The Brisbane Lions have stormed clear in a frenetic qualifying closing shoot-out in opposition to Port Adelaide to maneuver inside two wins of breaking the membership’s 20-year AFL premiership drought.
Port threatened a Gabba upset once they rallied to guide within the second quarter after which surged once more to path by simply 10 factors within the third time period.
But the hosts had the solutions in a 19.9 (123) to 11.9 (75) win on Saturday evening.
Cam Rayner (three objectives) and Hugh McCluggage (26 disposals, 9 clearances, 4 scoring assists, one aim) starred as regular Brisbane weapon Lachie Neale was held to only a single first-quarter contact and completed with 19 in complete.
Joe Daniher additionally kicked three of his 5 objectives in an important third time period run after 200-gamer Charlie Cameron had booted two straight away in his two hundredth sport.
Port now host GWS in a knockout semi-final whereas Brisbane will host the winner of Melbourne-Carlton in a preliminary closing on the Gabba – they haven’t misplaced on the floor in 12 video games this season – to earn a shot at their first flag since 2003.
The Power will probably be rueing some errant kicking, the guests scoring from 20 of their 48 ahead entries however lacking essential set photographs when the sport was within the stability.
Usually dependable, Todd Marshall sprayed two of his from close-range that didn’t even register, Ollie Lord the unlikely supply with a season-high 4 objectives.
Willem Drew stored Neale beneath management however McCluggage stepped up, his poise and positioning making certain Brisbane’s offence flowed.
Connor Rozee performed that position for the Power, typically rising out the entrance of stoppages to slice up the Lions’ much-improved defence.
The 36,020-strong crowd have been nonetheless singing Cameron’s trademark Country Roads aim celebration music when the small ahead raced onto one other probability and kicked his second in a memorable third-quarter second.
Marshall had the reply however McCluggage stayed calm, discovering Daniher with one other beautiful kick ahead that prompted the Lions’ decisive burst.
Earlier Jason Horne-Francis imposed himself on the competition with a collection of barging runs and Port lastly discovered their radar in addition three in fast time and snatch a two-point lead.
But Rayner popped up once more to steal it again together with his third aim, earlier than McCluggage and Dayne Zorko took their possibilities within the closing phases of the half to rebuild a 16-point benefit.
Brisbane rookie Jaspa Fletcher, who kicked a key third-quarter aim, and teammate Callum Ah Chee have been each rock stable when questions have been requested.
Port coach Ken Hinkley substituted Darcy Byrne-Jones to inject veteran Travis Boak with seven minutes to play.
But no sooner did Trent McKenzie and Dylan Williams hobble off with accidents, Brisbane surged clear in that point to make sure no nervous fourth-quarter moments.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
