RECAP: Geelong take down reigning premiers Brisbane as Lachie Neale suffers ‘signifcant’ injury
It’s the reigning premiers, Brisbane, against the evergreen Geelong, with the loser to potentially face Fremantle in a cutthroat semifinal.
These two sides played out a classic in last year’s preliminary final with Brisbane launching a stirring second-half comeback on their way to grand final glory.
Will the Lions get the job done again or will Geelong strike back with avegence lead by spearhead Jeremy Cameron?
Follow all the action live!
Morris with a big goal
He’s been quiet all night but he finally gets a one on one to beat out O’Sullivan and kick his first goal of the night.
Lions probably need another before the end of the quarter to give them a real chance.
Geelong look Holmes
Geelong just stream out from a stoppage on the wing and the handballs cycle through to to Holmes who launches on the run from 50.
Margin is out to 28 points and it’s getting tough for Lions now.
Smith has his first
Despite all the controversy, Geelong are still controlling this game as they force another turnover.
It’s Bailey Smith on the end of it this time with a lovely finish from range.
Rayner incites the crowd further
Second half underway and Blicavs kicks a lovely goal to keep Geelong rolling.
But up the other end Rayner sneaks out the back for his third goal and he tells the Cats crowd just to quiet down.
He’s loving this, Cats fans less so.
Some reactions on that umpring
“Disgraceful,” says Nathan Buckley on Fox’s half-time show.
“I’m not a Cats supporter, but I was angry. That was ridiculous. It is a final. That is so soft.”
“One of the most extraordinary 18-point turnarounds in the history of football,” says Xander McGurie on 7.
“There was nothing there,” Alastair Lynch says.
“I think it’s over-the-top officiating.”
This was the sound at halftime.
HALF TIME Geelong 8.11 (59) Brisbane 7.2 (44)
The siren goes and you can barely hear it as the boos ring out around the MCG.
The Cats had all the momentum but the umpires swing the game with those free kicks.
Still Geelong leads by 15 and will have to put the controversy behind them.
Mannagh was excellent that quarter and Dempsey has been superb all night.
“We’ll take them as they come, our backs were against the wall there,” admits Zorko on Seven.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!
Tyson Stengle is lining up for another shot at goal. But there’s a Lions free kick to Cam Rayner down the other end.
It’s weak as O’Sullivan just gives him a nudge and he goes to ground in the goal square.
Then as Rayner celebrates in the faces of Geelong he’s pushed over and gets a second free kick without the ball going back to the middle.
Lions have back-to-back goals in no time.
“Some of the most ridiuclous umpiring you’ll ever see in a final,” is the call on the broadcast.
Hard to disagree and the crowd is incessant.
Another one!
Tom Stewart laucnhes a bomb from beyond 50 and the crowd roars with Geelong continuing their charge.
Another win at centre clearance sets it up but that’s a classy finish.
Lead balloons out to 27 points.
Cats are charging
Lions don’t have the composure under pressure as they’re forced into another turnover.
Cameron sends it inside 50 and Dempsey is out the back in the goal sqaure and he kicks another.
Brisbane have lost control here.
Two in a minute!
It’s Mannagh again as Lachie Neale’s handball misses the target for Mannagh to collect.
He sidesteps a coupld Lions and finds Jack Bowes on the lead.
Makes no mistake from directly in front
GEL 6.11 (47) BRI 5.2 (32)
