Magpies fall to shock loss in Brisbane
Collingwood has been overrun in the last quarter at the Gabba
The Lions won after kicking four goals to two in the last quarter, 13.10 (88) to 11.14 (80).
The Magpies led by three points at the last change, and grabbed the first goal of the final term in the second minute through Dale Thomas, but then the Lions exploded with three goals in four minutes through Jonathan Brown, Luke Power and Brendan Fevola to put them nine points in front.
Harry O’Brien responded with a major for the Magpies, then brilliantly chased down a dribbling kick from Fevola that looked certain to end in a goal, but only stretched the margin to two points deep into time-on. Then, a minute later, Fevola snapped truly to stretch the lead to eight points.
Collingwood led at every change, and by as much as 20 points in the third quarter until they were overrun by the home team’s final term surge.
In his 250th game, Luke Power sent the home fans into raptures with a goal at the 10-minute mark of the last quarter that gave the Lions their first lead in the match.
Fevola then took a mark in the square to kick his third and sealed the win in the final minutes with a miraculous pick-up and right foot snap from 40m.
The Lions had many heroes, but Fevola’s cameo proved the difference, with two goals late in the third quarter, including an overhead bicycle kick, bringing the margin back to just three points with a quarter to go.
Simon Prestigiacomo had blanketed Fevola in the first half, but Magpies coach Mick Malthouse moved him to cover the dangerous Brown and the former Blue took advantage after the main break when Nick Maxwell was his new marker.
For the Magpies, Dale Thomas never stopped trying with 34 touches, while Scott Pendelbury (33) and Dane Swan (28) also had plenty of the ball.
Collingwood jumped to a 13-point quarter-time lead with Alan Didak kicking two clever goals, but Rich matched it with two of his own to keep the hosts in the contest. The Pies led by 15 points at the long break, but the Lions surged back into the contest in the third quarter.
Brisbane Lions 4.4 6.6 9.8 13.10 (88)
Collingwood 6.5 8.9 9.11 11.14 (80)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Fevola 4, Brown 4, Rich 2, Banfield 2, Power
Collingwood: Didak 2, Dawes 2, Sidebottom 2, Thomas, Pendlebury, O’Brien, Jolly, Anthony
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Power, Rich, Black, Brown, Patfull, Johnstone
Collingwood: Thomas, Pendlebury, Didak, Prestigiacomo, Swan, Sidebottom
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Collingwood: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Stewart, Pannell
Official crowd: 34,239 at the Gabba
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs