The Brisbane Lions have spluttered home against Essendon to clinch fifth place and a Gabba start to their sixth straight AFL finals campaign.
Brisbane led by 46 points at the final break but conceded five straight goals to create some anxious moments in an eventually relieving 11.21 (87) to 10.7 (67) victory.
The Lions had given away big leads to lose their past two games and the wounds suddenly opened when the Bombers got within 19 points with eight minutes still to play.
But they held on this time, last year’s defeated grand finalists to play eighth — any of Carlton, Fremantle or the Western Bulldogs — at the Gabba in week one of the finals after being 13th after 12 rounds.
Charlie Cameron showed glimpses of his best in a three-goal haul, his biggest since he kicked five in a round-11 mauling of Richmond and just the third time he’s kicked three or more majors all season.
The livewire had kicked at least 54 goals in the past four seasons of regular length and game time, but boasts just 37 this year.
Cameron’s dare and confidence were back in the first half, backing himself with a long-range snap and also setting up Logan Morris with an lasered cross in the second quarter and providing several clever handballs.
Inaccuracy and wastefulness in front of goal almost cost them again, but the Bombers were their own worst enemies, battling to exit their back half as opportunities fell into the laps of waiting Lions forwards.
The retiring Dyson Heppell (34 disposals) was immense in his farewell game, Jake Stringer (two goals) kissing the logo on his chest devoted to the former captain when he launched a trademark goal from deep on the boundary line.
Kyle Langford kicked three goals for the Bombers, while Zach Merrett (37 touches, one goal) and Andrew McGrath (34 disposals) did the heavy lifting for Brad Scott’s side.
But there was little else to celebrate as the Bombers finished the season with six losses from their last seven games to slide out of the top four and miss finals.
Joe Daniher had his moments in game 200, bombing a goal from 60m on the run shortly after missing a closer set shot.
A brilliant effort produced a wry smile from the former Bomber, only for it to be denied after a lengthy review deemed his shot had shaved the post.
The key forward, much to the full Gabba house’s dismay, also had two clear marks in the goal square not paid by officials.
Kai Lohmann (three goals) was electric early, while Dayne Zorko and Josh Dunkley got plenty of ball and Lachie Neale (40 touches, one goal) was his usually prolific self.
In Saturday night’s other match, the Sydney Swans officially became the AFL’s minor premier after recording a comfortable 31-point win over Adelaide at the SCG.
Earlier on Saturday, Richmond fans said goodbye to AFL great Dustin Martin as a trio of retiring Tigers took a bow after the team’s loss to Gold Coast at the MCG.
Geelong secured a top-four spot and a percentage boost after demolishing the Eagles, as the club farewelled Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy from Kardinia Park.
In Launceston, the Hawks sealed a spot in September with a smashing 124-point win against North Melbourne.
AAP
Check out the live blog below for a recap of all of Saturday’s AFL action as it happened.
Key Events
AFL Saturday scoreboard
Bombers say goodbye to Dyson Heppell
Lovely scenes here at the Gabba as Dyson Heppell is given a guard of honour as he is chaired off.
Heppell was outstanding tonight and probably validated those calls from fans last week who suggested he deserved a home farewell game against Sydney.
The former Essendon skipper finishes with 253 games, a figure that probably would’ve been above 300 if not for the supplements saga that took out his prime years.
FT: Sydney 18.13 (121) def. Adelaide 13.12 (90)
Sydney has secured its first AFL minor premiership since 2016 with a 31-point thumping of Adelaide at the SCG.
Superstar Isaac Heeney’s absence mattered little for the Swans, who cruised to an 18.13 (121) to 13.12 (90) victory in front of 36,491 fans on Saturday night.
John Longmire’s charges (16-6) will host a home qualifying final as reward for holding on to top spot since round eight, with the week-one finals schedule set to be confirmed by the league on Sunday.
It is the club’s 10th minor premiership in their VFL/AFL history and third under Longmire.
Heeney, who was managed out of their Crows match late, is expected to return for their finals meeting alongside Tom Papley (ankle) and Justin McInerney (knee).
Usual talents Chad Warner (one goal, 11 contested possessions) and Errol Gulden (two goals, eight clearances) were outstanding against Adelaide, while veteran Luke Parker and Logan McDonald both slotted three goals.
