LIONS DINE ON PIES
AFL grand final hype in Brisbane won’t be going away any time soon after the Lions overcame the loss of star defender Harris Andrews to claim an eight-point win over bogey side Collingwood at the Gabba on Friday night.
Still buzzing from this week’s historic call to shift the season decider to the Gabba in October, the Lions’ bold quest to be there on the big day appears on track after outlasting the Magpies 6.6 (42) to 5.4 (34) in the round 15 finale — their fourth straight victory.
Brisbane (10-4 record) have a top two finish in their sights with three games remaining after joining ladder leaders Port Adelaide on 44 points with their first Gabba victory over the Magpies in a decade.
But the result was bittersweet with Brisbane’s AllAustralian defender Andrews going down with a suspected hamstring complaint that is expected to sideline him before the finals.
Brisbane led by 18 at halftime after coming out swinging — literally — with Mitch Robinson appearing to spark a second term scuffle after tangling with John Noble that left Magpies’ Brayden Maynard trying to take on what seemed to be the entire Lions squad. Brisbane led by 26 points in the third before Collingwood ensured a thriller by kicking the final three goals, inspired by captain Scott Pendlebury (29 touches, seven tackles).
The Lions reigned supreme against the Pies for the first time since round 21 2014, snapping a six-game losing run. It also marked their maiden victory over their rivals at the Gabba in a decade.
The Gabba had been a home away from home for Collingwood who had a 9-1 record there since 2012.