Full Breakdown
Brisbane Lions Stun Hawthorn Hawks in Nail-Biting Preliminary Final
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Dramatic Finish Secures Brisbane’s Grand Final Spot
Brisbane defeated Hawthorn by nine points, 20.11 to 19.8, after a last-second holding-the-ball free kick was awarded against Hawks defender Jarman Impey. The free kick allowed Hugh McCluggage to kick the match-deciding goal with 18 seconds remaining, and Kai Lohmann added a goal on the final siren to seal the win. The victory sends the Lions to a premiership “three-peat” showdown with Fremantle.
Key Statistics
- Final margin: 9 points.
- Total scoring shots: 39 goals (combined).
- Lead changes: nine throughout the game, four in the final quarter.
- Notable individual performances: McCluggage 3.2 plus 23 disposals; Nick Watson (Hawthorn) six goals; Lohmann (Brisbane) five goals; Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) five goals; Mitch Lewis (Hawthorn) four goals.
Official Reactions
He also urged fans to manage their emotions responsibly after the post-match unrest.
Fan Unrest and Criticism
In the immediate aftermath, Hawthorn supporters threw bottles and cups at the umpires as they exited the MCG. The incident sparked debate over crowd conduct in high-stakes matches.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What a game. I’m lost for words. It was a game of momentum. They came hard at us and we were able to just fight back there at the end. Crazy,” — Hugh McCluggage
- “There’s the hero moment. He stands him up in the tackle, you’ve got to make an effort to get rid of it, it’s the right call,” — Jason Dunstall
- “One of the bravest umpiring calls I’ve ever seen and it was on the money.” — Garry Lyon
- “This is crap. The free kick was there every day of the week,” — Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy