Summary
That was sublime. Two excellent evenly-matched teams giving their all for four exhilarating quarters. Less than a percentage point could separate them after the home and away season, and only a last minute rushed behind could determine a winner tonight.
It was a perfect final. A fast start, goals in bursts, momentum shifting one way then the next, the umpires involved, the crowd in full voice, each stoppage a contest within the contest.
Brisbane attacked directly with courage, the Bulldogs were hardly patient but enjoyed more methodical ball movement. Neither side could unlock their forward line though. The Dogs, already missing Bruce, then lost Weightman to concussion, so relied on Naughton crashing packs and others to pick up the pieces. Liberatore did just that early, and Bailey Smith later on.
Charlie Cameron check-raised Libba in the opening quarter, but then faded from view. Daniher was mobile and kicked one, but his hands were not sticky when it mattered. McCluggage was game, as was McCarthy, but the former Cat’s major involvement was to send a flying knee into the pack of teammate Payne’s head and rule him out for more than half the match.
The midfield battle was titanic. Neale and Lyons, Bontempelli and Libba, then outside them Macrae (38 disposals, 1.0) and Hunter, Zorko and Robinson, and setting up off halfback both Rich and Daniel excelled. Kick-ins were an event; a rarity in the modern game. McInerney was king of the ruck, but after getting monstered early English recovered and was never cowed.
It is a shame either side had to lose. This was everything last night’s final wasn’t.
For the third season in a row the Lions promised a great deal but failed to reach the grand final. Once again their imperious home form did not count in September.
The Dogs stagger on from Tasmania to Queensland and now to South Australia. they will do well to keep pace with an in-form Port Adelaide after such a bruising encounter. Weightman presumably will be missing following his concussion, which poses major issues for Luke Beveridge up forward. Bontempelli was also nursing a sore knee at the death. Regardless of whether they win or lose against the Power, they have lit up this finals campaign and delivered a performance worthy of acclaim for years to come.
Thanks for joining me tonight, I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. Let’s meet back here next weekend for some prelims.
Updated
Chris Fagan still looks shellshocked. Standing alone in the middle of the Gabba with a thousand yard stare. Poor bloke.
ICE IN HIS VEINS 🧊
— AFL (@AFL) September 4, 2021
Baz puts the Dogs in front!#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/MFivr7G3sB
Incredible. What drama. What entertainment. Fabulous finals footy.
Chris Fagan looks like he’s just been hit by a bus. Absolutely devastated.
The Gabba erupts into a chorus of boos, Brisbane fans furious with the umpires.
Full-time: Lions 11.12 (78) lost to 11.13 (79) Bulldogs
One of the greatest finals of all time ends with the Western Bulldogs reaching the preliminary final. Brisbane bow out gallant losers.
Updated
Q4: 0.30 mins remaining: Lions 11.12 (78) v 11.13 (79) Bulldogs - The Lions go for broke but Duryea holds pace with Cameron.
Q4: 0.45 mins remaining: Lions 11.12 (78) v 11.13 (79) Bulldogs - Stoppage free to the Dogs, the ball goes forward, THE DOGS FORCE A POINT AND RETAKE THE LEAD.
Q4: 1.15 mins remaining: Lions 11.12 (78) v 11.12 (78) Bulldogs - The Dogs win the stoppage but Brisbane intercept and clear. The ball downfield is fumbled by competing Dogs in the air. Zac Bailey picks up the pieces, takes his time, sizes up his options, AND CALMLY STOLLS FORWARD AND SMOOTHLY KICKS THE LIONS LEVEL!
Q4: 1.45 mins remaining: Lions 10.12 (72) v 11.12 (78) Bulldogs - Bontempelli is off the ground with a knee. The centre bounce doesn’t force a clearance.
Q4: 2.00 mins remaining: Lions 10.12 (72) v 11.12 (78) Bulldogs - Dale lucky to avoid being punished for diving on the ball and dragging it in. The Dogs win the clearance, the ball heads inside 50, there’s a scramble, AND BAILEY SMITH SNAPS ON HIS LEFT FRO A TIGHT ANGLE TO PUT THE DOGS INTO THE LEAD!
