It’s the biggest night in Queensland Aussie rules history as Brisbane hosts Gold Coast in the first ever finals Pineapple Grapple, for the right to face Collingwood in a prelim.
The Lions (3rd, 16-6-1, 114.2%) fell to Geelong in last week’s away qualifying final and now must win three consecutive matches to successfully defend their premiership.
The Suns (7th, 15-8, 124.9%) stunned Fremantle in their first ever final last week and now get a shot at their older brothers, who they’ve only beaten in eight of 29 attempts all-time – but who they smashed by 66 points a month and a half ago.
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The Suns go into the Gabba unchanged from their momentous win at Optus Stadium, while the Lions have made two key changes.
Dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale goes out of the side after injuring his quad against the Cats, with utility Bruce Reville coming into Chris Fagan’s outfit. Meanwhile, veteran Oscar McInerney returns in the ruck at the expense of Sam Day.
McInerney, who’ll play in just his 12th senior match of the season amid a nagging back issue, is back at AFL level for the first time since Round 20 — and triple premiership Lions great Alastair Lynch said the 162-gamer was a necessary inclusion.
“They had to (pick him),” Lynch told Foxfooty.com.au.
“They had to. That’s going to be a key one. Because of that enormous pressure that Geelong put on, they had to bomb the ball long down the line, and then (Tom) Stewart just outmarked everyone all day. That can’t happen.
“So, that’s why Oscar’s come in. Because of (Jarrod) Witts (too), but it’s more the long-down-the-line stuff. So, for Oscar and Darcy Fort, they’ll play a lot of forward footy so that they don’t get outmarked. So, that’ll be a huge thing. That’s why they’ve done it.
“But they’ll be nervous, because the last (senior) game that Oscar played was against the Suns, and his back was sore, so he could hardly move.
“So, they’ll be a bit nervous about that, but that’s why Oscar’s come in … he’s a popular man, I think he’s going to play a bloody important role.”
Tonight’s winner will face Collingwood in next week’s First Preliminary Final at the MCG, likely on Saturday evening.
The match gets underway at the Gabba from 7:35pm AEST.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 6:30pm AEST.
Follow Brisbane vs Gold Coast in the Second Semi Final live below!
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