Why Brisbane vs Adelaide Is the Semifinal That Shapes Both Teams' Finals Future
This article explains how Brisbane and Adelaide reached the AFL semifinal, why the Lions need four finals wins to complete a three-peat, and what the Crows' Gabba hoodoo means for coach Matthew Nicks.
Two Teams Arriving From Different Directions
Brisbane and Adelaide reached the same semifinal by completely different routes.
The Lions came in as the reigning premiers but lost their qualifying final to an undermanned Sydney. That forced them onto the longer path. According to AFL.com.au, Brisbane will need to play four finals to seal a premiership three-peat, just as they did in each of the previous two premiership seasons. The Brisbane Times reported that coach Chris Fagan responded by delivering some home truths before the semifinal.
Adelaide arrived through the elimination final. The Crows beat the Western Bulldogs, holding off a late challenge to record their first finals win since 2017. That result also reset part of the conversation around Matthew Nicks. AFL.com.au said it gave the coach's hopes of staying in the role a huge boost.
The Weight of the Gabba
The semifinal was always about more than a standard knockout game for Adelaide. The Crows had not beaten Brisbane at the Gabba since 2018. Across their previous 10 meetings at any venue, they had won only two. AFL.com.au described that record as a hoodoo Adelaide needed to break to make a serious finals statement.
For Brisbane, the history cut the other way. Fagan's side had already shown it can recover quickly from demoralising finals losses. AFL.com.au noted the Lions had bounced back from a defeat to Geelong at the same stage the previous season.
The Early Shift in the Semifinal
The opening exchanges suggested Brisbane had carried no doubt into the match. The Brisbane Times' live coverage recorded a fast start: Kai Lohmann kicked a goal from 35 metres out after 31 seconds, and Charlie Cameron soon added another. The Lions led 18-0 within moments and stretched that to 42-8 before quarter-time. According to Kayo Sports, cited by the Brisbane Times, it was the fastest three goals in a finals match this century.
Adelaide's early problems included a run of 50-metre penalties. Josh Rachele gave up one encroachment penalty, while Darcy Fogarty conceded two. The same night, young Crows Sam Berry and Riley Thilthorpe were playing their 100th AFL games.
What Was at Stake
The winner would earn a preliminary final against Hawthorn, according to the Brisbane Times. But the result carried more weight than the next fixture.
For Brisbane, losing meant the end of a three-peat bid and a run of consecutive Grand Final appearances. The four-finals path is unforgiving, but it was also the route the Lions had taken in both of their previous premiership years.
For Adelaide, the test was about progress. The elimination final win washed away some of the pain of the club's straight-sets exit as minor premiers the season before, per AFL.com.au. A first Gabba win since 2018 against the reigning premiers would have shown the Crows were not just relieved to be back in finals. They were ready to compete in them.