Q4: 2.30 mins remaining: Lions 10.12 (72) v 10.12 (72) Bulldogs - Neale does incredibly with three repeat efforts at ground level on centre wing. They he receives a friendly free-kick. But it’s soon reversed with Keath checked downfield!
Q4: 3.30 mins remaining: Lions 10.12 (72) v 10.12 (72) Bulldogs - The Dogs get out of defence but Rourke Smith turns the ball over to Rich who sends the Lions back the other way. Stoppage on Brisbane’s half-forward flank. McInerney sends it forward. McCarthy is desperate, so is Daniher, Zorko can snap under pressure from 30m... and he slices wide of the lot! SCORES REMAIN TIED! 3.30 REMAINING.
Q4: 4.30 mins remaining: Lions 10.12 (72) v 10.12 (72) Bulldogs -Huge mark from Andrews now, leading hard towards the centre square. He kicks long and the Dogs have enough bodies to repel the entry, but then Daniel slices wildly off his right boot and it’s awarded a deliberate out of bounds. Neale has the ball 35m from goal on the boundary, but his snap is wide. SCORES LEVEL. 4.30 TO GO.
Q4: 5 mins remaining: Lions 10.11 (71) v 10.12 (72) Bulldogs - From the free-kick the ball goes inside 50 and Bontempelli climbs highest to beat McInerney with the pack mark. But he can’t convert and the Dogs lead by only one point.
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Lions 10.11 (71) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs - Naughton with the massive contested mark to accept the clearing kick and turn defence into attack. From the stoppage on the half-forward flank Hunter scrags Coleman and the Dogs go deep inside 50, but Gardiner is alert to the danger yet again. But there’s a free against Cameron off the ball and the Bulldogs have the ball back again! This is too helter skelter to keep up.
Q4: 7 mins remaining: Lions 10.11 (71) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs - Brisbane build on left centre wing. McCarthy can’t pull down the punt inside 50, the ball goes out for a ball-in near the behind post. Repeat stoppages, Brisbane pushing.
Updated
Q4: 8 mins remaining: Lions 10.11 (71) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs -WHAT? Brisbane win a clean centre clearance. The ball is hoisted forward, and it’s marked by HARRIS ANDREWS! What is he doing there? From 50m, he scratches the post! Scores tied, eight minutes left to play.
Q4: 9 mins remaining: Lions 10.10 (70) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs - The ball’s soon back in the Bulldogs’ 50. A heave deep finds Daniher free over the back. What’s he doing!? He doesn’t snap for goal, instead facing away from the posts to chip to the square - what a decision! - Fullarton climbs highest to mark, and he cannot miss the set shot from point blank range. One point the margin! This game...
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Lions 9.10 (64) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs - Repeat stoppages inside 50, edging towards Brisbane’s right forward pocket. Fagan is going bananas on the bench. The Dogs keep finding runners to hit the contest and urge the ball forward. Eventually they clear, then they break! Are they out? No! Andrews has a two on one to defend and comes out on top.
Q4: 11 mins remaining: Lions 9.10 (64) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs - Brisbane have finally established some territory this final term.
Q4: 12 mins remaining: Lions 9.10 (64) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs - More pressure from the team in white, this time forcing a holding-the-ball free against Starcevich. They can’t capitalise though because McInerney is controlling the airspace near the goalsquare. Can Brisbane get some run? YEs they can. It’s hard work but they muscle a series of handballs through the corridor and get a boot forward - where McCarthy leaps to take a much needed mark. From 50m he shots wide.
Q4: 13 mins remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs - Absolute scenes, the ball bobbling around Brisbane’s goalmouth with players everywhere chasing it like cartoon characters after loose marbles. How do the Dogs not take clean possession and score!? All the Western Bulldogs this quarter, they have found another gear from somewhere.
