BRISBANE stands just one victory away from completing an epic AFL premiership three-peat after surviving one of the great preliminary final thrillers to book a fourth consecutive Grand Final appearance.
The back-to-back premiers will face Fremantle on Saturday with a place in football history on the line after breaking Hawthorn hearts in a pulsating nine-point victory at the MCG.
The Lions prevailed 131-122 in front of 97,835 fans, surviving an extraordinary final-quarter Hawthorn fightback before Hugh McCluggage delivered the defining moment with just 18 seconds remaining.
Victory means Brisbane is now within touching distance of becoming only the third club this century to win three consecutive AFL premierships, joining the Lions’ own legendary 2001-03 side and Hawthorn’s 2013-15 dynasty.
For a Brisbane side that has already played in the past three Grand Finals, next Saturday now offers the chance to turn an outstanding era into one of the great modern AFL dynasties.
But they had to survive an extraordinary battle to get there with a contest that saw nine lead changes across a frantic preliminary final, including four late in the final term, as Hawthorn stormed back from 28 points down and threatened to end Brisbane’s premiership reign.
Key forward Mitch Lewis took a spectacular mark and converted to put the Hawks back in front late before defenders Tom Barrass and James Sicily produced two enormous defensive marks.
Brisbane refused to fold.
The Lions surged forward again and a contentious holding-the-ball decision against Hawthorn defender Jarman Impey handed McCluggage a shot at goal.
With the season and Brisbane’s three-peat dream hanging in the balance, McCluggage held his nerve.
He kicked truly to put the Lions back in front with 18 seconds remaining before Brisbane won the resulting centre clearance and Kai Lohmann kicked his fifth goal on the siren to seal another Grand Final berth.
While four consecutive Grand Finals have already established this Lions group among the dominant teams of the modern era, now only Fremantle stands between Brisbane and football immortality.
