Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Sport
Jim Morton and Murray Wenzel

Doubts, disrespect fire Lions' finals tilt

Charlie Cameron says Brisbane have been freed up to prove the AFL doubters wrong. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

A relieved Charlie Cameron says the chance to shoot down more doubters is fuelling a freed-up Brisbane to defy short and long-term history in their AFL semi-final against Melbourne.

The Lions will play the Demons at the MCG on Friday night after trumping the Tigers by two points at the Gabba on Thursday.

Joe Daniher's goal with 64 seconds to play was the difference in a pulsating contest that featured 17 lead changes.

Their elimination-final win came despite the loss of concussed ruckman Oscar McInerney in the third minute, the Lions rallying from 16 points down in the third term.

Brisbane had been written off by many after entering on the back of a Demons hiding in the final round and with a 1-5 finals record in the last few years.

An 11-game MCG losing streak, dating back to 2014, will ensure the detractors remain as Brisbane waltz into week two.

But Cameron feels as if a monkey is off the back ahead of a rematch with the defending champions.

"It's a huge relief ... I think we lost a bit of respect and everyone was doubting us," Cameron told AAP.

"But we never doubted ourselves. We know our best footy is good enough and we were able to show that."

Asked to develop his pressure game to match his offensive threat, Cameron delivered at the Gabba in a suffocating role that included three tackles to go with three timely goals and some glorious touches to create for his teammates.

"He was great; he's taken his pressure game to another level," coach Chris Fagan said.

"That was part of his game that was inconsistent but ... he energised us."

Substituted in for McInerney in his own AFL return from concussion, Callum Ah Chee isn't daunted by the next task.

"To be honest, when we win like that (against Richmond) I think we can beat any team that way," he said.

Defender Brandon Starcevich is full of confidence after restricting Tigers gun Shai Bolton to just 10 disposals, despite Richmond's 63 inside 50s.

"This gives us heaps of belief," he told AAP

"We came in and everyone had written us off.

"We know we've got nothing to lose now, so we're just going to keep going out and playing with that attitude."

Jarryd Lyons (groin) will need to prove his fitness but Brisbane will have suspended pair Cam Rayner and Noah Answerth available to face the Demons.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.