Brisbane survive dramatic finish to beat Hawthorn and reach fourth straight AFL Grand Final

Brisbane is back in the AFL Grand Final after a dramatic 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122) preliminary-final win over Hawthorn on Saturday night at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the decisive moment coming in the final minute when Hawthorn defender Jarman Impey was penalized for holding the ball in front of goal. Hugh McCluggage converted the set shot to put the Lions ahead, and Kai Lohmann then added his fifth goal after the siren to seal the result.

The crowd of 97,835 saw a finish that immediately became the match’s central talking point, with the holding-the-ball call against Impey quickly debated. Brisbane, though, took full advantage of the decision and then won the next center clearance to make sure of a fourth straight Grand Final appearance.

For much of the night, the Lions looked on track to advance with less drama. They led by 27 points in the third quarter before Hawthorn, seeking its first Grand Final berth since 2015, surged back into the contest. The Hawks kicked five of the first six goals of the fourth quarter and grabbed the lead late, completing a comeback that threatened to end Brisbane’s premiership run.

Instead, the closing sequence swung again. After the free kick against Impey, McCluggage held his nerve from the set shot to restore Brisbane’s lead. From the restart, midfielder Will Ashcroft won the center clearance and found Lohmann, who kicked truly after the siren to stretch the final margin to nine points.

Lohmann finished with five goals for Brisbane, while McCluggage, Charlie Cameron and Eric Hipwood each kicked three. Hawthorn’s forwards nearly dragged the Hawks all the way back, led by Nick Watson’s six goals, with Jack Gunston adding five and Mitchell Lewis four. AFL.com.au listed Ashcroft, Lohmann, Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley, Harris Andrews and McCluggage among Brisbane’s best players, while Hawthorn’s best included Watson, Ward, D’Ambrosio, Gunston, Sicily and Barrass.

The result carries major weight for Brisbane beyond one night. The Lions have now reached four consecutive Grand Finals, extending a run that began with a loss to Collingwood in 2023 before premierships in 2024 and 2025 put the club in position to chase a third straight flag. “Unbelievable. I’m absolutely speechless,” McCluggage said after the match. “It was just such an arm wrestle there, back and forth, and the crowd was amazing. We had momentum in the third. They played really well in the fourth and we just came out on top.”