Lions hold off Cats’ late run in tense Gabba win

Murray Wenzel | July 22, 2023

The Brisbane Lions have held off Geelong with an 11-point win to avoid an ugly repeat of a week ago and keep their top-two AFL hopes alive.

They face a nervous wait on star rookie Will Ashcroft though, after he hobbled off the ground with an apparent knee injury late in the fourth quarter.

The Lions put the clamps on the Cats at the Gabba, restricting them to just one goal deep into the third term.

But, just as Melbourne did last week, the defending champions rallied just as all hope looked lost.

Kicking four of the next five goals, Geelong got back within 11 points before the Lions steadied through standout Callum Ah Chee to prevail 9.10 (64) to 7.11 (53).

The Lions (13-5) can still catch Port Adelaide in second while the Cats’ (9-8-1) first loss in five weeks leaves them in a log-jam for a spot in the bottom half of the eight. 

Ah Chee (23 touches) did his selection hopes no harm with Zac Bailey (calf) sidelined days after signing a two-year contract extension.

Brisbane dominated clearances 49-22 and were supported by Harris Andrews’ aerial dominance in defence.

Lincoln McCarthy snapped from a tight angle in the pocket after the quarter-time siren in what was the Cats’ first goalless first term since 2015.

It took some Patrick Dangerfield brilliance for the Cats to finally kick a goal late in the second quarter, an awkward mark then booming kick breaking their duck.

Charlie Cameron kicked straight to begin the third term and more good work from Rayner and Ah Chee led to Hipwood and McCarthy goals saw the Lions lead 51-14.

Tom Hawkins missed from in front but the Cats kept things interesting with their second and third goals in the shadows of three-quarter time.

Daniher’s second goal should have calmed nerves but Cameron had a quick reply from an errant Dayne Zorko clearance kick and then Oliver Henry squeezed a major through.

Henry hit the post and then Cameron kicked another to make it an 11-point game.

But Ah Chee marked strongly and kicked straight after play resumed following Ashcroft’s knee injury to break the Cats’ run.

They weren’t quite done, Tyson Stengle won a free kick and snapped a goal to make it a two-goal game with six minutes to play.

Ah Chee kept popping up to defuse Geelong raids, Cameron blazing a behind with 70 seconds to play in what was their final fling forward.

Tom Stewart (25 disposals) was arguably Geelong’s best, while Josh Dunkley (27 disposals) was immense in his comeback from a calf injury for Brisbane and Lachie Neale had 10 clearances.