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs - The Lions look like they have the stoppage won but McInerney is called for a throw and the Dogs can take some ting out of the game across halfback then play for territory down the line. A couple of gang tackles on 50m take another minute out of the game.
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 10.11 (71) Bulldogs - Great muscular stoppage work send the Dogs forward but Gardiner snuffs out the danger. Liberatore returns with interest, Johanisen is cute, and Bailey Smith snaps another, on the run, just evading the diving fingertips on the line! Bloody hell.
Q4: 16 mins remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 9.11 (65) Bulldogs - The Lions ride their luck in midfield under intense pressure. The Dogs are up for the fight. Dale and Hunter then do well to rebound down the right. Naughton does enough in the pocket to keep the ball moving - and Schache tiptoes his way to the ball, remains in the field of play, snaps left-footed and kicks a goal from point blank range. Doggies lead!
Q4: 17 mins remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 8.11 (59) Bulldogs - McInerney monsters the centre bounce but there’s holding ahead of him and the Dogs get the free. Dale, Libba, Macrae, the ball goes deep, and there’s a stoppage 30m out. Then another, but then McInerney asserts himself and the Lions are clear. Cameron has a chance to stretch his legs, but he can’t complete his work by hitting a target and the Dogs accept repeat stoppages on centre wing.
Q4: 19 mins remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 8.11 (59) Bulldogs - The Dogs win the first centre clearance are quickly onto attack. Johanisen misses his target with a key pass but Hunter rescues the situation, centres to Macrae - who takes a brave contested mark - goes back and kicks a vital goal. Just the start the Dogs wanted. Macrae now has a goal to go with his 34 touches.
3QT: Lions 9.9 (63) v 7.11 (53) Bulldogs
After the siren, Johanisen has a set shot from 50m but blazes wide. The Gabba is electric. Brisbane have the run but the Dogs are clinging on. Still all to play for in the final term. Superb finals footy.
Q3: 1 min remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 7.10 (52) Bulldogs - Macrae with an athletic diving intercept mark to interrupt one of those phases where Brisbane constrict their opponents but Johanisen can’t engineer the ball through the middle phase of the ground and the Lions reload.
Q3: 2 mins remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 7.10 (52) Bulldogs - Keath marks the clearing kick about 70m out. Then he’s awarded 50m for McCluggage getting into his protected zone. 20m out, he leans back, shoots, and... misses! Not the first important poor set shot of the night from the visitors.
Q3: 4 mins remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 7.9 (51) Bulldogs - The Dogs win a much needed centre clearance, the ball reaches Johannisen, and he kicks the goal on the run from 50m! Another super sub! What a game.
Q3: 4 mins remaining: Lions 9.9 (63) v 6.9 (45) Bulldogs - Coleman again with a great tackle, denying English after he was found up the guts from Daniel’s kick-in. Coleman is everywhere, involved again and again in the phase of play. He helps the ball downfield, it ends up inside 50, off hands, comes to ground, and there’s Lester, the supersub to snap a goal! The Gabba loves it. Lester’s first goal in four years!
Q3: 5 mins remaining: Lions 8.9 (57) v 6.9 (45) Bulldogs - Brilliant tackle from Coleman, who has defended brilliantly all night, the Dogs are penalised 50, and a promising spell of pressure becomes desperate defence. It isn’t clean through midfield but Zorko fines Lester who handballs off to Rich to unload form range, but he’s off target.
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Lions 8.8 (56) v 6.9 (45) Bulldogs - What do you do if you need inspiration, give the ball to Bontempelli off a standing start 48m out. The Bulldogs’s skipper slams home a massive goal. But was it touched off the boot? the on-ground call is a goal.... the score review says... behind!
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Lions 8.8 (56) v 6.8 (44) Bulldogs - And now on the rebound Cameron burns off Duryea, runs towards goal, and... misses! That would have been a huge goal against the run of play.
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Lions 8.7 (55) v 6.8 (44) Bulldogs - Hannan is wide again, this time snapping from the left forward pocket after a series of snappy handballs shift the ball forward. The Bulldogs need to keep their heads. How they would dearly love Josh Bruce right now.
