The Brisbane Lions have stunned reigning AFL premiers Melbourne with an epic, 13-point, come-from-behind victory at the MCG.
The Lions trailed by 28-points late in the first half but stormed home to claim victory 14.8 (92) to 11.13 (79), kicking 11 goals to five after half-time in front of 62,162 fans.
Eric Hipwood scored four goals and Charlie Cameron three, while Daniel Rich had a game high 30 touches in for the Lions in the upset victory.
It was Brisbane's first victory at the MCG since 2014, ending an 11-match losing streak, and came after four straight defeats to the Demons by an average of 44 points over the last two years.
The see-sawing affair continued a bumper finals series after a thrilling opening week.
The Lions are now into a preliminary final against minor premiers Geelong, while Melbourne's dream of back-to-back flags is over.
Brisbane have some concern over midfielder Jarrod Berry, who will come under scrutiny for putting his hand near Clayton Oliver's eyes in a third-quarter incident that sparked a fierce scrap between the pair.
The contributions of Hipwood and Cameron in attack were huge as the Lions overcame the late withdrawal of key forward Joe Daniher for personal reasons.
Brisbane champion Lachie Neale was also influential, overcoming a slow start to finish with 26 disposals, 18 contested possessions and 10 clearances.
Fill-in ruckman Darcy Fort, Hugh McCluggage and Dayne Zorko were also important.
Oliver fought hard for the Demons with 21 disposals and nine clearances despite close checking throughout the match from Deven Robertson and Berry.
Christian Petracca was Melbourne's top disposals winner with 27, brushing off concerns over a minor fracture in his fibia and corked calf.
But the Demons wasted chances in attack and were flat after the main break as Brisbane caused a major boilover.
The contest was billed as a grudge match after the sledging saga that revolved around Dayne Zorko's unsavoury comments, which reduced Melbourne defender Harrison Petty to tears when the teams met last month.
The Brisbane captain was jeered by the home crowd whenever he went near the ball and teammate Lincoln McCarthy made a 'crying' gesture to Petty during one heated moment before half-time.
Melbourne's clearance dominance was telling early and a 22-point margin at the main break would have been larger if not for inaccuracy and a late Lions goal through Callum Ah Chee just before the siren.
The Demons doubled their opponents' tally in the first half, kicking 6.8 to 3.4.
But five-straight goals drew Brisbane level in the third term before quick replies through Bayley Fritsch and Alex Neal-Bullen wrested back momentum for the Demons.
It swung again and the Lions were level at three-quarter time, with Fort nailing a long set shot and Hipwood pouncing to kick his fourth after Dan McStay caught Trent Rivers holding the ball.
McStay put the Lions in front for the first time with the opening goal of the final term and they led by 20 points before late goals to Petty and Ed Langdon made for some nervous moments in the final three minutes.
But a free kick and 50-metre penalty against Demons defender Jake Lever gifted McStay the sealer on the goal line with one minute left.
The preliminary final will be Brisbane's second under Chris Fagan, who has improved his finals record to 3-5.
Look back on how all the action unfolded as it happened in our blog.
Key events
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Live updates
By Dean Bilton
The pride of Brisbane town
Well how about that then? What a night at the footy, and what a night for the Brisbane Lions. They have ended their MCG hoodoo, ended their struggles against Melbourne, and moved swiftly into a preliminary final date with Geelong next Friday night.
There is so much to pick through from that game - not least Jarrod Berry's availability next week after some contentious contact with Clayton Oliver's face - and all that and more will be here on the ABC Sport website. I'll be back tomorrow night for Pies-Freo, which is probably going to be bonkers as well, the way these finals are going. See you then!
By Dean Bilton
What next for Melbourne?
The reigning premiers are out in straight sets. After going the first half of the season unbeaten, their campaign hit the skids around the bye and despite signs of life in the last month or so, they never really captured their best footy.
And now in two straight finals, unceasing pressure around the ball and on the backline proved too much for the Dees to handle. They lacked a forward target on the night and struggled to control the football and tempo, especially in the second half. They wanted to counter-attack, but Brisbane shut the back door.
