Brisbane have rode a lightning finish to the second quarter, before seeing off a dogged challenge in the last quarter, to end their 11-year losing run against Richmond in dramatic fashion and win the second qualifying final by 15 points.
Coming into the final quarter with a 21-point lead, the Lions watched their lead whittled to as little as eight points, before holding steady to claim the win and progress to a home preliminary final.
The first quarter began at a frenetic pace and it was a ripping goal on the run from outside 50 from Daniel Rich at the got the scoring underway. The crowd were in it early and there were several holding the ball free kicks and 50-metre penalties to spice things up. It went goal-for-goal, with Jack Riewoldt, Oscar McInerney, Liam Baker, Daniel McStay and Trent Cotchin all trading goals, before Kamdyn McIntosh put Richmond in front closer to quarter time.
Despite the margin being just six points at the first break, with Lachie Neale yet to register a disposal, the Lions looked to be in strife.
Charlie Cameron started the second quarter off with a great running goal, but Jason Castagna nailed the quick reply to restore the Tigers’ lead and, from there, it looked like the visitors were set to run away with it for most of the term.
But the Lions stood up under the pressure and absorbed the punches, before exploding late to kick three goals and take a 13-point lead into the main break. Cam Rayner got the run started with a sublime running goal from outside 50, before Cameron made it two on the trot with a classic checkside banana from close to the boundary.
Damien Hardwick was seething afterwards, with Shai Bolton and Marlion Pickett giving away back-to-back 50-metre penalties (Richmond’s fourth and fifth of the half) to turn a late opportunity for a goal into a Neale set shot, which he nailed.
Brisbane started off the third quarter perfectly, with Cameron nailing his third goal on the run after some superb handling inside 50 by Cam Rayner. It was an arm-wrestle from that point, before Daniel Rioli’s quick snap brought the Tigers back three straight kicks.
Zac Bailey picked up the crumbs and nailed a goal to put the Lions back up by over 20 points, but they should’ve had two more before three-quarter time. Jarrod Berry missed a very simple set shot at full-forward, before Hugh McCluggage rushed his crumbing kick from point-blank at the death as it rolled through for a point.
Daniel Rioli got the first goal of the final quarter – eight minutes in – to send nerves up the spines of the home fans, but bad misses from Martin and Riewoldt either side of his kick kept the visitors out of it. Shai Bolton looked to have made things very interesting with a goal of the year contender from deep in the forward pocket, but the score review system picked up that it grazed the post just before they bounced the ball.
But the Tigers would not go away, with Jack Riewoldt taking a pack mark at full forward and converting the set shot to bring it back to eight points.
Jarryd Lyons led the way with 24 disposals and seven clearances, Hugh McCluggage chipped in with 20 and made up for his third-quarter shocker with the sealer, while Lachie Neale recovered from a goose egg in the first quarter to finish with 19 touches, five clearances and a crucial goal.
Dion Prestia was the best of the bunch for Richmond with 20 disposals, while Jayden Short was immense too with 22, but Dustin Martin could only manage six touches after half time and Mabior Chol was totally ineffective in trying to replace the injured Tom Lynch.
The win means Brisbane will play a home preliminary final at The Gabba, while Richmond will play the winner of tomorrow’s St Kilda-Western Bulldogs clash at the same venue.
Brisbane Lions – 3.1 | 7.2 | 9.6 | 10.9 (69)
Richmond – 4.1 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 8.6 (54)
Goals
Lions: Cameron 3, Rich, McInerney, McStay, Rayner, Neale, Bailey, McCluggage
Tigers: Rioli 2, Riewoldt 2, Baker, Cotchin, McIntosh, Castagna
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Some things go without saying. Mind you, It is easy to poke the bear (masquerading as Tigers).
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Where's the LOL button... This your best work yet Don
Tony H
Roar Pro
You mean like the normal year last year? Where they finished exactly that high? and while they lost to Richmond in a final, they had more shots on goal.
Larry Longshaft
Roar Rookie
You’re in denial dave
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
As I said, "Loving it!"
Dave
Roar Rookie
You have absolutely no idea, stupid comment!
Dave
Roar Rookie
Get stuffed mate!!
Dave
Roar Rookie
No it doesn’t, not by any stretch!
Sir Luttinen
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, didn't realise ppl watched gws lol
TomC
Roar Guru
Spot on, PD.
Larry Longshaft
Roar Rookie
Dimma was one year off coaching some Southwest Victorian bush league club. He got Really lucky. Now he acts spoiled and entitled.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I can’t blame them for deflecting questions. That’s what I would do if I was them. I’d rather Dimma then Longmire and Leon Cameron. They put you to sleep.
Sir Luttinen
Roar Rookie
Ok I would say he's like a classless Al Clarkson, manages to deflect and say nothing at the same time. Chris Scott, simmo, bucks always reflect on the game Hardwick will say the umpires where an issue then drive the presser in direction he wants which is say nothing or will just storm out if it's a quality reporter like rimington, sports journos are fans first and easily led, missing welcome to country is a big thing and it became a joke, Riewoldt being poor and slow without Lynch was deflected as was question as to why Grimes was ineffective In this match.
TomC
Roar Guru
I think the Lynch point is worth focusing on. It would have been a different game had he played - much harder for the Lions to hold out when Richmond were on top, much harder for Andrews to influence the aerial contests. But that said I thought the final margin flattered the Tigers a bit.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
I tipped the Lions FYI
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I like Dimma. Humble in victory, angry in defeat
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Brisbane were without Archie Smith so that evens it up.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Awesome to hear...and read...the Richmond response. Loving it.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Brissy got the worst of it. Easily 10 times Richmond players were caught with the ball or disposed of it incorrectly, and were not penalized. Tigers fans wouldn't want to run with that line of argument. Watch the holding on Lachie Neale in the first quarter. Rather, look at simple things like Dusty's 6 inside 50s in the first quarter where 5 of them went directly to a Brisbane defender. That's where it was lost.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Now I’ve settled down from last night time for a more dispassionate review of things. As usual a fair bit of moaning from the tigers fans about home ground advantage - honestly not since Peter dutton accused our premier of not showing compassion over the border issue in qld have I seen a more tone deaf hypocritical whinge. Re: the umpiring I didn’t see it as being particularly bad. Yes there were a couple of 50’s paid against richmond for kicking the ball away after the whistle was blown but that’s been consistent all year. Richmond looked ill disciplined at time’s - Bolton was a prime offender but there were others as well. Hard to put a finger on any player who really stood out, it was a team effort from both sides. Cotchin was immense for Richmond early on but faded as the game went on, Neale got a lot of the ball but routinely turned it over. Pickett looks to have his fairytale over - there was one moment he got the ball and just launched it long to a Brisbane player without any Richmond players within 20m of him, not great vision and I think Richmond will find he will reach his ceiling very soon. If lynch was there it may well be a different story, but Brisbane played with a hell of a lot of intensity, kicked straight - we out-richmonded Richmond in the way we went about it Don’t write off these two sides meeting again in the grand final, but personally I’ve got my heart set on a lions port GF.