Lions Roar into Preliminary Finals with 53-Point Thrashing of Crows

The Brisbane Lions have kept their AFL premiership three-peat dream alive with a convincing 53-point win over Adelaide at the Gabba. The Lions, chasing a third straight premiership, will face Hawthorn in an MCG preliminary final after a 21.18 (144) to 13.13 (91) Saturday night semi-final triumph.

Set up by five goals in the game's first seven minutes and 13 seconds — no team has done it faster in an AFL final — it was an emphatic response to last Saturday's Sydney hiding, when they were beaten by the same margin. Adelaide, who took 19 minutes to kick their first goal, eventually found their feet and surged within 10 points thanks to back-to-back Darcy Fogarty goals among four straight majors in the second term.

But just as quickly the Lions sped clear again, Charlie Cameron (5.3) causing carnage as the hosts kicked four more majors in less than nine minutes to finish the half with a 38-point lead. Hopes of another Crows surge were quickly extinguished after the main break as a trio of goals, rubber-stamped by a long-range Dayne Zorko effort, blew the margin out to 57 points.

Zac Bailey (three goals, 23 disposals), days after confirming a monster eight-year extension at Brisbane instead of signing with the Crows, ran free, while Kai Lohmann and Cam Rayner were also heavily involved after being neutralised by the Swans. Will Ashcroft collected 30 disposals for the Lions, while Jordan Dawson finished with 30 disposals and eight tackles for the Crows.

Practically every Lion that was challenged during the week stepped up tonight. It was a very even performance across that Brisbane team, but there were a few standouts:

• Zac Bailey: 23 disposals, five tackles, 14 score involvements, 558 metres gained, three goals
• Cam Rayner: 22 disposals, four tackles, 551 metres gained, 11 score involvements, two goals
• Charlie Cameron: 14 disposals, five goals
• Will Ashcroft: 30 disposals, six clearances, 13 score involvements

The preliminary finals' dates and times are locked in:

• Friday night: Sydney vs Fremantle at the SCG, 7:40pm AEST
• Saturday twilight: Hawthorn vs Brisbane at the MCG, 5:15pm AEST

Brisbane's greatest tests are still ahead, namely Hawthorn at the MCG in a week's time. Win that and another grand final awaits. Who could possibly count these Lions out? It's curtains for Adelaide though, the end of a season that brought so many positives but ends at the same juncture as 2025. They need to get better next year to take the next step, but they aren't miles away.

Brisbane's three-peat is still on. Until they are eliminated, perhaps it's best to consider them the favourites.