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Lions 8.7 (55) v 6.8 (44) Bulldogs - The game is now firmly on Brisbane’s terms. They have secured the Gabba and are controlling the space expertly. Luke Beveridge has come down to the bench. And as he does Hannan snaps a point after Schache drops a sitter of a mark in the goalsquare. Huge moment. The Dogs have had few opportunities recently and can’t afford to miss chances like those.
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Lions 8.7 (55) v 6.7 (43) Bulldogs - The Dogs need a win pretty soon but Lyons and McCluggage secure another centre clearance and set up field position. Brisbane are working overtime to lock down the visiting defence this quarter and it is paying off handsomely.
Q3: 10 mins remaining: Lions 8.7 (55) v 6.7 (43) Bulldogs - The Dogs have no obvious exit so they try to switch from right to left but the Lions hunt them down through Lester. Cameron is sharp to accept the next kick, then offloads to Zac Bailey for the set shot. He hammers home straight and true from 50m bang in front. Brisbane two goals clear!
Q3: 12 mins remaining: Lions 7.7 (49) v 6.7 (43) Bulldogs - McCluggage shows his class coming out of halfback and he sets up another rapid transition. Not only that but he follows up his own work to earn a free-kick on 50m but his effort is dragged wide.
Neither side has an optimal forward set-up and it’s telling. Both defences well on top of anything structured delivered aerially.
Updated
Q3: 14 mins remaining: Lions 7.5 (47) v 6.7 (43) Bulldogs -Rich does very well off halfback defensively then hammers the Lions miles downfield. Brisbane set about locking the ball in. The Dogs can’t clear and the ball spends an age in dangerous territory. Daniher almost marks, there’s a series of scrambles, but the Lions cannot force a breakthrough. Daniel is cool as you like clearing.
Q3: 16 mins remaining: Lions 7.5 (47) v 6.7 (43) Bulldogs - Everything’s more fractured between the arcs so far, neither side linking chains of possession cleanly. The Lions have a go at hitting and hoping and McInerney does well to keep the ball alive, from the second effort there’s a snap for goal but it’s weak. So weak in fact McCluggage can take a brilliant tumbling mark next to the behind post! Superb skill. He goes back and snaps his side back in front.
Q3: 17 mins remaining: Lions 6.5 (41) v 6.7 (43) Bulldogs - The Bont gets another go and English should do better near the goalsquare after getting his hands to a contested mark. Lots of stoppages and more of an arm-wrestle this quarter, compared to the opening two.
Q3: 19 mins remaining: Lions 6.5 (41) v 6.6 (42) Bulldogs - Hot, congested start in the middle of the ground but some individual brilliance from Cameron almost busts it open but the ball doesn’t bounce his way. The Bulldogs rebound (with help from another whistle) but Bontempelli misses his target inside 50.
Jarrod Berry also ruled out with concussion! Blimey. Two Lions now out after Payne’s gruesome injury earlier.
Clash of heads just on quarter-time...
UPDATE: Cody Weightman (head knock) will take no further part in tonight’s game.
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) September 4, 2021
Jason Johannisen has been subbed on.
If we broaden it out to best user of the ball he’d be hard to beat. Composure, vision, and execution in spades.
Half-time: Lions 6.5 (41) v 6.6 (42) Bulldogs
Brilliant, exhilarating, and even. Still none the wiser who might meet Port Adelaide next weekend.
Cody Weightman.
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) September 4, 2021
Loves a goal 😆 pic.twitter.com/TYhI3D4EZ2
Q2: 1 mins remaining: Lions 6.5 (41) v 6.5 (41) Bulldogs - Bontempelli superb in tight allowing Roarke Smith to run and bounce through the corridor. Naughton is again outmanned at the top of the square and Brisbane clear. Gardner is then brilliant at ground level to smother twice with the Lions threatening to over inside 50. Wood then floats back to take a serene intercept mark to steady the game down. The Dogs continue to get plenty of love from the umpires, helping then resist Brisbane’s manic forward pressure.
