Brisbane Advances to AFL Grand Final After Victory Over Geelong

Brisbane achieved a narrow victory over Geelong by 10 points in the AFL preliminary final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday night. The tense and high-stakes match concluded with a scoreline of 14.11 (95) to 12.13 (85), placing Brisbane into a consecutive Grand Final.

The match commenced with a period of heightened pressure and errors, as both teams battled to adjust to the intensity of the preliminary final. Charlie Cameron opened the scoring for Brisbane after a long 19-minute wait, while Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron swiftly responded.

Geelong appeared to gain momentum with a commanding second quarter, in large part due to Ollie Henry’s performance, who scored four goals and collected 15 disposals over the match, pushing Geelong into a 19-point lead at halftime.

However, Brisbane demonstrated resilience, fueled by their previous week’s comeback victory against Greater Western Sydney. The Lions mounted a strong second-half resurgence, overturning Geelong’s advantage with a critical five-goal third quarter facilitated by Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage‘s midfield dominance.

Brisbane’s victory was sealed with a decisive goal from Callum Ah Chee, followed by a long-range kick from Cam Rayner, which extinguished Geelong’s hopes as the match approached its final minutes.

A significant moment came when Brisbane’s ruckman Oscar McInerney was benched due to a dislocated shoulder, prompting structural adjustments and the elevation of Joe Daniher to No.1 ruck duties, a strategic shift effectively handled by the Lions.

This success sends Brisbane into the Grand Final, although concerns linger over McInerney’s availability following his injury.

The crowd of 93,066 at the MCG bore witness to Brisbane’s tactical execution and Geelong’s inability to maintain their lead, encapsulating a thrilling encounter under the lights.