lions rebound with a long kick to Oscar Allen and he earns another 50m penalty for the Lions after copping late knees in his back.
Will Ashcroft was a key to the Lions’ blistering start against the Crows. The dual Norm Smith medallist has game-highs for inside 50’s and score involvements, with four of each, and leads his team with eight disposals.
QT: Brisbane 6.6.42 – Adelaide 2.3.15
The Lions make just the start they would have wanted after last week’s debacle against the Swans with a five-goal blitz when back on home turf against the Crows.
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Q1: 1 min remaining: Brisbane 6.6.42 – Adelaide 2.2.14
The Crows rebound and find Luke Nankervis within range. The late goal is just what Adelaide need on the cusp of the first change.
Q1: 2 mins remaining: Brisbane 6.6.42 – Adelaide 1.2.8
The Lions stream forward and Will Ashcroft carries the ball across the arc. He follows up a poor kick inside 50 to receive the handpass, but instead of a simple give to a passing player he snaps a shot. The ball bounces over Hipwood for a behind but that won’t please Ashcroft’s teammates.
Q1: 3 mins remaining: Brisbane 6.5.41 – Adelaide 1.2.8
Rachele tries his luck from deep in the forward pocket with a snap. He kicks the belly of the ball and it barely curves around off the boot. Still, it seems we need a review the replay to confirm the shot went out of bounds on the full. All while there are some claiming we need to cut the length of actual playing time instead of limiting these sorts of delays.
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Brisbane 6.5.41 – Adelaide 1.2.8
Josh Rachele gives away a 50m penalty as the Crows keep paying a price for their ill-discipline. Ryan Lester doesn’t kick many, and he hooks the set shot slightly.
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Q1: 6 mins remaining: Brisbane 6.3.39 – Adelaide 1.2.8
The Crows bite off more than they should trying to find a way through the middle of the Gabb and the quick turnover ends up in Charlie Cameron’s arms. The goalsneak has his second and Country Road is back in the airwaves.
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Q1: 7 mins remaining: Brisbane 5.3.33 – Adelaide 1.2.8
The Crows are doing their best to respond to the Lions’ early onslaught but Taylor Walker can’t quite make the most of his shot on goal with a behind.
Q1: 9 mins remaining: Brisbane 5.3.33 – Adelaide 1.1.7
The Crows are up and away as Dan Curtin kicks their first. A smooth transition through the corridor takes Adelaide from end-to-end But they need a mis-kick to find the young gun before Curtin makes no mistake.
Q1: 11 mins remaining: Brisbane 5.3.33 – Adelaide 0.1.1
Callum Ah Chee marks inside 50 and some half-hearted boos ring around the crowd with their former two-time premiership player in mind. The crafty forward kicks across the face of goal and out of bounds on the full. The Lions begin to rebound as Darcy Fogarty crashes into Dayne Zorko and before we know it Harris Andrews has earned a pair of 50m penalties. A set shot from 50m out and directly in front slams into the goal post.
Q1: 12 mins remaining: Brisbane 5.2.32 – Adelaide 0.1.1
The Crows are working their way into the contest as Ben Keays gets them on the board with a behind.
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Brisbane 5.2.32 – Adelaide 0.0.0
The Crows finally enter their forward 50 after the Lions have been inside 10 times for five goals. But they are unable to make the most of a couple of stoppages in sight of goal before the reigning premiers clear.
Q1: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane 5.2.32 – Adelaide 0.0.0
Even Jordan Dawson is unable to find a teammate as the Crows exit their defensive 50. A quick turnover finds Jarros Berry inside 50 for a mark but the tireless winger slices his shot.
Q1: 16 mins remaining: Brisbane 5.1.31 – Adelaide 0.0.0
Alarm bells are ringing for the Crows. Or have they already rung? Hugh McCluggage doesn’t take long to prove he was worth backing in again after a lacklustre return from injury last week. Harris Andrews wrestles off a tackle and finds the co-captain alone inside 50 near the boundary and McCluggage makes no mistake. The Lions win the centre clearance and this time Cam Rayner kicks truly. The Crows can’t even win a string of possessions let alone get a foothold in the game with the inside 50s currently 9-0.
