One win away! Lions Zac Bailey, Ryan Lester and Eric Hipwood celebrate a Brisbane goal on Saturday night. Photo: AFL MEDIA
COLLINGWOOD 8.10 (58) defeated GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 8.9 (57)
Jordan De Goey produced one of his career-best performances but was stuck on the bench in the final few minutes as the Magpies held on in an epic tussle. Collingwood, the minor premier, trailed the seventh-ranked Giants by 17 points early in the second half and went more than an hour without kicking a goal, but turned on the jets late in the third term to tilt the match its way. The Pies booted five goals to one in a 12-minute period and then needed just one major in the final quarter – Mason Cox’s ice-cool set shot – to keep their noses in front. Toby Greene (two goals) could have snatched the lead back for the visitors late in the match but his checkside kick from the boundary was stopped by Steele Sidebottom on the goal line. De Goey (34 disposals, 13 clearances) was best afield and Nick Daicos (28, six) got better as the game wore on after seven weeks out with a knee injury. Daniel McStay kicked two crucial Collingwood goals before he was subbed out with a knee injury at the last change, and will miss the grand final. Isaac Quaynor impressed in defence and Scott Pendlebury was another Magpie cool in a crisis. Josh Kelly (34 touches), Tom Green (31), Lachie Whitfield (26) and Stephen Coniglio (25) all shone for the Giants in a game decided by fine margins. A monster crowd of 97,665 fans was on hand to witness a classic struggle.
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BRISBANE 11.13 (79) defeated CARLTON 9.9 (63)
Chris Fagan’s Lions lifted a monkey of their collective back with a fighting, come-from-behind triumph in the Gabba cauldron they have performed so well in all season. They did it the hard way, coughing up a five-goal head-start before turning the tide in the second term and holding the upper hand after the main break. Josh Dunkley (23 disposals) was again superb in blunting Patrick Cripps’ impact and winning plenty of his own ball. Keidean Coleman (21 touches) was brilliant at half-back and Jarrod Berry (24), Lachie Neale (23), Dayne Zorko (22) and Conor McKenna (20) were important, while Joe Daniher, Lincoln McCarthy and ruckman Oscar McInerney kicked two goals each. There was some concern around star midfielder Neale, who hurt his right shoulder when tackled by former Fremantle teammate Adam Cerra, but he played out the match. The Blues had started like a house on fire, kicking the opening five goals of the match to send a large contingent of travelling fans wild. But the Lions got one back before the first break and booted five to one in the second term to take a narrow lead by half-time. Carlton managed just one goal in almost three quarters through the middle of the match as Brisbane took control. The Lions’ win came despite the efforts of Sam Walsh (34 disposals), George Hewett and Cerra (both 20) for the Blues. Harry McKay, Jack Martin and sore skipper Cripps kicked two goals each, while Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow was held to one by Darcy Gardiner.