They'll be back up there and hungrier than ever in 2023, but there's no debating that this is a disappointing end to Melbourne's premiership defence.
By Dean Bilton
How's life for Darcy Wilmot?
Every Lions fan's new favourite player is loving life.
Tell you what, he had a fair night for a second-gamer too.
By Dean Bilton
Jarrod Berry, take a bow
He's never played a better half of footy in his life. They sent him to Clayton Oliver after the break, and Berry took him to the cleaners.
22 disposals, nine contested, two tackles, five clearances and two inside 50s. Just in the second half. Nobody did more to win Brisbane that game than Jarrod Berry.
By Dean Bilton
FT: The Lions have done it! They're into a preliminary final!
Breathtaking. It's the best Brisbane win in 18 years.
The Brisbane Lions took a stand tonight. Against Melbourne, against everyone who doubted them. Against history, against their own somewhat sluggish start. Against all conventional wisdom.
Where do you start? Jarrod Berry! Eric Hipwood! Daniel Rich! Hugh McCluggage! Almost to a man, the Lions lifted after half-time and beat the Demons at their own game. They found some belief deep down within them to flip the script on the reigning champs on their own patch, and with it have set imaginations racing, dreaming what might be possible in the next fortnight.
It's an unforgettable night for the Brisbane Lions.
By Dean Bilton
1': McStay goals! The Lions are going to a preliminary final!
What on earth was Jake Lever thinking?!? Melbourne's hopes are dashed in a moment! He dropped it cold under the tackle, clearly holding the ball. Then he refused to give the ball back to McStay despite the umpire's pleading, so a 50 had to be paid.
And that, my friends, will be that!
By Dean Bilton
2': Holding the ball! Lever has made a meal of it! AND 50!
Lever didn't get the ball back! McStay will take all his time and seal the game for Brisbane!
By Dean Bilton
3': LANGDON KICKS ANOTHER! DEES STILL IN IT!
They're doing this on sheer grit and effort! They're just forcing that footy forward, trying to get bodies ahead of it, and it fell to Langdon basically on the goal line to convert.
2:08 to play, seven point game. This is still on!
By Dean Bilton
4': Petty kicks it! 13-point game!
It's not over yet! And if any team can catch fire quickly, it's these Dees. They simply have to, or it's season over.
By Dean Bilton
4': Petty with the big pack mark!
He has to go back quickly and convert to keep Melbourne alive...
By Dean Bilton
5': Pickett hits the post! And that might do it!
Streaming into an open goal, Pickett went for the grubber along the ground and ran it into the post. It's a horrible miss, and one that might just about kill the Dees off in this game.
By Dean Bilton
5': The reigning champs are on the ropes!
The Demons need four goals in 4:52, or their premiership defence is over!
Brisbane's second half has been quite spectacular. They're nearly there. Nearly.
By Dean Bilton
5': ZAC BAILEY KICKS THE GOAL! IS THAT THE GAME?!?
He was too quick for Lever! He left him for dead! He legged it to the goal line and SLAMMED it through!
And after a rather arbitrary review, the goal is confirmed and THE LIONS HAVE A 20 POINT LEAD. THEY MIGHT BE HOME.
By Dean Bilton
6': CHARLIE CAMERON KICKS THE GOAL!
Lions by 14! The effort from Hipwood to win the ball and carry it forward. Then the mark from Cameron. Then the FINISH from Cameron!
The Lions can smell it now!
By Dean Bilton
6': Cameron marks in the pocket! What an effort!
He's sprinted at least 100 metres to mark that with a centimetre remaining! Could he kick it from the tightest angle?!?
By Dean Bilton
7': Inspirational from the Lions!
The Dees are turning the screw, but the little defensive wins from Brisbane are adding up to something special now.
By Dean Bilton
9': Desperate stuff from Daniel Rich!
The Dees got it to the fat side on the counter, and Viney looked like he was loose in the back pocket. But the spoil from Rich was right on time.
From the stoppage Petracca blazes away again, but for a behind.
By Dean Bilton
11': Zac Bailey kicks the goal! Lions by nine points!
They're playing the better footy here, no question! It's Melbourne who need to find a response because they are struggling to match the Lions at the contest.
