The Brisbane Lions are through to a fifth straight preliminary final in their eighth straight year of finals. Not only that, the Three-Peat is well and truly alive after their victories in 2024 against the Sydney Swans and in 2025 against the Geelong Cats.

This year has been a ride, giving the full Brisbane Lions fan experience. After starting the year with a couple of losses, the team got right back into it with a few great wins. Then they’d have a shocking performance and everyone would write them off until their emphatic response the next week. Battling through injuries galore and plenty of behinds the boys turned it on for an end-of-year comeback to finish in the top four.

Riding the ups-and-downs is not for the weak, but it does keep it interesting. I’ve seen a few fans talk about how this team can be hard to follow because you never really know if they’re going to win. It can be frustrating knowing that they can win pretty much anywhere and anytime, but they just don’t sometimes.

It’s been a wild journey, and I’m sure that will continue. Three Grand Finals in a row, and a fourth one up for grabs, with the coveted second Three-Peat still on the table. Other fans and teams would kill to be in this position, so let’s enjoy it while it lasts.

I’ve written about my journey following more sports this year, and about the ways it can draw people together. AFL is a great example for this, as the teams have strong cultures and very long histories and rivalries to become part of.

The Lions’ storied history combines the long and rather sad journey of Fitzroy north to join the Brisbane Bears and create something new: the maroon, blue and gold Brisbane Lions. After the epic success of the original three-peat team of the early 2000s, the club had it rough for the best part of twenty years. With questions around the club culture, a mass exodus of players, and overall shocking results, the Brisbane Lions needed something new. Enter: Chris Fagan.

The Brisbane super-coach has led Brisbane to become one of the most dominant teams of the modern era, and certainly of the 2020s. He’s hoping to continue their run for as long as possible, to cement themselves as one of the greatest teams of all time.

The Semi-Final

The Semi-Final against the Crows at the Gabba on Saturday was everything a Brisbane fan could have asked for and more. An emphatic response after a drumming that lands them back in contention for the ultimate prize once more.

I for one was incredibly nervous for this game, spending the whole day trying not to think about it. Regardless of Brisbane’s success in the past, I never underestimate the opponents, especially not at the pointy end of the competition. Last week was not surprising for me, and I feared a loss long before the game (if you can call that mauling a contest) even began.

Starting the semi-final with two goals in the first two minutes was a huge relief, as it showed they still knew how to do their trademark quick clearance-to-goal pattern. First, Kai Lohmann had a screamer from the side, and then Charlie Cameron followed it with a fantastic dribbler. These two are important energy-bringers for the team and fans, so it was great to see them up and about early. Hearing ‘Daddy Cool’ and ‘Country Roads’ ring around the Gabba is always electric.

They were both in the firing line after last week’s poor showing, but it was clear they had taken that fire and turned it into pure aggression this week. Their work around and off the ball was also fantastic, as they pushed hard to lock the ball in the forward-fifty and keep the goals coming.

Next it was the million-dollar man Zac Bailey who joined the party, dancing along the left boundary line before slotting his first of the night. After a roller coaster week, it was a relief to get the good news of his re-signing for the next eight years, making him a Lion for life. He’s a game changer when he’s on, and I hope he’ll continue his incredible form for many years to come.

After battling injury all year, Brisbane’s newest co-captain Hugh McCluggage was the next to involve himself, kicking a goal from the same spot he scored so many in the Grand Final last year. When Hughie is firing, it’s good news for the Lions and terrifying for the opposition. Seeing the former All-Australian find his form again, just in the nick of time, is certainly a spirit-lifter.

Would you believe that all this happened in less than ten minutes? The Crows had barely even touched the ball by this point, but the pain wasn’t over yet as Cam Rayner charged through to nail another goal from fifty. His goal took them to 31 points in 7 minutes and 13 seconds, a record for the fastest first five-goal haul. Whew!

Adelaide kicked two goals late in the first to get them on the board, courtesy of Dan Curtin and Luke Nankervis, but the Crows were rattled early. It’s a shame, as I like Adelaide and usually cheer for them as well throughout the year. Tonight however, only one team could prevail, and Brisbane’s blistering start put Adelaide on the back foot early.

The second quarter was better from Adelaide, and most fans expected a big response. Josh Rachele and Darcy Fogarty got involved with three goals between them, trimming the margin to ten points at one point, but it was mostly one-way traffic as Bailey and Cameron combined to pile on the goals.

Eric Hipwood also had a fantastic night, applying pressure around the field, intercepting the ball, and crashing packs to keep Brisbane firing. His first goal added to the Crows misery, and got the crowd up-and-about again.

After half-time, the game turned became a blood-bath as Brisbane’s forward line joined in the goal-kicking fun. Logan Morris, Connor McKenna and Levi Ashcroft were among them, as well as Dayne Zorko who slotted another goal after a 50m penalty. I was a little surprised by all the penalties handed out in the game, especially after the free-flowing game between Fremantle and Geelong the night before, but you never know what to expect in Finals footy.

Adelaide put together a few good chains to get out the back of the Lions, and set up their goals, but the damage was already done.

With a scoreline like this, it was going to take some superhuman effort from the Crows to get back into it. Brisbane had a scare in 2024 against the GWS Giants, but mounted an epic comeback that taught fans to always ‘Believe’. Tonight however, it was a bit too much for Adelaide, and a great year comes to an end.

Storylines

Adelaide’s Taylor ‘Tex’ Walker finished a 319-game career with 715 goals and a lasting impact on his teammates and the competition. A talented and clever player who was skilled on both feet, Tex was always a threat to opposition players with his accuracy and ability to find the ball. It’s a shame he had to finish with a game like that, but it won’t overshadow the incredible career he’s had.

Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron finished the night with five-goals, the most he’d ever kicked against his former side, but it was his new son who stole the show. Cameron became a father for the first time only a few weeks ago, and got to sing the Lions song holding his boy Arthur after the win. All the best to the growing Cameron family.

Lion Oscar Allen was another story, mostly because of the selection squeeze Brisbane is facing. There are probably closer to 24 or 25 players you’d consider as part of the Best-23 right now, with Bruce Reville on the sidelines, Noah Answerth injured this week, and Ty Gallop fighting for his place. I’ve seen a lot of people saying that Allen might be dropped to make way for others, though I’m of the opinion that’s a bit stiff. He’s a big player who draws defenders and can crash packs well in the forward line. Allen had a quiet night last night, but he can certainly kick big goals, kicking four last week against Sydney, as well as in the game against Collingwood (R24).

Allen is a great addition in the forward line, complimenting the incredible talent we already have there. Logan Morris is a star already, but other teams have taken note and do what they can to shut him down. Hipwood is so good up the ground and on the wing that it’s comforting to know Allen is still waiting in the forward line for that long ball to support Morris and the smalls. He’s a great team player, and brings a lot of energy too, so I doubt they’d drop him now. Still, it’ll be an interesting choice, and we’ll have to see what Fages decides to do in the coming weeks.

Summary

Altogether, this was a fantastic win by the Lions and another reminder to fans and the competition at large that the Three-peat is still on. Next week will prove to be an interesting challenge, as Hawthorn have had plenty of time off to rest and strategise for their Preliminary match against us. It’ll take all the skill, grit, and determination Brisbane has to get through, but we must believe they can do it and lift that cup up again.