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Lions into top four, beat GWS in AFL upset

3 minute read

Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale has made his 150th AFL match one to remember, helping the Lions to climb into the top four with a 20-point win over GWS.

LACHIE NEALE of the Dockers looks to pass the ball during the AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Port Adelaide Power at OS in Perth, Australia.
LACHIE NEALE of the Dockers looks to pass the ball during the AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Port Adelaide Power at OS in Perth, Australia. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Brisbane have delivered the greatest indication yet they will not only return to AFL finals but are capable of doing some damage, overwhelming GWS in a 20-point upset win at Giants Stadium.

The Lions claimed the Giants' top-four spot on Sunday in impressive fashion, snatching a 20-point lead at quarter-time before withstanding several challenges to prevail 14.10 (94) to 11.8 (74).

Lions Eric Hipwood and Luke Hodge played on after copping painful knocks to the ankle and hip respectively , with the former clearly restricted but still bobbing up with a clutch third-term goal after a pack mark.

The hosts also had their injury woes, most alarmingly Josh Kelly's iced-up calf that ended the superstar's evening during the fourth quarter.

The challenge for Chris Fagan, barring an unexpected capitulation in the second half of 2019, is no longer whether he can end Brisbane's 10-year finals hiatus.

Fagan's charges, who next face Port Adelaide away then four teams currently outside the top eight, have a golden chance to lock up a double chance in September.

"If we get to 13 wins, maybe I'll concede (the Lions will play finals)," Fagan said.

"I think it's the sort of brand that goes quite well in finals but you don't know until you get there.

"It's nice to jump into the top four but you can't get too excited.

"Enjoy the moment briefly. Take some confidence from it then get ready for next week."

GWS counterpart Leon Cameron conceded his team, having dropped two in a row for the first time in 2019, are out of form.

"We're not going to deny that," Cameron said.

"It is disappointing ... we didn't give ourselves a chance to threaten the scoreboard because of our poor decisions."

The Giants confront Richmond, Collingwood and Port in a stretch that might make or break their premiership credentials.

Brisbane's first win at the venue came in front of 12,268 fans.

GWS forwards Toby Greene and Jeremy Cameron kept their side in the contest after a slow start, kicking a combined four goals in the second term, while Harry Himmelberg finished with a game-high four.

But the Lions had match winners all over the park in a spiteful affair, emphatically answering those still doubting their ability to perform outside Queensland against potent teams.

Gun midfielder Lachie Neale's 150th game was one to remember, featuring 31 disposals, six tackles, seven clearances, one goal and most likely three Brownlow votes.

Harris Andrews, tackling GWS for the first time since suffering a severe concussion and bleeding on the brain because of a hit from Cameron in 2018, and Hodge marshalled a desperate defence superbly.

Lincoln McCarthy booted three goals in arguably the best performance of a brilliant first season with Brisbane.

The Lions moved the ball with precision and pace, while their pressure resulted in uncharacteristic errors from some of GWS's most-reliable stars like Heath Shaw.

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