Opinion
These are the greatest victories the Lions have had in the regular season.
1. Port Adelaide versus Brisbane Lions – AAMI Stadium, Round 4 2008
Despite being grand finalists in the previous season, the Power had commenced the 2008 AFL season with three consecutive defeats.
In front of a hostile home crowd, they appeared destined to get their 2008 campaign back on track after developing a 47-point lead over the Lions late into the third quarter.
After Cheynee Stiller produced a silky finish from the boundary, the Lions kicked ten of the game’s final 11 goals to run out 20-point victors.
The ever potent one-two punch of Daniel Bradshaw (five goals) and superstar captain Jonathan Brown (four goals) was prolific for the visitors, while a stellar 32-disposal performance from midfield maestro Simon Black saw him receive the three Brownlow votes.
2. Brisbane Lions versus Essendon, Gabba, Round 10 2001
This is the game synonymous with producing one of the most famous analogies in AFL history: “If it bleeds, we can kill it”.
These words of wisdom from the movie Predator were used by Leigh Matthews in the build-up to the Saturday night blockbuster against reigning premiers Essendon, who had a week earlier annihilated fellow premiership fancies Hawthorn.
Entering the Round 10 clash at 4-5, the Lions’ season was at a crossroads. Showing clear intent from the outset, Brisbane led at all three breaks and eventually ran out 28-point winners, with twin towers Alastair Lynch (four goals) and Jonathan Brown (three goals and 15 disposals) proving to be more than a handful up forward.
This victory would prove the catalyst for a 16-game winning streak, culminating in a grand final victory against the same opponents.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
3. West Coast versus Brisbane Lions, Subiaco Oval, Round 14 2007
Undoubtedly the toughest road trip in the competition, the Lions made the trek across the Nullarbor to take on reigning premiers West Coast.
After starting the year 4-2, the Lions only had a draw against cellar dwellers Richmond from their previous seven outings.
The Eagles were sitting comfortably in third place prior to this Round 14 clash, and had developed Subiaco Oval into somewhat of a fortress.
After trailing at half time, Brisbane overcame both the deficit and the raucous home crowd to complete a 27-point victory.
The much maligned Jared Brennan was adjudged best afield after kicking 4.3, while club stalwarts Brown and Black also featured heavily in what was the biggest upset of the 2007 AFL season.
This was arguably the club’s biggest victory since the 2003 premiership triumph.
4. Brisbane Lions versus Geelong, Gabba, Round 13 2013
As per another piece of commentary wizardry by Anthony Hudson, this was indeed a miracle on grass.
Coming into the game, the Michael Voss-led Lions had a 3-9 ledger while the Cats sat comfortably in outright second on the AFL ladder.
For the best part of three quarters, the match was reflecting the teams’ ladder positions, with Geelong holding a commanding 52-point during red time in the third quarter.
A Joel Patfull major just before the three-quarter-time break started the most unlikely of comebacks, with successive goals to Daniel Rich and Mitch Golby tying the scores up at 97 apiece with a couple of minutes left on the clock.
A Tom Hawkins behind with 30 seconds remaining was seemingly going to be enough for Geelong, as the Lions would have to transition the ball the full length of the field with time (as well as the 18 men in blue and white hoops) well and truly against them.
The events that followed were scarcely believable – with a frantic chain of possessions by the Lions culminating in Dayne Zorko hitting the 200-gamer Ash McGrath with a precise pass right on the 50-metre arc.
The milestone man would then go back and nail the winner after the siren to send the whole Gabba into a state of hysteria.
Brent Moloney and Simon Black were instrumental through the midfield for the home side. The corresponding fixture in Round 23 between these two sides was just as nail-biting, with Geelong reversing the roles and clinging on for a one-point victory, which also dashed the Lions’ hopes of a potential top-eight berth.
Notable omissions include Round 10 2012 versus West Coast and Round 22, 2019 versus Geelong.
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