Lions deny ‘upset of the year’ after allowing GOTY contender as young Bombers shine

Brisbane has survived an inspired challenge from injury-ravaged Essendon to climb to the top of the AFL ladder with an 18-point win on Thursday night.

It was a brave fightback from the Bombers after coughing up six of the first seven goals of the match at the Gabba.

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Young Bomber Nate Caddy’s breakout game sparked an Essendon fightback in the third term as the visitors drew level.

“Not a person in Australia would have given them a hope at quarter time,” Fox Footy’s Jonathan Brown said.

Dubbing it potentially the “upset of the year” as Peter Wright gave the Bombers the lead early in the fourth but in the end, Brisbane’s experience got them across the line with a 13.12 (90) to 11.6 (72) victory.

The reigning premiers now sit half a game clear of Collingwood, who have a game in hand, and six points clear of the third-placed Suns who have played two less games.

“I think Chris Fagan would be really disappointed about the Lions tonight,” three-time premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt said.

“They get the points and roll on.”

The highlight of the night was Nate Caddy’s goal of the year contender in the wet conditions.

Only minutes after a horror miss, Caddy more than made up for that effort with a stunning goal.

With Jade Gresham keeping the ball alive from the boundary, Caddy was able to gather the footy and instead of attempting to turn around he simply opted to kick the footy over his head.

“It’s a miraculous goal from the young am and we’re all square at the Gabba,” Fox Footy’s Matt Hill said.

“A Thursday night speccy!”

The goal ensured scores were level for the first time since early in the first term.

“How good is that?” Jack Riewoldt said.

“He took the big contested mark only about 10 minutes ago and ran into the open goal and missed it.

“I love this.

“I don’t know whether this is conventional, but we love it from this Bombers young gun.

“The kick over the head!

“He absolutely flushed it. The nous to even think about doing it at that point in time.

“Is this the arrival of Nate Caddy?”

There were no late changes for either side with Deven Robertson (Brisbane) and Elijah Tsatas (Essendon) the subs.

The game gets underway at 7:30pm AEST from the Gabba.

Watch live on Fox Footy (channel 504), and stream it on Kayo, from 6:30pm AEST.

The 3-2-1 (via Ben Cotton) …

3. ‘THEY’LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR THE SONG’: LIONS HANG ON AFTER SCARE

Sometimes you’ve just got to bank the four points.

That was the story for Brisbane on Thursday night as the reigning premiers pulled out the win despite a big scare from Essendon and the Lions playing well below their best.

One Lion who can hold his head high is Hugh McCluggage, with the star midfielder accumulating a career-best 41 disposals (17 contested), 11 marks and 557 metres gained to at times look like the only Brisbane player really prepared to dig in.

Meanwhile Kai Lohmann, who hadn’t kicked a goal yet this season, finished with three majors in the small forward’s best game of 2025.

The Lions were in complete control in the first half – including leading by 32 points at quarter-time in a game that looked like it could’ve gotten ugly. Brisbane took away Essendon’s uncontested marking game to made it hard for the Bombers to move the ball.

But when Brad Scott’s side raised its intensity and charged back in the third quarter with five goals to three, Brisbane had to slog it out in the end and win ugly against the plucky visitors.

No matter, premierships aren’t won in May, and Brisbane doesn’t necessarily need to be playing its best right now. For all the concerns, the Lions climbed back into first on the ladder and are much better placed than where they were this time last year.

“They’ll be happy to hear the song in the end, it was a grinding victory,” triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown said.

“Not a person in Australia would’ve given (Essendon) a hope at quarter-time.

“But it’s why the Lions are premiers, they were able to settle, hang on and kick those last couple of goals to kick clear.”

Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt meanwhile believes Chris Fagan would be leaving Thursday night’s game with concerns.

“Signs of a blowout early on. But I think Chris Fagan would be really disappointed in the Lions tonight. They get the points and roll on,” he said.

2. RISING BOMBERS STARS SHINE BRIGHT

The injury-depleted Bombers mightn’t have gotten the win, but there was positive signs as several stars continue to emerge to provide serious promise from the future.

Jye Caldwell and Nic Martin were both prime movers through the middle of he ground on Thursday night, while Nate Caddy had some massive moments to play a huge part in turning the game in the second half including a highlight goal over his head.

“Brad Scott would be absolutely thrilled with what his young Bombers have done tonight, obviously injury depleted,” Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt said on Fox Footy

“This has probably gone the way we thought it would, but Essendon would be leaving tonight with their heads held high.”

Caldwell, 24, went into beast mode in the third quarter – racking up 18 disposals (11 contested), seven clearances and six score involvements – to lead the Dons’ fightback as the visitors kicked five goals in the period.

Triple premiership Lion Alastair Lynch at thee-quarter time noted Essendon’s midfield had “belted” Brisbane’s, led by Caldwell, who finished with 30 disposals, eight tackles and a goal, and Martin.

“(Caldwell) led the way beautifully in the middle of the ground, well supported by Nic Martin the whole night,” Lynch said on Fox Footy.

So dominant was Caldwell that Brisbane was forced to send Josh Dunkley to him in the fourth term to keep him honest, with Dunkley holding the Bombers on-baller to three disposals in the final period.

Meanwhile Martin, 24, who’s been the No. 1 forward impact player over the last six weeks, continued his strong form with 29 touches and two goals.

Martin was Essendon’s most consistent player on the night and at times looked capable of single-handedly ripping the game away from Brisbane. Essendon very nearly did just that.

“He was very strong through the middle of the ground and impacted the scoreboard as well,” Lynch said of Marti at half-time.

“He stands out, he’s got a fair amount of class.

“Best on ground last week, but his class to find targets is what we haven’t seen enough from with Essendon.”

As for Caddy, at one point you were wondering if it was going to be the Caddy game following several big plays from the 19-year old in the forward half.

Caddy finished with two goals — including an epic goal over his head late in the third quarter that evened the scores and gave Essendon momentum as the visitors looked capable of pulling off something special on the road.

While that wasn’t to be, the Bombers sure have some special talents coming into their own ready to drive this rising group.

1. ‘VERY SORE’: DONS SWEATING ON ANOTHER INJURY CONCERN

The Bombers just can’t seem to go a week without an injury concern.

Essendon will be sweating on scans on Sam Durham’s ankle after the midfielder got it caught awkwardly in a contest in the first quarter.

Durham might also have a case to answer for from the Match Review Officer after turning his body and and crashing into Noah Answerth’s back in the final seconds of the contest.

Both Durham and Lion Kai Lohmann came off in the first quarter with ankle injuries, but were able to play through their setbacks.

Durham, however, looked more ginger, hobbling around the ground and playing predominately deep forward, recording only three disposals after the opening term.

Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph flagged at half-time that, despite Durham playing through the issue, scans could yet reveal a low-level syndesmosis injury.

“Scans will tell the tale, but at least he was back on the field in the second quarter even though he looked very proppy at full forward,” Ralph said on Fox Footy.

“They’ll be hoping it’s an ankle roll rather than a low-level syndesmosis.

“But he’s a very sore boy, you would not be shocked is eventually diagnosed as a syndesmosis sprain.”

It comes with Essendon battling one of the worst injury tolls in the competition – namely to key position players – missing the likes of Sam Draper, Ben McKay, Zach Reid, Jordan Ridley, Nick Bryan, Harrison Jones, and Kyle Langford.

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