AFL

'Unbelievable' Lions end 20-year drought in epic prelim

By AAP Newswire

Sep 21, 2024

Cam Rayner of the Lions celebrates scoring a goal — Cam Rayner helped get Brisbane across the line in a thrilling AFL preliminary final. -AAP Image

SNAPSHOT OF THE SECOND AFL PRELIMINARY FINAL

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Result: Brisbane Lions 14.11 (95) bt Geelong 12.13 (85) at the MCG on Saturday.

They said it: "It's unbelievable. This group has been up for it all year. To come back and do this. It's all about moments." - Lions star Cam Rayner.

Key moment: Geelong's fifth goal was one of the greatest. Small forward Gryan Miers, who became a meme last year when he was jokingly compared to Lionel Messi, crossed the ball off the ground from the pocket to a sliding Ollie Henry in the goal square, who kicked it through for a jaw dropping goal.

THE CROSS, THE FINISH! ⚽— AFL (@AFL) Miers and Henry with something special!#AFLFinals | #AFLCatsLions pic.twitter.com/tKkuDol7U8 September 21, 2024

The stat: The Brisbane Lions ended a 20-year drought without a victory against Geelong in Victoria. Their previous win against the Cats outside of Queensland came in the 2004 preliminary final.

Injuries: Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney popped his left shoulder out in the first quarter and seemed done for the day. McInerney was strapped back and went back out there, clearly struggling, and was eventually substituted. Geelong speedster Max Holmes hurt his hamstring in a preliminary final for the second time in three years.

What's next? The Lions will face Sydney in the first non-Victorian grand final since 2006.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press