Brisbane proves “they’re back” with thrilling Swans win in potential Grand Final preview

Brisbane has picked up their seventh straight win and none were more impressive than Sunday’s 79-77 victory over ladder leaders Sydney at the Gabba.

The Lions began brilliantly, kicking five goals to one in the first term, but as Sydney do, they answered with six of their own to one in the second to go into the main break with a seven-point lead.

They again held sway in the third, kicking two goals to one before a thrilling final term that saw the lead change five times before the Lions eventually prevailed thanks to a Callum Ah Chee goal.

With the game played in near-perfect conditions in Brisbane allowing the skills of both teams to shine, AFL Nation commentator Matthew Cocks thinks it could be a preview of what we could see from both sides in a Grand Final showdown pending they both reach the last Saturday of September.

Cocks also described the Lions as well and truly back as they sit second on the ladder behind Sydney despite winning just four of their first 11 games.

“Brisbane, they’re back,” Cocks told AFL Nation.

“After being written off in the early part of the year, they’ve returned to ferocious form.

“They’ve now claimed seven wins in a row and are storming towards September.

“If that was the last day of September - on what has been a glorious day at the Gabba, a full house with perfect weather - if that’s the kind of game we’re going to get a little later in the year … boy oh boy are we going to be treated to something.”

The Lions were led by Hugh McCluggage (three goals, 26 disposals), Cam Rayner (two goals, 20 disposals) and Joe Daniher (three goals, 16 disposals), but Cocks felt it was their depth players such as Shadeau Brain and Darcy Wilmot who got them over the line.

While it’s also Sydney’s third loss from their last four games, Cocks doesn’t feel that they’ll lose any admirers despite both Tom Papley (ankle) and Dane Rampe (calf) going down with injury.

“The Sydney Swans I don’t think lose any admirers today,” Cocks said.

“They went behind in the first term but got it back on their terms. … they lost Tom Papley who is in a moon boot and they lost Dane Rampe to a calf issue.

“It was just those depth players that stood up in the crucial moments of the contest to get them over the line.”

The Lions will hope to make it eight in a row when they face Gold Coast at People First Stadium next Saturday while the ladder-leading Swans - who remain 10 premiership points ahead of Brisbane - return to the SCG to host the Western Bulldogs next Sunday.