Brisbane blitz Adelaide with five goals before Crows touch the ball in AFL semifinal
In an AFL semifinal at the Gabba, Brisbane Lions kicked five goals before Adelaide Crows managed to touch the ball, in a match that will decide who advances to the preliminary final. A win is critical for Brisbane's bid for a third straight premiership after a shock loss the previous week.
Explosive start at the Gabba
Brisbane Lions produced a stunning opening to their AFL semifinal against Adelaide Crows, kicking five goals before the visitors even touched the football. Kai Lohmann opened the scoring just 31 seconds in, followed by Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey, Hugh McCluggage and Cam Rayner. According to the Brisbane Times, this was the fastest three goals in a finals match this century, and the score reached 31-0 after the fifth goal.
Adelaide finally got on the board through Dan Curtin, moments after Harris Andrews — who hadn't kicked a goal since 2023 — hit the post with a set shot. Per the Brisbane Times, the score stood at 32-7 in Brisbane's favour with nine minutes remaining in the first quarter.
What's at stake
A loss would end Brisbane's season, after the Lions suffered a shock defeat to an undermanned Sydney side in last week's qualifying final. A win keeps alive their bid for a third consecutive premiership, which would require winning four finals in a row, as in the previous two seasons. As afl.com.au notes, every one of the 12 teams this century to lose a qualifying final by 50 points or more has gone on to win the following week.
Adelaide, meanwhile, secured its first finals win since 2017 last week, holding off a late Western Bulldogs surge in an elimination final. However, the Crows have not beaten Brisbane at the Gabba since 2018 and have won just two of their last ten meetings with the Lions at any venue.
Coaches and context
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said there had been "a few honest conversations" within the club after last week's substandard performance, urging his players to take nothing for granted. Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks praised ruckman Lachlan McAndrew's season, describing him as a "ruthless competitor" who "hates to be beaten."
The match was a sellout at the Gabba — Brisbane's final home game of the season. On the Adelaide side, Sam Berry and Riley Thilthorpe were both playing their 100th AFL games, while Dan Curtin reached his 50th appearance.