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Q1: 17 mins remaining: Brisbane 3.0.18 – Adelaide 0.0.0
The Crows settle the game down with a couple of stoppages but Zac Bailey soon gives them a reminder of what they missed when he signed a long-term deal to stay with the Lions this week. Draper belts the ball forward from a ruck contest outside the arc and Bailey is first to respond as he knocks it further into space, holds the ball over the boundary line and runs to within 15m to snap a third. Wow! Over to you, Crows!
Q1: 18 mins remaining: Brisbane 2.0.12 – Adelaide 0.0.0
Charlie Cameron dribbles a clever goal through and Brisbane are off to a flyer. The Lions are well on the way to putting their dismal showing last week behind them. Will Ashcroft bursts out of the middle and kicks deep where there are few clean possessions until the Lions’ goalsneak drifts into the pocket and dribbles the ball through from a tight angle.
Q1: 19 mins remaining: Brisbane 1.0.6 – Adelaide 0.0.0
Sam Berry releases to Jordan Dawson and the Crows win the first clearance. But Dayne Zorko cuts off the release kick and rebounds quickly. The Lions scramble the ball forward until finding Kai Lohmann in space to snap the opener.
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First ball-up
Brisbane ruck Sam Draper and Adelaide big man Lachlan McAndrew lock horns in the centre circle as the AFL semi-final gets under way at the Gabba.
The Welcome to Country is complete. The national anthem is being belted out. And here are the two lineups as named wit the first ball-up a couple of minutes away:
Brisbane
FB: 22 Ty Gallop, 31 Harris Andrews, 35 Ryan Lester
HB: 44 Darcy Wilmot, 27 Darcy Gardiner, 15 Dayne Zorko
C: 7 Jarrod Berry, 8 Will Ashcroft, 33 Zac Bailey
HF: 23 Charlie Cameron, 13 Logan Morris, 4 Oscar Allen
FF: 30 Eric Hipwood, 16 Cam Rayner, 1 Kai Lohmann
FOLL: 32 Darcy Fort, 5 Josh Dunkley, 9 Lachie Neale
INT: 2 Sam Draper, 3 Jaspa Fletcher, 6 Hugh McCluggage, 10 Levi Ashcroft, 26 Conor McKenna
Adelaide
FB: 16 Max Michalanney, 35 James Borlase, 24 Josh Worrell
HB: 29 Rory Laird, 48 Mark Keane, 30 Wayne Milera
C: 6 Daniel Curtin, 12 Jordan Dawson, 15 Brayden Cook
HF: 8 Josh Rachele, 7 Riley Thilthorpe, 2 Ben Keays
FF: 4 Callum Ah Chee, 13 Taylor Walker, 32 Darcy Fogarty
FOLL: 42 Lachlan McAndrew, 23 Izak Rankine, 3 Sam Berry
INT: 28 Alex Neal-Bullen, 14 Jake Soligo, 19 Zac Taylor, 27 Luke Nankervis, 40 Hugo Hall-Kahan
Brisbane are now on the long road to an AFL premiership three-peat as they host Adelaide at the Gabba with a preliminary final clash against Hawthorn up for grabs. I went on a deep dive into how the semi-final between the Lions and Crows will be won – and lost …
The Lions’ woes this year have often started with defending their own turnovers and they are ranked in the bottom-four for points conceded from the source. With Lachie Neale – the No 1-ranked centre clearance player in the league – leading the onball brigade, they can usually rely on getting the ball going their way from the middle. But even the star-studded midfield misfired against the Swans as they were outscored 39-6 from centre ball-ups. Will Ashcroft, Hugh McCluggage and Neale were all well below their best and will be eager to respond.
The Crows have had recent troubles against the Lions with only two wins in 10 matches since 2018, and five losses from as many meetings at the Gabba in that time. But this is the first time the two teams have crossed paths in a final for 23 years, and Adelaide now have a defence made for finals as the second-best side for points conceded this year. Turning that reliable defence into regular attack remains a concern with the Crows ranked in the bottom-four for defensive-50 to inside-50 chains – just the weakness in the Lions’ game they should target after the Swans exploited it so well.
Brisbane and Adelaide players are finishing their warm up at the Gabba with the first ball-up about 15 minutes away.