Ruckman Reilly O’Brien was a shining light for the visitors, finishing with a game-high 10 score involvements and 39 hitouts to best Sydney star Brodie Grundy.
The Swans, for the first time since Round 18, finished ahead at quarter time by seven points after withstanding a four-goal burst from the Crows.
Defensive duo Dane Rampe and Lewis Melican got in on the scoring action in the first term, with the pair slotting a major each for their only goals of the regular season.
Star half-back Nick Blakey also contributed to the scoreboard with two majors and took a game-high 32 disposals.
Sydney extended their advantage to 37 points when 50-gamer Joel Amartey kicked two majors in the second quarter.
Crows teenager Daniel Curtin opened the second half with his third-career goal in a bid to lift his teammates, but the Swans slammed through three majors in less than ten minutes to break the 100-point ceiling.
Zac Taylor (three goals) sent through two majors in the final term but it was too late for Adelaide.
The Crows miss out on finals for the seventh season in a row since their infamous 2017 grand final loss to Richmond.
They finished in 15th with eight wins, 12 losses and one draw.
AAP
FT: Brisbane 11.21 (87) def. Essendon 10.7 (67)
Brisbane books in a home elimination final after a 20-point win over Essendon!
It was a nervy, nervy final quarter from the Lions as the Bombers came home hard, but ultimately they were able to hold on.
Chris Fagan won’t be an entirely happy man. The Lions were incredibly wasteful again and they’ll hope that inaccuracy doesn’t cost them in a big final next month.
Essendon captain Zach Merrett finishes as the top-ranked player on the ground after a monster final term saw him rack up 37 disposals.
The retiring Dyson Heppell finishes with 34 touches in his final AFL game, a fair way to go out for the Essendon champion.
Five in a row as the Bombers edge even closer
The Bombers have come from the clouds here at the Gabba!
Goals to Zach Merrett and Sam Draper after a free kick for blocking have cut Brisbane’s lead to 19 points.
The crowd in attendance stunned.
Essendon has kicked five goals from nine inside 50s in this quarter.
Bombers with three in a row to start the final term
Essendon showing a little bit of fight here in their last quarter of the year.
Ben Hobbs kicks the Bombers’ third goal of the final term to cut Brisbane’s lead to 29 points.
The other goals have come to Jake Stringer and Nic Martin.
3QT: Sydney 17.10 (112) leads Adelaide 9.9. (63)
More of the same in that quarter from the Swans, who kicked four goals to two.
The reigning premiers elect take a 49-point lead into the final change.
Four of the top five players on the field in terms of AFL.com.au’s rankings are Swans.
The name leading the pack might be a little surprising – it’s Matt Roberts, who has amassed 27 disposals through three quarters.
Riley Thilthorpe is Adelaide’s top-ranked player with 13 disposals to go along with his 2.3.
3QT: Brisbane 11.17 (83) leads Essendon 5.7 (37)
The Brisbane Lions have been a class above all night and it’s shone through in that third quarter.
Brisbane kicked four goals to two in that quarter to extend this lead to a game-high 46 points, and they’ve had all the answers all night long.
They’ve set up the win by absolutely dominating in the clinches, leading the clearance count 33-17 and they’re also up in the inside 50 count by 17 (49-32).
Essendon defender Andy McGrath is the leading ball-winner on the ground with 29 touches, and he’s been narrowly trailed by Lachie Neale, who has 27 disposals and three clearances to go along with a brilliant goal in that quarter.
Gulden breaks 10-year Swans record
The Swans lead by 37-points in the early stages of the third quarter at the SCG.
Swans star Errol Gulden has seven score involvements tonight and he’s now registered the highest number of score involvements by a Sydney player for a season since 2014.
Gulden’s got 20 disposals and eight clearances to go with those score involvements, he’s having an excellent all-round game tonight.
Lions out to a game-high lead as Hipwood strikes
Eric Hipwood slots his first goal of the night to give Brisbane a 37-point lead.
The Bombers have fought hard this quarter, but they’ve just not had the quality to make any real inroads on the scoreboard.
To make matters worse for Essendon, Matt Guelfi has done a hamstring and has been subbed off for Ben Hobbs.
A big opportunity for Hobbs, who has spent large parts of this season in the VFL.
Bombers defender lashes out after near hanger
Eric Hipwood came so close to taking one of the best marks of the year, but wasn’t able to complete the deal after climbing all over Jake Kelly.
