What a ride.

We’ll see you again tomorrow for Adelaide v North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval and the derby over in Perth as West Coast host Fremantle.

Sleep well, footy fans, and thanks again for your readership tonight!

Brisbane star Hugh McCluggage admits the premiers weren’t quite up to scratch in the first half.

“They were probably just working a bit harder than us, outnumbering us at the contest,” he tells Fox Footy.

“It seemed like they had an extra man everywhere whether it be when we kicked it forward or it went back, so we just had to lift our work rate really, and we were able to do that in the second half.

“We probably need to look at that first half and work on that wet weather footy because they showed us how it’s done for sure.”

McCluggage says the Lions are still hungry to remain at the top of the AFL tree after winning the premiership last year.

“You can see by the way we’ve scrapped that the hunger is still there,” he says.

“We’ve been through a lot as a group, but you don’t want to go back to the bottom now, you want to just keep making the most of the opportunity.

“We’re priding ourselves on being consistent, being a good team that brings players in. That’s the sign of a good club.

“Geelong, Sydney, they just keep bringing players in and keep getting the job done and we want to keep doing that as well.”

Here’s how the numbers look after Brisbane’s nine-point win over Geelong.

• Disposals: Brisbane 347-320
• Inside 50s: Brisbane 67-48
• Clearances: Brisbane 45-43
• Contested Possessions: Brisbane 151-146
• Marks: Brisbane 93-77
• Tackles: Geelong 75-68

Here are your top three highest-ranked players on the ground:

1. 1.Hugh McCluggage (BL): 30 disposals, eight tackles, seven clearances
2. 2.Dayne Zorko (BL): 28 disposals, five clearances, one goal, 826m gained
3. 3.Max Holmes (GEEL): 29 disposals, one goal, 620m gained

Nick Watson said they saw the breeze come in before the first bounce and knew they would have a fight on their hands.

“It was a tough start but we definitely showed love,” Watson told Fox post-win.

“It was a bit of an adjustment. We knew us forwards had to get moving. We were a bit stuck in that first quarter, so it was a bit of an adjustment. We just need energy.”

After getting a few free kicks from high tackles, the small forward also quipped: “About time. I’ve missed a few in the past, so yeah, thanks to the umps for giving them to me”.

The Brisbane Lions show the heart of a champion here at home!

That’s a seriously good win from the reigning premiers, who looked absolutely gone for all money in the second term.

I’ve got to say there was an underrated moment in the final minute before the half-time siren.

Geelong had kicked five goals in a row to get a 32-point lead and the Lions really had little answers in the second term.

There was a ball in dispute in the Lions forward line where the Cats had all the numbers, but Will Ashcroft applied the pressure, won the free kick and then kicked the goal from the set shot.

That seemed to really set the tone and I’m sure Chris Fagan pointed it out in the half-time break.

Brisbane was excellent in the second half and are probably deserved winners in the end kicking seven goals to two.

Oh hang on!

Jhye Clark nails a set shot to draw the Cats to within nine points.

There is 1.59 left on the clock.

An absolutely amazing kick inside 50 from Lawson Humphries with his non-preferred left foot to find Clark.

Jarrod Berry rams one home from inside the goalsquare and the Lions are home now you’d think!

This one is set up by an absolutely brilliant pick-up from Zac Bailey on a groundball on the 50m arc.

Bailey picks it up and then turns the hell out of Lawson Humphries and finds Berry streaming into the forward 50 completely unmarked.

Brisbane out to a 15-point lead with three minutes left. This one’s over.

We’re into the final five minutes at the Gabba now.

Brisbane looking to soak up some time. Cats throwing caution to the wind.

Oh boy, that was a frantic finish.

Toby Green marked it in range with just under two minutes to go (and two goals in it) but he tried for a teammate – didn’t find one – and the ball was eventually turned over and sent Hawthorn’s way.

The young Hawks held on to steal their fourth win of the year and remain undefeated. Meanwhile, the Giants’ record their first loss of the year.

Hawks win!

Dayne Zorko with a HUGE goal and the Lions take an eight-point lead at the Gabba!

An absolutely brilliant centred kick inside 50 form Charlie Cameron finds Zorko floating inside 50.

There’s 5.50 left on the clock. It’s going to be tough for the Cats from here.

Jesse Hogan has popped through another goal after winning a free kick for being held by Josh Battle.

Just two goals in it with two and a half minutes in it.

Hawks by 12

The pressure is up from both teams here as we head into the final seven minutes.

One goal each so far in this quarter as the Lions cling to a two-point lead.

Still plenty of time of course, but if the Lions get the next one, they’ll be tough to overrun.

Nick Watson had the chance to seal the game but his (very) high kick from set shot 15 metres out didn’t have the accuracy.

Still, his side might not need it. They remain up by three goals with just under five minutes to go.

Hawks by 18

Patrick Dangerfield looks like he’s fought Khabib as he streams off the ground with blood streaming down his face.

Danger did not fight Khabib, of course, instead clashing heads with Zac Bailey.

I’ve gotta say Bailey is a much friendlier opponent than Khabib would be.

Danger’s got the cut man working on him right now as the Cats hope to get him on the ground ASAP.

There’s 10 minutes of game time left.

After some reluctance, Mabior Chol has been subbed off.

Luke Breust has come on, with Sam Mitchell hoping to inject some fresh legs into this game to help the Hawks drive home the win. His first game for 2025 after getting his body ready with a run around in the VFL first.

Hawks by 17

How good is this kick inside 50 from Will Ashcroft?

He picks out Zac Bailey in a sea of Cats and Bailey goes back and drills an important set shot just as Dangerfield did earlier in the quarter.

Geelong has activated its sub with Mitch Knevitt replacing Sam De Koning. SDK was slightly hobbled by a big knock earlier in the game.

Blicavs going into the ruck in his absence now.

Cometh the moment, cometh the man!

Patrick Dangerfield, the Geelong skipper, absolutely flushes a set shot from 50m out to put Geelong back in front.

We are in for a cracking last term of footy folks.

Geelong has definitely lifted its game in the final quarter so far.

That goal breaks a run of five for the Lions.

That was much needed for the Giants. Toby Bedford has kicked off the final term with a crafty goal.

He collected the ball as he streams through a contest and whacked it straight on his boot.

Jesse Hogan had the chance to get his fourth, but his set shot didn’t make the distance with the ball ending in Lloyd Meek’s hands.

Hawks by 14

Geelong’s big guns all in at the centre bounce. Holmes, Dangerfield, Atkins and Bailey Smith.

A big quarter of footy is underway.