Brisbane host Adelaide in a semi-final at the Gabba tonight after losing their grip on a home preliminary final with a disastrous display against an undermanned Sydney last week. Jonathan Horn looked at how the Lions failed to heed the warning coming from their coach. And how Adelaide and their coach Matthew Nicks withstood the pressure raining down on the club.
Chris Fagan was seething on Saturday night. His team had lost for just the second time since May. They’d lost to a club whose chair had just a few weeks ago declared their season “torpedoed”. But Fagan has been around football long enough not to buy into that. He spent most of the buildup to the qualifying final warning his players and the commentariat that Sydney shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Fagan knows his own players inside out, and he knows they’re at their most vulnerable when the task before them seems straightforward. He can tell early whether the imperial Brisbane has turned up, or the complacent Brisbane. He says he can tell by their reaction times, by their energy and urgency at stoppages, by whether his defenders are on their heels or their toes. Sydney had six goals on the board before Lachie Neale had touched the ball, and Fagan’s careworn face said it all.
Final teams are in with no late changes.
Brisbane resisted the urge to swing mass changes after their dismal display in the qualifying final defeat to Sydney. Defender Ty Gallop has been recalled, after making way for gun midfielder Hugh McCluggage to return to face the Swans last week, with Noah Answerth forced out with an ankle injury.
Adelaide has dropped Isaac Cumming with Zac Taylor returning after a quick recovery from a hamstring issue.
ICYMI: Geelong missing out on an 11th preliminary final in 16 seasons under coach Chris Scott was just the beginning of a weekend of bad news for the club with Zak Butters nominating Western Bulldogs as his preferred destination in a move from Port Adelaide. Butters had reportedly narrowed his choice down to the Bulldogs and the Cats before settling on the club he supported as a child. The 26-year-old has reportedly been offered a nine-year deal worth up to $2m per season to join Marcus Bontempelli and Ed Richards in a suddenly mouth-watering Dogs engine room.
The Power have the right to match the bid for the restricted free agent Butters and force the Bulldogs into a trade. But it would be a shock if the two sides don’t find some common ground and the Bulldogs were quick to confirm the three-time All Australian’s desire to move to Whitten Oval. “Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters has informed the Western Bulldogs of his desire to join the club,” the club said. “The club will work with Port Adelaide to facilitate a suitable outcome during the upcoming player movement period.”
We’ll be in for an absolute treat of a finals weekend if this semi-final between Brisbane and Adelaide can match what we saw last night at Optus Stadium. Jonathan Horn reported on Fremantle’s victory against Geelong in an all-time classic.
There’s been some pandemonic nights at Optus Stadium, but nothing that could match this. Fremantle is through to a preliminary final after a semi of the highest quality and the utmost tension.
It was simultaneously free-wheeling and nerve-jangling – both high scoring and high pressure. It activated Wharfie Time for just the second time this year, but it wasn’t really needed. The noise was cacophonous, the tension excruciating and the result ultimately just.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the AFL semi-final between Brisbane and Adelaide. The winner of this clash will face the Hawks at the MCG in a preliminary final where either the battle-hardened Lions will be hoping to reach a fourth consecutive grand final, or the Crows will be out to claim a spot in a first decider since 2017.
The Lions are still on the path toward a premiership three-peat though now taking a longer route after their shock loss to the Swans in a qualifying final last week. A home semi-final at the Gabba is not the worst of scenarios though Chris Fagan’s side would have been hoping – and, the coach suspects, some players were expecting – to host a preliminary final instead. But Brisbane have shown even during their current era of success that they can blow hot and cold at times – and they were almost exhaling ice last week at the SCG.
The Crows have momentum behind them after breaking through for a first finals victory since 2017 in a tense win against the Bulldogs. That triumph relieved some of the pressure after their straight-sets finals exit as minor premiers last season, as well as pushing away the clouds that were hovering over coach Matthew Nicks following reports that his reign was on a knife’s edge heading into the elimination final in front of home fans. Adelaide will of course want their season to continue beyond their trip to the Gabba, but the sense is that the pressure is now all on the two-time reigning premiers.
First ball-up will be at 7.35pm in Brisbane or 7.05pm ACST for those following from the Crows’ heartland. I’ll drop in the team news shortly. Meanwhile, shoot me an email with your thoughts and predictions. Let’s get into it!
