The Brisbane Lions edged past Essendon to secure fifth place and a home final at the Gabba, marking their sixth consecutive AFL finals campaign. Despite a commanding 46-point lead at three-quarter time, the Lions faced a tense finish as Essendon, led by Dyson Heppell in his farewell game, cut the deficit to just 19 points with eight minutes remaining. The Lions held on for an 11.21 (87) to 10.7 (67) victory.
Brisbane had previously squandered large leads in their last two games, and inaccuracy in front of goal nearly cost them again. They registered 32 shots on goal but wasted several opportunities, with four shots going out on the full. Coach Chris Fagan expressed frustration at the close finish but hoped the team had worked through their recent issues.
Charlie Cameron was a bright spot for Brisbane, scoring three goals, his best haul since round 11. Despite a drop in his usual goal tally this season, Cameron displayed his confidence and flair with several key plays.
Essendon, despite a strong farewell performance from Heppell (34 disposals) and significant contributions from Jake Stringer (two goals) and Kyle Langford (three goals), fell short. Zach Merrett (37 touches, one goal) and Andrew McGrath (34 disposals) were instrumental but couldn’t prevent the Bombers from missing the finals after a poor run of form.
Joe Daniher, in his 200th game, showcased his long-range prowess but had a goal disallowed after a review, adding to his frustrations. The Lions will face either Carlton, Fremantle, or the Western Bulldogs in the first week of the finals, while Essendon will miss the postseason after a challenging end to the season.
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