THE BRISBANE Lions have pulled off a stunning come-from-behind victory against flag-fancy Adelaide, storming back from a goalless opening quarter to win by 10 points at the Gabba.
A Tom Rockliff cracker - with just 45 seconds on the clock - sealed the game for the Lions who at one point were trailing by 38 points.
The Crows bolted out of the blocks, banging on six goals in the opening term while restricting the home team to just three points, but somehow coughed up the game, 13.17 (95) to 12.13 (85).
The Lions woke up in the second term with a five-goal burst to be just 11 points adrift at the main change.
Lion Pearce Hanley was the game's leading possession-getter at half-time with 17 touches, while Adelaide's Ian Callinan had three goals to his name.
In the third quarter the Lions continued to keep coming and a Simon Black goal - just a minute after Andrew Raines slotted his first - had scores locked with five minutes remaining.
A 50-metre penalty against Taylor Walker gave the Lions another - this time through ruckman Ben Hudson - and suddenly they had an unlikely six-point lead heading into the final term.
The stage was set for a thriller when Callinan's (fourth) cut the lead to just four points with 90 seconds left after a shocking Rockliff turnover.
But the vice-captain quickly redeemed himself, kicking his only goal at the death to ice the Lions' second win in seven games.
Kurt Tippett (a hot topic during the week with the Lions registering their interest in the Crow) appeared in his first game since July 21 due to three head knocks in five weeks, but he finished with just seven touches and one behind in a rusty display.
He met with Crows officials and management in Brisbane on Friday night but it remains to be seen where the key forward plays next year.
The Lions did their best to interest Tippett with a fine display after battling back from a first-term shocker.
Long suffering Lions fans had to wait until the sixth minute of the second term before celebrating the Lions' first goal.
But they strung together a five-goal second term with Rohan Bewick bagging a double to set-up the stunning fightback.
BRISBANE LIONS 0.3 5.9 10.15 13.17 (95)
ADELAIDE 6.5 7.8 10.9 12.13 (85)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Bewick 3, Rich 2, Brown 2, Black, Hudson, Lisle, Polkinghorne, Raines, Rockliff
Adelaide: Walker 4, Callinan 4, Jenkins, Johncock, Petrenko, Vince
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Redden, Black, Adcock, Zorko, Hanley, Rich
Adelaide: Thompson, Walker, Dangerfield, Shaw, Callinan
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Maguire (ankle)
Adelaide: Talia (cork)
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: Elliot Yeo replaced Matt Maguire in the second quarter
Adelaide: Chris Knights replaced Daniel Talia at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Kamolins, Wenn, Ryan
Official crowd: 18.979 at the Gabba
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