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Lions 6.5 (41) v 6.5 (41) Bulldogs - Clean clearance, Neale forward, Cameron harries, Bailey snaps wide. Scores level. Brilliant theatre.
Q2: 5 mins remaining: Lions 6.4 (40) v 6.5 (41) Bulldogs - Two free-kicks go the Bulldogs’ way in quick succession and the ground erupts. They’re soon happy with Bontempelli going too high with his tackle but the ball to the leading Cameron misses the target. Not to worry, the visitors cannot clear their lines and Robinson is on hand to mop up on the arc, drive forward and strike a pure hit on the run. Superb pressure. Just a point in it again.
Q2: 7 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 6.5 (41) Bulldogs - Bontempelli can make it a goal rush for the Dogs but he strikes his set shot wide after ghosting forward from the centre clearance.
Payne has been subbed off following that head knock. Lester comes on. The Lions cannot catch a trick at the moment.
Updated
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 6.4 (40) Bulldogs - Dogs ahead! Another thrilling goal! Daniel spots Wood rampaging in space through the corridor - what on earth is he doing there!? - and the skipper accepts gleefully, unloading towards a contest where Weightman almost grabs the pack mark. Naughton does well at ground level and Weightman is there in support to snap tidily.
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 5.4 (34) Bulldogs - Lyons with the centre clearance but he misses Daniher. No bother, Cameron runs down two Bulldogs to deny a clean exit and from that pressure Robinson can deliver again to the hot-spot, but the Dogs have plenty of bodies behind the ball.
Q2: 9 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 5.4 (34) Bulldogs -English competes well at a stoppage on the half-forward flank. Macrae kicks a huge garryowen and it lands into Hannan arms. He goes back and slots home a superb 48m set shot, and scores are level.
Q2: 10 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 4.4 (28) Bulldogs - After 30 minutes of intense footy the skills are starting to suffer, but the pressure remains unrelenting. Brisbane’s vision, bravery, and ability to find space in transition is thrilling and Cockatoo almost profits before he’s scragged, then Schache stands tall to mark strongly overhead to snuff out another incursion. Magnificent spectacle.
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 4.4 (28) Bulldogs - Brisbane are grinding back into their work slowly and good forward pressure from Cockatoo forces Duryea into an error. The press is so hot even Bontempelli fumbles, but Neale can’t make him pay.
Q2: 13 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 4.4 (28) Bulldogs - The Dogs have had much more control of the ball this quarter, led by evening up play around the contests. McCluggage has been busy for the Lions though and he again sets up turnover ball for a trademark rapid incursion to the leading Cameron who shifts the ball on immediately to Daniher. 20m out on the boundary in the left forward pocket, the former Don misses the lot.
Q2: 15 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 4.4 (28) Bulldogs - Good hands from Liberatore and Daniel allow Hunter to target Naughton but he’s outmanned at the marking contest. Rich hammers forward and McCarthy takes out Payne with a wild fly at the footy. Payne remains in the hands of trainers with claret pouring out of his bonce. That is going to take a while to clear up and he will have to take an HIA. McCarthy is having his right knee checked out for good measure.
Jack Payne and Lincoln McCarthy have both come from the ground following this contest.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/1E4YnvTVu4
— AFL (@AFL) September 4, 2021
Updated
Q2: 17 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 4.4 (28) Bulldogs - Amazing. The visitors take a leaf out of Brisbane’s book and Daniel hammers the kick-in up the guts. Who’s waiting? The Bont of course. He marks, turns, and then hammers a bullet to Naughton, who juggles, steadies, and kicks the goal. This is liquid football.
Q2: 18 mins remaining: Lions 5.4 (34) v 3.4 (22) Bulldogs - Bontempelli is superhuman. He’s everywhere, overhead, at ground level, laying tackles, breaking tackles. He can’t interrupt a long chain of Brisbane handballs from centre wing to the right forward pocket though and from Berry’s centring ball Payne should score but he doesn’t trust his snap and it’s off hands for a point.
