Brisbane's painful defeat to Richmond could have been the moment the Lions' AFL premiership dreams died.
Up by 42 points against the Tigers, who have won three of the last five flags, the Lions appeared set to break through for their first win at the MCG in eight years.
But Brisbane were overrun in extraordinary fashion, losing by seven points to make it 11-straight defeats at the home of the grand final.
The Lions' 2022 prospects were completely written off in the aftermath of that round 20 encounter.
But important defender Keidean Coleman said the Lions actually took genuine belief out of the performance against the Tigers.
And it showed in Friday night's clash with Melbourne, as the Lions pulled off a stunning 13-point upset of the reigning premiers to progress through to a preliminary final back at the MCG against Geelong.
"We hadn't won here (at the MCG) in a while but we felt like the Richmond game put us in good stead and we were confident coming here," Coleman told AAP.
"We played pretty good in that first-half (against Richmond) and coming in (against Melbourne) we were pretty confident.
"The game before we lost to Melbourne (at the MCG in round 15) by a lot so as long as we were keeping the field tight, we were pretty confident.
"My first win at the MCG, as it is for a lot of our guys, so it's an unreal feeling and a feeling I've never had before."
The courageous Coleman exemplifies the rejuvenated Lions' spirit in this year's finals series.
The classy left-footer crashed into a pack late in the third quarter, before being assisted from the field by trainers.
Coleman immediately looked to be in trouble, but he was back on the ground to take his place at half-back for the start of the final term.
"I just got a knock to the lip," he said.
"It was bleeding and just had to go off real quick and that was about it."
"Us defenders just rely on the midfielders, and the midfielders rely on the forwards, as long as we're all smooth during the game we were pretty confident in our defence."
Coleman finished the famous semi-final with strapping on his left leg, but the 22-year-old said it was only a corkie and he would be fine to take on the Cats.
