Brisbane blow away Collingwood to book Grand Final place against Mullin's and O'Connor's Geelong

McCluggage stars with 37 disposals to lead second-half fightback

RISING HIGH: Mark O'Connor of the Cats and Blake Hardwick of the Hawks compete for the ball during the AFL Second Preliminary Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Hawthorn Hawks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 19, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Reigning premiers Brisbane Lions will meet Geelong in next Saturday’s AFL grand final after blowing away Collingwood in the last quarter of their preliminary final.

Lachie Neale watch will now be a key feature of grand final week after the Lions kicked away in the last quarter on Saturday at the MCG and won 15.10 (100) to 11.5 (71) before a crowd of 96,033.

This will be the first Geelong-Brisbane grand final.

While it was a one-sided finish, the Magpies are fuming after a controversial umpiring decision at a critical moment of the final term, when the game was in the balance.

Moments after no free kick was paid to Magpies forward Jamie Elliott close to goal for a claim of front-on contact, the Lions went on a four-goal run that decided the game.

Brisbane now have to decide whether to recall Neale, who suffered a calf muscle injury in their qualifying final loss to the Cats.

Midfielder Jarrod Berry was forced out of Saturday’s game with a dislocated shoulder, meaning he will probably miss the grand final.

All-Australian midfielder Hugh McCluggage was best afield with 37 possessions and 10 clearances, while youngster Ty Gallop kicked three goals in just his fifth senior game.

Elliott kicked a game-high four goals and took a spectacular mark, while Nick Daicos also starred for the Magpies. 

Conor McKenna didn't make the Brisbane squad.

On Friday, Oisin Mullin and Mark O'Connor featured for Geelong in their 115-85 preliminary final win over Hawthorn. Meath’s Conor Nash kicking a goal for the Hawks.

Associated Press