Brisbane’s Natalie Grider breaks clear during the Lions’ round five win over Collingwood. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

A year has elapsed since a fateful AFLW preliminary final thriller at the Gabba between Brisbane and Collingwood, with a cruel bounce from a shot at goal contributing to Collingwood’s heartache.

Not that the Lions were lucky. They had already beaten the Pies during the home-and-away season and would go on to claim their first premiership after enduring two grand final losses in years past.

But this weekend’s qualifying final between the two sides has a far different vibe — the Lions are in roaring form and fiercely defending their crown, while the COVID-19-affected Pies are wounded and fighting for survival.

The winner advances to the MCG for a cutthroat preliminary final against Melbourne.

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BRISBANE (7-3) v COLLINGWOOD (6-4) (Sunday 12.05 pm, The Gabba)
With an unexpected, extra week off because of the Pies’ inability to field a fit squad because of COVID-19 illnesses and exposures, the healthy Lions must be prowling, and their intensity growing, as they claw closer to back-to-back premierships. While Collingwood is missing two of the best midfielders in the competition in Bri Davey and Britt Bonnici, it will also be without suspended defender Sophie Casey. Brisbane, meanwhile, is nearly at full strength, with all its first-choice players fit and firing. The Lions are loaded with an abundance of weapons, from 2022 AFLW Coaches Association best-and-fairest midfielder Emily Bates and the queen of metreage gained, winger Orla O’Dwyer, to dangerous forwards Greta Bodey, Courtney Hodder, Dakota Davidson, Jess Wardlaw, and Sophie Conway. The Lions’ defensive game is no joke, either, as they’ve conceded the equal third-lowest points. Collingwood is outgunned, far from home, and — despite the marginal win-loss difference — playing a far stronger opponent. The Lions, in their den, should make short work of the Pies and compete in their second straight preliminary final.
GIL TIPS: Brisbane