Q2: 19 mins remaining: Lions 5.3 (33) v 3.4 (22) Bulldogs - So much good footy. English’s commitment, Bontempelli’s belief, McCluggage’s reading of the game, and all while the ball remains between the arcs. The Bulldogs need to figure out what to do with McInerney at stoppages, and the amount of space the Lions are finding in transition.
The two semi-finals are chalk and cheese so far.
Tonight looks like a different sport to last night.
— Rudi (@RudiEdsall) September 4, 2021
QT: Lions 5.3 (33) v 3.4 (22) Bulldogs
That was ace. Two good sides playing at breakneck speed.
Charlie Cameron is absolutely unstoppable right now 😤#ColesGoals | #AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/DB2u5SpT4X
— AFL (@AFL) September 4, 2021
Q1: 1 mins remaining: Lions 5.3 (33) v 3.4 (22) Bulldogs - Now it’s Bailey Dale’s turn to miss an easy target with a goalscoring opportunity going begging for the Dogs. The Bulldogs lock the ball in though and after good work by Daniel, Roarke Smith has a shooting opportunity but takes one sidestep too many and Zorko runs him down.
Q1: 1 mins remaining: Lions 5.3 (33) v 3.4 (22) Bulldogs - Berry hacks clear and is lucky to find Neale. His ball to Cameron is more deliberate and the Lions are in - but Charlie misplaces his entry inside 50 and the Bulldogs escape. That should have been a Brisbane goal. Their ability to transition in just a kick or two is devastating.
Q1: 2 mins remaining: Lions 5.3 (33) v 3.4 (22) Bulldogs - Bontempelli has worked hard at the coal face and he again wins an important stoppage to allow Macrae to clear. Both teams catch their breath with a rare series of repeat stoppages on centre wing.
Q1: 3 mins remaining: Lions 5.3 (33) v 3.4 (22) Bulldogs - Weightman should continue the goal rush but he snaps wide after the ball lands favourably on his chest in a pack. this is good fun.
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Lions 5.3 (33) v 3.3 (21) Bulldogs - Lol. Cameron kicks another goal. This time on the run, wheeling onto his right, driving inside 50 and snapping across his body after brilliant pressure in midfield. Did someone order a shootout?
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Lions 4.3 (27) v 3.3 (21) Bulldogs - The Dogs need a win and Bontempelli delivers from the centre bounce. He finds Hunter who drives deep and from the chaos at ground level Bailey Smith is first to the loose ball to hack home off the deck beyond Mitch Robinson’s despairing dive. Goals! Goals! Goals!
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Lions 4.3 (27) v 2.3 (15) Bulldogs - Three in a row in no time! The Lions are flying! Cameron this time. McInerney dominating in the ruck, the ball forward at speed, Macarthy does well to contest in the air and Cameron does the business at ground level.
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Lions 3.3 (21) v 2.3 (15) Bulldogs - Perfect centre clearance from the Lions; tap down to Neale, and he belts the ball from the centre square inside 50 where Daniher is well placed to rove and snap from 40m. Two in no-tome, and a perfect illustration of the scoring power of the 6-6-6 set-up.
Q1: 5 mins remaining: Lions 2.3 (15) v 2.3 (15) Bulldogs - Daniher is late and a tad high with a hip and shoulder on Duryea, and the Dogs go forward again. They have yet to mark inside 50 though and Naughton is again outmuscled. The Lions rebound directly and speedily and the pace gives McCarthy separation until he’s taken front on for a free-kick. He makes no mistake with an easy set shot to level the scores.
Q1: 7 mins remaining: Lions 1.3 (9) v 2.3 (15) Bulldogs - Macrae does brilliantly to rebound for the Dogs. Adams and Naughton then go hammer and tongs 1-1 with Brisbane suddenly under the pump with the Bulldogs quickly moving up to squeeze the Gabba. Hunter delivers a dangerous centring ball to the top of the square, it’s brought to ground again, and it’s a white guernsey to it first - is it a third snapped goal? No, just a point to Roarke Smith.
