Brave Dogs storm home in thriller as star Lion sweats on huge collision

The Western Bulldogs have spoiled Brisbane’s flag celebrations with a stunning five-point win at the Gabba on Saturday night.

In a seesawing final quarter where there were five lead changes, it was the Dogs who prevailed 16.15 (111) to 15.16 (106) in an absolute Opening Round thriller.

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“They were gone for all money,” AFL great Garry Lyon said of the Dogs who fell behind by 26 points in the third term.

But they rallied in the final term to kick seven of the last 10 goals – including the match winner from big man Tim English who sprinted through the middle of the ground to take the mark just 15m out.

But the Dogs win has come at a cost with young Arthur Jones concussed in the third term in an ugly incident with Lions co-captain Harris Andrews.

Andrews threw his arm back in the third term in what looked to be an attempted shepherd, but he made contact with Jones’ face.

That act has left Andrews sweating on the AFL’s Match Review.

“If you throw that back like that, you run the risk of going through the matrix. Which I’m certain it will,” Lyon said.

While sweating on Andrews’ availability, the Lions also suffered their own injury blow with star Hugh McCluggage ruled out with a calf complaint in the opening term.

The Lions had enjoyed the run of the green earlier in the match when they were awarded two controversial goals – the first from a “stiff” 50m penalty against Jones and the second when it was determined Cam Rayner didn’t take advantage when he kicked the ball away inside 50 – gifting Kai Lohmann a second shot on goal for the Lions.

SIGNS OF RESURGENCE FOR VETERAN LION… BUT CONCERN FOR STAR

Charlie Cameron might be setting himself up for a late-career resurgence.

The decorated veteran picked up where he left off at the end of last season, when he booted four goals in the Lions’ grand final belting of Geelong.

On Saturday night, he kicked three goals in the first half and four in total, looking every bit the excitement machine that he’d been in the 2019-23 seasons.

“He’s put on an absolute clinic, and probably picked up where he left off on Grand Final day and into the State of Origin,” Alastair Lynch said on Fox Footy at half-time.

“He’s been the most impactful player, hasn’t he? No doubt about it. His energy has been fantastic.

“He worked his way back into form late in the season off the back of defensive pressure – we’ve seen that tonight, and offensively he’s been outstanding.”

Cameron, who’ll turn 32 later this year, was the subject of calls to be dropped in a 2025 season where he managed just 32 goals in 25 games.

But senior coach Chris Fagan kept the faith, which is why Lynch believes the two-time premiership mentor also deserves plaudits.

“I think Chris Fagan should take a lot of credit for the support that he hung in there with him, didn’t drop him,” Lynch said.

“There were plenty of pundits calling for him to be dropped – hung in there with him, and he rewarded him on Grand Final day.”

Cameron could have had his fourth early in the third term after stopping James O’Donnell dead in his tracks with a great tackle inside 50.

“His defensive pressure has been outstanding tonight … he’s Brisbane’s leading tackler tonight,” Brown said.

On the eve of three-quarter-time, Charlie had his fourth major of the evening, launching from distance to create a 26-point buffer for the hosts.

“He’s dominated the night and the scoreboard, Charlie Cameron,” exclaimed Fox Footy caller Dwayne Russell.

Elsewhere, however, there’s an injury concern for an All-Australian midfielder.

Brisbane suffered a first-quarter blow when star midfielder Hugh McCluggage was sidelined for the rest of the match due to left calf tightness.

McCluggage looked despondent on the Lions’ bench, having started brightly against the Bulldogs with four quick touches.

Brisbane’s new co-captain was also withdrawn from the club’s Community Series hitout against Gold Coast due to a calf complaint, though it’s unclear at time of writing whether the cork in the Suns game is related to his injury on Saturday night.

“He’s gone out with a tight calf – he’s been out at the (quarter-time) huddle with the Lions and just stood at the back,” Alastair Lynch reported from boundary level on Fox Footy.

“First match as co-captain; it didn’t last too long.”

Lynch speculated McCluggage’s ailment “may be an extension of that” corked calf he sustained a week and a bit ago against Gold Coast.

Jonathan Brown said: “We know it’s Opening Round – we’re all excited, unfurling of the flag, all these things. But at the end of the day, it is Opening Round – cannot afford to risk any of your players.

“Obviously, one of your guns in your midfield; you need him over the course of the year, so look after him – I think there’d be a little bit of preservation there.”

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