Brisbane has come from the clouds to snatch a spot in a preliminary final against Geelong as Joe Daniher booted two goals in the last four minutes in a stunning five-point triumph over the GIANTS on Saturday night.
The Lions trailed by as much as 31 points early in the final term but then booted the last six goals of the game to overrun the GIANTS for a 15.15 (105) to 15.10 (100) victory at ENGIE Stadium.
Daniher gave Brisbane hope when goaling with a set shot from outside the boundary to reduce the margin to one point after Sam Taylor was penalised for insufficient intent to keep the ball in play in the dying stages.
The Lions key forward then made it two in as many minutes when he outmarked the GIANTS defender and nailed the set shot to give his side the lead for the first time since early in the opening term.
The GIANTS locked the ball in their forward line and pushed hard to find what would have been a match-winner, but the hosts ran out of time as Brisbane’s defence held firm.
The Lions had earlier fought back from a 44-point deficit halfway through the third term after the GIANTS booted seven consecutive goals, kicking five of their own in nine minutes before the home side steadied.
When GIANTS skipper Toby Greene snapped the first goal of the final term to extend his side’s lead there was little warning of what was to come as Brisbane surged home.
Daniher finished with four goals to have the better of a critical battle with Taylor, while Lions small forwards Charlie Cameron and Kai Lohmann both booted two majors.
Dayne Zorko turned around a difficult night as he had his influence limited by GIANTS forward James Peatling (two goals) until bobbing up for two goals of his own in the second half.
Hugh McCluggage (24 disposals), Will Ashcroft and Jarrod Berry (both 27) were important for Brisbane as they first tried to stay in the contest, while Lachie Neale (19) was among those to step up as the visitors mounted a comeback.
The GIANTS paid the price for letting lightning strike twice, as for the second consecutive week the GIANTS saw their opponents overrun them in the last term to be bundled out of the finals in straight sets.
Jesse Hogan threatened to tear the game apart and finished with a game-high five goals, while Greene showed signs of returning to form with three majors, but it was too little too late.
Tom Green again showed that he has a game built for finals with 33 disposals and 10 clearances, while Josh Kelly and Callan Ward (both 21) ensured the GIANTS set the tone in the midfield until the Lions launched one of the unlikeliest of fight backs.
GIANTS 5.3 8.7 14.8 15.10 (100)
BRISBANE 3.5 4.10 9.13 15.15 (105)
GOALS
GIANTS: Hogan 5, Greene 3, Peatling 2, Cadman, Briggs, Green, Ash, O'Halloran
Brisbane: Daniher 4, Cameron 2, Lohmann 2, Zorko 2, Ah Chee, McInerney, Bailey, Hipwood, Fletcher
BEST
GIANTS: Green, Hogan, Peatling, Kelly, Whitfield, Greene
Brisbane: McCluggage, Daniher, Berry, Ashcroft, Zorko, Dunkley
INJURIES
GIANTS: Coniglio (cheekbone)
Brisbane: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
GIANTS: Xavier O’Halloran (replaced Stephen Coniglio in the second quarter)
Brisbane: Conor McKenna (replaced Logan Morris in the third quarter
Crowd: 18,357 at Engie Stadium
