Arabic version: بريسبان يتفوق على أديلايد ويبلغ النهائي التمهيدي في دوري كرة القدم الأسترالية
According to The Guardian, Brisbane Lions kept their pursuit of a third consecutive premiership alive by defeating Adelaide Crows 21.18 (144) to 13.13 (91) in an AFL semi-final at the Gabba. The reigning premiers will play Hawthorn in a preliminary final at the MCG.
Brisbane established control with five goals in the opening seven minutes and 13 seconds, the fastest any team has reached that mark in an AFL final. Adelaide did not score its first goal until the 19-minute mark, but rallied in the second term with four consecutive majors, including two from Darcy Fogarty, to cut the deficit to 10 points.
The Lions responded decisively before half-time. Charlie Cameron, who finished with 5.3, helped Brisbane add four goals in less than nine minutes as the home side built a 38-point lead at the break. Cameron had kicked 4.3 and registered nine score involvements by half-time after being kept quiet in Brisbane’s previous loss to Sydney.
Three goals after the main break, capped by a long-range Dayne Zorko effort, extended Brisbane’s advantage to 57 points and ended Adelaide’s hopes of another recovery. Zac Bailey scored three goals and had 23 disposals, while Will Ashcroft collected 30 disposals. Jordan Dawson recorded 30 disposals and eight tackles for Adelaide.
Taylor Walker played his 318th and final AFL game for the Crows, kicking two goals in the last term after coach Matthew Nicks urged Adelaide to lift for him. Izak Rankine finished with 23 disposals and one behind, while Hugh McCluggage returned closer to his best with two goals in his second match back from a calf injury.
