Magnificent seven minutes boost Lions into AFL prelim

By Murray Wenzel and Andrew Stafford

Seven scintillating minutes set the tone as the Brisbane Lions kept their AFL three-peat hopes alive with a 53-point defeat of Adelaide at the Gabba.

The Lions, chasing a third straight premiership, will face Hawthorn in an MCG preliminary final after a rollicking 21.18 (144) to 13.13 (91) Saturday night semi-final triumph.

Set up by five goals in the game’s first seven minutes and 13 seconds – no team has done it faster in an AFL final – it was an emphatic response to last Saturday’s Sydney hiding, when they were beaten by the same margin.

Adelaide, who took 19 minutes to kick their first goal, eventually found their feet and surged within 10 points thanks to back-to-back Darcy Fogarty goals among four straight majors in the second term.

But just as quickly the Lions sped clear again, Charlie Cameron (5.3) causing carnage as the hosts kicked four more majors in less than nine minutes to finish the half with a 38-point lead.

Hopes of another Crows surge were quickly extinguished after the main break as a trio of goals, rubber-stamped by a long-range Dayne Zorko effort, blew the margin out to 57 points.

“Extraordinary start,” Lions coach Chris Fagan said.

“I never said anything in the first five minutes, was just standing there with my mouth opening, thinking this is unbelievable.

“We needed to make a statement and thought we did.”

Kept quiet by the Swans, Cameron had 4.3 at halftime among nine score involvements, the third-most in the opening half of an AFL final.

It could have been worse for the Crows, with Zac Bailey hitting the post from close range, Harris Andrews and Ryan Lester both missing rare scoring chances after winning 50-metre penalties, and Brisbane generally taking the foot off the gas in the final term.

Bailey (three goals, 23 disposals), days after confirming a monster eight-year extension at Brisbane instead of signing with the Crows, ran free, while Kai Lohmann and Cam Rayner were also heavily involved after being neutralised by the Swans.

The retiring Taylor Walker, in his 318th and final AFL game, grew increasingly frustrated when his leads were ignored.

Coach Matthew Nicks had urged the side at three-quarter time to lift for him one last time and he signed off with two smooth drop-punt goals in his final term.

Will Ashcroft collected 30 disposals for the Lions, while Jordan Dawson finished with 30 disposals and eight tackles for the Crows.

Izak Rankine, fresh off 34 touches in the Crows’ defeat of the Western Bulldogs, was held to 23 disposals and one behind.

And Hugh McCluggage, in his second game back from a lingering calf injury, looked closer to his best in a two-goal showing that featured plenty of neat touches.

“It gives us an indication of the work we’ve still got to do, unfortunately,” Nicks said.

“It’s a deep cut, they’re hurting.

“You always believe in yourself, but maybe tonight’s a bit of a reality check.”