BRISBANE will host a dream Grand Final at its sparkling new Springfield facility next Sunday after disposing of reigning premier Adelaide in Friday night's preliminary final.
After a scoreless 10 minutes to open the match at Metricon Stadium, the minor premier was barely pushed as it stormed to a 7.4 (46) to 3.5 (23) victory.
They will now host either Melbourne or North Melbourne at Brighton Homes Arena after the AFL confirmed earlier on Friday the $80 million facility was fit to host the decider.
Craig Starcevich's team could barely have been more impressive as they qualified for a fourth Grand Final in seven seasons.
Adelaide threw everything at the Lions in a frenetic opening, but while both teams lacked composure, it was the home team that steadied first through a Cathy Svarc goal.
Brisbane blew the game open with four unanswered goals in the second quarter – two each to Jesse Wardlaw and Courtney Hodder – as they made the most of their forward 50 entries.
Reigning League best and fairest Emily Bates was at her brilliant best, racking up 22 disposals and four clearances to help the Lions midfield get on top. Her centre clearance breakaway and delivery to Hodder just before half-time almost put the game away.
Captain Bre Koenen (13) vied with Bates for best on ground honours, as she thwarted every Adelaide foray forward, rarely losing a one-on-one contest. Shannon Campbell and Nat Grider also excelled in the impressive defensive unit.
LIONS v CROWS Full match coverage and stats
Ruby Svarc's contribution should not be undersold, with her match-high 11 tackles emblematic of the Lions' desperation to get back to a decider.
It was an emotional week for Adelaide, with the passing of former player Heather Anderson, but the Crows battled tirelessly after trailing by 35 points early in the third quarter, but were just unable to connect between midfield and forward often enough to trouble their opponents.
Anne Hatchard (25) and captain Chelsea Randall (16 and a goal) were fantastic.
Hodder's emotional night
Courtney Hodder lost her grandfather in the past week, and the dynamic Brisbane forward did everything to play a blinder in his memory. With her teammates wearing black armbands, Hodder kicked two second quarter goals to help blow the game open, but it was her intensity and relentless pressure that was just as noticeable. She finished with 11 disposals and four tackles in an all-around fantastic outing.
Did you see that?
Early in the third quarter, and already with a healthy lead, Dakota Davidson put the game almost beyond doubt with a brilliant set shot. After unexpectedly marking a Sophie Conway shot that had drifted across goal, Davidson went back deep in the right forward pocket and sauntered in before executing a perfect right foot banana kick. The celebration matched the finish as Davidson gestured to nearby spectators with her usual gusto.
Up next
It's Grand Final time for the Lions. They will play either Melbourne or North Melbourne at Brighton Homes Arena next Sunday at 1.40pm (AEST).
BRISBANE 1.0 5.1 6.3 7.4 (46)
ADELAIDE 0.0 0.2 2.2 3.5 (23)
GOALS
Brisbane: Wardlaw 2, Hodder 2, Davidson 2, C.Svarc
Adelaide: Gould, Ponter, Randall
BEST
Brisbane: Bates, Koenen, Hodder, Conway, R.Svarc, Campbell, Wardlaw
Adelaide: Hatchard, Randall, Biddell, Newman, Marinoff
INJURIES
Brisbane: Smith (ankle)
Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 2553 at Metricon Stadium
