Ah Chee whiz! Cal the hero as Lions stun Swans
Brisbane has defeated ladder-leading Sydney in a two-point thriller at the Gabba
IT TOOK every final second of play, but Brisbane has outlasted Sydney by two points in a gripping Sunday afternoon contest at the Gabba to solidify itself as a premiership fancy.
Trailing by 14 points entering the final quarter, the Lions kicked four goals to two to win their seventh straight game, 11.13 (79) to 11.11 (77) in front of 33,924 delighted home fans.
In one of the most engrossing contests of the season, there were five lead changes in the fourth term before Cal Ah Chee’s brilliant left foot snap settled the result with three minutes remaining.
Hugh McCluggage started Brisbane’s final quarter surge with two goals inside 60 seconds, before Charlie Cameron capped a tumultuous week with a nerveless set shot from 45m to give the hosts the lead once again.
But the Swans refused to relent, despite playing the second half without Dane Rampe (calf) and Tom Papley (ankle).
Jake Lloyd bombed a goal from 50m to reclaim the lead, but the Lions weren’t done, with Ah Chee’s heroics just enough.
Brisbane remain inside the top four ahead of a trip to People First Stadium for next Saturday’s QClash against Gold Coast.
With Lachie Neale (18 disposals) kept quiet for most of the afternoon, McCluggage stepped up in Brisbane’s midfield, finishing with three goals from his 26 disposals.
Cam Rayner had a day to remember, kicking two wonderful goals to go along with two goal assists from 20 disposals. His work with the ball, and defensive pressure without it, was as good as any stage of his career.
Sydney will lose no admirers from their performance, giving up a 22-point first quarter lead and then having to respond time and again despite the injury setbacks.
The Swans stifled Brisbane during the second and third quarters to take a handy lead into the last, with Errol Gulden (27 and a goal) again prominent.
In a wildly fluctuating first half, Brisbane kicked five goals to one in the opening quarter before Sydney bounced back with six to one in the second to lead at the main break.
Joe Daniher got the ball rolling with three early goals as the home team swiftly moved the ball on turnover.
His first came on the run from 55m before he then he twice found space inside 50 to take marks and kick truly.
Brisbane was living in the front half of the ground, winning back Sydney’s long exit kicks and able to re-enter to its potent forward line.
Rayner was having a big influence, picking off one errant Nick Blakey kick that led to a Daniher goal before bursting through a Rampe tackle to kick one of his own to have the sellout home crowd rocking.
The Swans showed just why they are top of the table though, striking back with three goals in the opening five minutes of the second quarter.
Gulden was magnificent, kicking a goal from eight disposals in the term to help give Sydney a seven-point advantage at half-time.
Swans cop a couple more injuries
During a season in which it has had incredible player availability, Sydney added two more injuries to a slightly growing list. Dane Rampe was subbed out during the second quarter with a calf problem and minutes later Tom Papley came up worse for wear following a marking contest with Brandon Starcevich and hobbled from the ground with an ankle injury, leaving the Swans a man down for the second half. The setbacks add to James Rowbottom (jaw) and Justin McInerney (knee) who were already missing.
