The Brisbane Lions have held off Geelong with an 11-point win to keep away from an unpleasant repeat of per week in the past and hold their top-two AFL hopes alive.
They face a nervous wait on star rookie Will Ashcroft although, after he hobbled off the bottom with an obvious knee damage late within the fourth quarter.
The Lions put the clamps on the Cats on the Gabba, limiting them to only one aim deep into the third time period.
However, simply as Melbourne did final week, the defending champions rallied simply as all hope seemed misplaced.
Kicking 4 of the subsequent 5 targets, Geelong acquired again inside 11 factors earlier than the Lions steadied by standout Callum Ah Chee to prevail 9.10 (64) to 7.11 (53).
The Lions (13-5) can nonetheless catch Port Adelaide in second whereas the Cats’ (9-8-1) first loss in 5 weeks leaves them in a log-jam for a spot within the backside half of the eight.
Ah Chee (23 touches) did his choice hopes no hurt with Zac Bailey (calf) sidelined days after signing a two-year contract extension.
Brisbane dominated clearances 49-22 and had been supported by Harris Andrews’ aerial dominance in defence.
Lincoln McCarthy snapped from a good angle within the pocket after the quarter-time siren in what was the Cats’ first goalless first time period since 2015.
It took some Patrick Dangerfield brilliance for the Cats to lastly kick a aim late within the second quarter, an ungainly mark then booming kick breaking their duck.
Charlie Cameron kicked straight to start the third time period and extra good work from Rayner and Ah Chee led to Hipwood and McCarthy targets noticed the Lions lead 51-14.
Tom Hawkins missed from in entrance however the Cats saved issues fascinating with their second and third targets within the shadows of three-quarter time.
Daniher’s second aim ought to have calmed nerves however Cameron had a fast reply from an errant Dayne Zorko clearance kick after which Oliver Henry squeezed a serious by.
Henry hit the put up after which Cameron kicked one other to make it an 11-point recreation.
However Ah Chee marked strongly and kicked straight after play resumed following Ashcroft’s knee damage to interrupt the Cats’ run.
They weren’t fairly achieved, Tyson Stengle received a free kick and snapped a aim to make it a two-goal recreation with six minutes to play.
Ah Chee saved popping as much as defuse Geelong raids, Cameron blazing a behind with 70 seconds to play in what was their last fling ahead.
Tom Stewart (25 disposals) was arguably Geelong’s finest, whereas Josh Dunkley (27 disposals) was immense in his comeback from a calf damage for Brisbane and Lachie Neale had 10 clearances.