Q1: 9 mins remaining: Lions 1.3 (9) v 2.2 (14) Bulldogs - This is a high quality contest. The outside skills are brave and clean and the battle around the ball is as fierce as you could imagine. Both units are backing themselves in. Cockatoo snaps a point when he could have offloaded, but Brisbane lock the ball in.
Q1: 10 mins remaining: Lions 1.1 (7) v 2.2 (14) Bulldogs - Andrews marks the clearing kick from the Bulldogs and it’s returned with interest back inside 50 for Bailey to mark. His set shot from 40m is off balance and he drags wide.
Q1: 11 mins remaining: Lions 1.0 (6) v 2.2 (14) Bulldogs - Good hands from English, then Schache, to ease the Bulldogs out of defence. Bailey Smith is again involved at the business end and his centring ball comes to ground where, guess who, Tom Liberatore is in prime position to crumb and score with his second left-footed snap of the quarter.
Q1: 13 mins remaining: Lions 1.0 (6) v 1.2 (8) Bulldogs - English does superbly out of the centre bounce, setting up great field position, but after Vandermeer is awarded a free-kick his shot for goal lacks intent and leaks to the right.
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Lions 1.0 (6) v 1.1 (7) Bulldogs - Brisbane hammer through the corridor at breakneck speed after Lyons nails Bontempelli in a tackle. Before you can blink Cameron has separation, a mark, and a goal. This is a crisp start from both sides.
Q1: 15 mins remaining: Lions 0.0 (0) v 1.1 (7) Bulldogs - Lyons does well again for Brisbane but after marking well Payne coughs the ball up. Both sides exchange turnovers again in a frantic passage of play until Smith is once again the man with ball in hand approaching the 50m arc, and again his decision making lets him down as a shot for goal is palmed behind.
Q1: 15 mins remaining: Lions 0.0 (0) v 1.0 (6) Bulldogs - Both sides are moving the ball around the ground nicely but neither have connected vertically yet. Bailey Smith has been busy breaking through lines but twice in quick succession he fails to hit a target inside 50 despite Weightman’s best efforts. The game is unfolding on the visitors’ terms.
Q1: 17 mins remaining: Lions 0.0 (0) v 1.0 (6) Bulldogs - Young wins a good ruck contest on centre wing. Bontempelli sends the Bulldogs inside 50 where English looks uncertain how to deal with Andrews. He keeps the ball alive and when the ball comes to ground Libba is on the spot to snap home through traffic.
Q1: 18 mins remaining: Lions 0.0 (0) v 0.0 (0) Bulldogs - Brisbane set up attacking territory but Wood does well to close down Cameron. Coleman then does well to claim the clearing kick but Weightman runs down Rich after the offload. Plenty of zip to this one early.
Q1: 19 mins remaining: Lions 0.0 (0) v 0.0 (0) Bulldogs - The Dogs win the first clearance with Liberatore immediately in and under. Hannan should mark inside 50 but seems surprised to see the Sherrin land on his chest. Brisbane under pressure early, but they hold up and a good Lyons tackle allows them to clear.
Payne has started forward for the Lions, by the way.
Opening bounce!
Melbourne, Geelong, Port Adelaide, and who, will be the last four standing? Find out in four quarters’ time.
The welcome to country and national anthem have been taken care of. The Gabba PA announcer wasn’t in great form. Dayne Zorko won the toss. Sirens blaring. Here we go!
To rapturous applause the Lions make their way out onto the Gabba in their traditional burgundy.
Kiddy is all of us right now 😱
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) September 4, 2021
Packed Gabba, the boys are up and about. Ready to go Lions Fans 👊 #Uncaged pic.twitter.com/1Qv3oeUZqs
Updated
Out jog the Dogs in their all-white change uniform. Luke Beveridge has a quick word on TV saying he’s especially mindful of Brisbane’s midfield on their home deck. He also implied he might not fancy Tim English against Oscar McInerney.
Our moment has arrived.