Kelly took exception to being used as a human step ladder and kicked out at Hipwood after the dropped mark.
The Bombers have looked better after half-time, but they’re still well off the mark here. Lots of work to do.
HT: Sydney 13.6 (84) leads Adelaide 7.5 (47)
A late free kick to Adelaide allows Jordan Dawson to kick the Crows’ only goal of the second quarter.
That was type of quarter Sydney routinely put together earlier in the season before their form slump after the bye.
The Swans have scored a goal from almost every second inside 50 entry and they hold this sizeable lead despite all of the main team stats being relatively even so far.
Errol Gulden has been the best player on the park, he has 19 disposals and nine clearances through two quarters to go along with a goal.
Adelaide’s Matt Crouch is the game’s leading possession-winner with 22 at the half.
HT: Brisbane 7.9 (51) leads Essendon 3.5 (23)
Brisbane heading towards a big win over Essendon here as they take a 28-point lead into the main break.
The Lions have just looked a class above so far through the first two quarters.
Essendon’s effort hasn’t been bad, but some of the skill execution has been really, really poor and they’ve paid a hefty price.
Brisbane with 29 inside 50s to 19 and they’ve also got a 21-10 lead in the clearance count, including 8-3 in the centre where Essendon has been very good of late.
Will Ashcroft leads all players with 19 disposals in the first half, while three players – Essendon’s Zach Merrett, and Brisbane duo Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley – have 18 touches apiece.
Swans kick away in the second quarter
The Swans have settled after Adelaide ended the first quarter positively.
Sydney out to a 25-point lead now, with goals to Hayden McLean, Luke Parker and Joel Amartey so far in this quarter.
Parker has three for the night already.
McKay with one of the blunders of the year
Oh boy, this is not good from Essendon’s million-dollar man, Ben McKay.
He gets a free kick in defence and bizarrely kicks it to Mason Redman who is outnumbered two on one.
The commentators can’t quite believe what they’ve watched out there.
Daniher strikes on the run as things get ugly for the Bombers
Joe Daniher is on the board in his 200th match!
This is classic Joe. Minutes earlier he sprayed a set shot from virtually directly in front 35m out from goal.
After that blunder, Joe gets the ball at the half-forward line and whacks one in from the run from close to 60m out.
Essendon trailing by 32 points now, they’ve looked listless in this quarter.
QT: Sydney 7.4 (46) leads Adelaide 6.3 (39)
Absolute madness in the first quarter at the SCG with a combined THIRTEEN goals kicked between the two teams.
Let’s walk you through it.
The Swans looked headed for a massive win when they kicked six of the first seven of the night, but then the Crows burst to life.
Adelaide has kicked five of the last six goals to trail by just seven points at the first change.
Riley Thilthorpe has kicked two of the Crows’ six goals and is the top-ranked player on the ground.
Chad Warner leads all players with 10 disposals.
Charlie Cameron burns Mason Redman
This is Charlie Cameron at his absolute best!
The Lions found him isolated up forward with Mason Redman marking him.
Charlie grabs the ball on one bounce and then snaps it through on his left at full pace. He is so supremely skilled.
Kai Lohmann adds his second of the night and the Lions are suddenly out to a 24-point lead with 13 minutes left in the quarter.
QT: Brisbane 3.4 (22) leads Essendon 1.4 (10)
Brisbane with a well-deserved two-goal lead at the first chance at the Gabba.
Chris Fagan will probably feel his side should be further ahead given some of the chances they’ve missed in front of goal.
The Bombers have steadied well after looking like they were going to get blown off the park in the opening 10 minutes.
Brisbane’s Will Ashcroft has been outstanding in the first quarter. He has an equal game-high nine disposals alongside Essendon duo Archie Perkins and Zach Merrett.
The retiring Dyson Heppell has been a steady hand in defence for the Bombers, racking up five disposals in the first term.
Charlie Cameron, Kai Lohmann and Logan Morris with Brisbane’s goals in that quarter, while Kyle Langford kicked Essendon’s only goal.
Swans absolutely cutting up the Crows
We’re halfway through the first quarter at the SCG and the Swans have slammed on SIX goals.
They’ve scored those six goals from just nine inside 50s, incredible efficiency.
Sam Berry kicks Adelaide’s second of the night to break a run of four straight from Sydney.
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