THE BRISBANE Lions will be spectators this weekend as the AFL finals are contested by four teams they beat in 2007 — and one with which they drew.

Lions coach Leigh Matthews said after Saturday night’s season-ending loss to Geelong that he was pleased with the performances his side had put in against some top-notch opposition.

That point will be reinforced on Friday night when the second qualifying final is fought out by Port Adelaide, over which the Lions very nearly snatched a miracle comeback win in Round 13, and the West Coast  Eagles, the side Matthews’ charges upset in Round 14 to kick-start a five-match winning run.

Hawthorn, easily accounted for by the Lions in Round 1, takes on Adelaide in Saturday’s first elimination final. This will be followed by the MCG showdown between Collingwood (Round 17 — a 93-point win to the Lions) and the Sydney Swans (Round 20 — draw).

Minor premier Geelong plays the Kangaroos (Round 18 — 37-point win) in Sunday’s first qualifying final.

In Round 22 action, Adelaide’s determined 19-point win over Collingwood on Friday wrapped up the last remaining finals berth, leaving the rest of the weekend for teams to jostle for positions and double-chances.

West Coast effectively squandered a home final by allowing Essendon to stage an extraordinary comeback in their Subiaco clash on Saturday afternoon.

The Bombers, farewelling star James Hird and coach Kevin Sheedy, all but hauled in a 44-point three-quarter-time deficit before going down by eight points. That result, coupled with Port Adelaide’s 32-point win over Fremantle, ensured the Power finished second and the Eagles third.

With Geelong having sealed top spot already, the Kangaroos and Hawthorn were locked in a battle for fourth, and the Roos grabbed it with a 64-point thrashing of the Western Bulldogs.

The Hawks effectively abandoned their shot at a double-chance by allowing Sydney to kick 14 goals to three in the first half at the SCG on Sunday, a match the Swans won by 72 points.

St Kilda consigned Richmond to the wooden spoon with a tense 10-point win at the MCG and Melbourne signed off a frustrating 2007 on a high note by beating Carlton by 31 points.

Adelaide 14.10 (94) d Collingwood 11.9 (74)
Collingwood closed within seven points of its hosts in the final quarter to deliver a glimmer of hope to Lions fans dreaming of September action. But the optimism was soon snuffed out when the Crows, who led throughout, steadied through Brent Reilly to book their own finals berth.

St Kilda 14.18 (102) d Richmond 13.14 (92)
Fraser Gehrig put the finishing touches on a fine career by kicking the sealing goal — one of five he booted for the match. The send-off for Gehrig and fellow retiree Andrew Thompson was positive, but the season was ultimately one of frustration for the Saints, who finished ninth — half a game behind eight-placed Adelaide.

West Coast 21.6 (132) d Essendon 19.10 (124)
Scott Lucas kicked seven of his eight goals after three-quarter time to help the Bombers cut a 44-point margin to only three points with minutes to play. But there was to be no final fairytale for Kevin Sheedy and James Hird: Lucas missed his easiest shot of the day and Brent Staker soccered accurately at the other end to seal a 15th win for the season for the Eagles.

Port Adelaide 17.15 (117) d Fremantle 12.13 (85)
Essendon might not have grabbed a miracle win but they did enough to ensure that Port Adelaide would finish above West Coast and earned a home final date against the Eagles. The Power shook off a pesky Dockers outfit to win by 32 points, a result that enabled them to hang on to second spot.

Sydney 22.9 (141) d Hawthorn 10.9 (69)
A week after slaying the Western Bulldogs, the Hawks were put to the sword themselves by a slick and efficient Sydney side. Lance Franklin kicked the afternoon’s first goal but Sydney booted 14 of the next 16 to lead by 71 points at half-time — and Paul Roos’ side was never challenged thereafter.

Kangaroos 23.19 (157) d Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93)
The Kangaroos ended the Bulldogs’ season of disappointment with an emphatic 63-point win that secured them a double-chance. As it did last week against Hawthorn, the Bulldogs had an impressive first quarter, kicking six goals, but could muster only eight thereafter as the Kangaroos piled on 19 of their own.

Melbourne 21.13 (139) d Carlton 15.18 (108)
Melbourne, which last week unveiled new coach Dean Bailey, rounded out the 2007 home-and-away season with a 31-point victory over Carlton. Both sides at times played attractive football, but the Demons, who farewelled Byron Pickett, Nathan Brown and Clint Bizzell, had too many options up forward for the young Blues.

The views in this story are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the club or the AFL.