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) September 4, 2021
Going into battle together ✊ pic.twitter.com/8TT2qOdkEa
Updated
It’s mild, dry, and still in Brisbane, a far cry from the last time the Dogs crossed the boundary line in Launceston.
Last night wasn’t the greatest final in living memory, but Geelong got the job done all the same.
Western Bulldogs
Despite rumours over the past 48 hours that Caleb Daniel could be a possible late out, the Bulldogs go in unchanged from the 23 that performed well against Essendon.
B: E.Wood, A.Keath, B.Williams
HB: T.Duryea, R.Gardner, B.Dale
C: A.Treloar, J.Dunkley, L.Hunter
HF: L.Vandermeer, A.Naughton, B.Smith
F: T.Liberatore, T.English, C.Weightman
FOLL: L.Young, J.Macrae, M.Bontempelli
I/C: J.Schache, M.Hannan, C.Daniel, R.Smith
Sub: J.Johannisen
Brisbane
Chris Fagan’s biggest headache this week has been figuring out how to cover for the loss of Daniel McStay. Already without Eric Hipwood, the Lions are going in with a much smaller than normal forward line with plenty of pressure on the shoulders of Joe Daniher to provide a focal point. Harris Andrews will have his hands full with Aaron Naughton and he’ll be eager to bounce back after a below-par showing against the Demons. The same could not be said of Lachie Neale who risked leather poisoning, and his midfield battle with the powerful Bulldogs unit will go a logn way to deciding the contest.
B: M.Adams, D.Gardiner, B.Starcevich
HB: G.Birchall, H.Andrews, D.Rich
C: H.McCluggage, D.Zorko, M.Robinson
HF: L.McCarthy, T.Fullarton, Z.Bailey
F: K.Coleman, J.Daniher, C.Cameron
FOLL: O.McInerney, J.Lyons, L.Neale
I/C: D.Robertson, J.Berry, N.Cockatoo, J.Payne
Sub: R.Lester
IN: D.Robertson, J.Payne, R.Lester
OUT: D.McStay (injured), J.Prior (omitted), R.Mathieson (sub)
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of semi-final one of the 2021 AFL finals series. Brisbane v Western Bulldogs will be underway at the Gabba at 7.20pm.
We already know the contestants in the first preliminary final with Geelong progressing last night to face Melbourne, but who will make the journey to South Australia to take on the in-form Port Adelaide? We’ll find out in a couple of hours.
Brisbane enjoy home advantage courtesy of finishing ahead of the Bulldogs on the ladder by 0.5%. The Dogs boasted the second best percentage in the competition at the end of the home and away season, but it was only good enough for fifth spot, and it was trumped in the only head-to-head countback that mattered.
It’s significant because the Lions are on a nine-match winning streak at the Gabba, part of a broader run of 19 victories from the past 21 outings in Queensland’s capital. However, in the past two seasons they have lost three of their four home finals.
How amazing is this 😅
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) September 4, 2021
Paralympian Grant 'Scooter' Patterson gave us some advice ahead of our final tonight 👊
Congratulations Scooter on your silver medal, can't wait to get you to a game soon! #Uncaged pic.twitter.com/FAmFCu41uJ
Brisbane were well beaten in their qualifying final last week against Melbourne, but before that they had racked up big scores against the Dockers, Pies, and Eagles, so they shouldn’t be too concerned about form.
The Bulldogs by contrast limped home after beginning the year with a bang, conspiring to end outside the top-four with successive low-scoring defeats to the Bombers, Hawks, and Power. They showed their mettle in a tough elimination final against Essendon in Launceston, now they must repeat the trick in the very different climes of Queensland.
The Dogs won when these sides met earlier in the campaign, but it was way back in round four at a windy Ballarat. Marcus Bontempelli had one of his quieter games that afternoon, but it still contributed to the Bulldog star being named the competition’s best player, and best captain, for 2021 at this week’s AFL Players’ Awards.
I’ll be back soon with teams and more build-up. If you want to join in yourself, feel free to get stuck in below the line, send me an email or tweet @JPHowcroft.
