Brisbane has blown a “golden chance” to finish top four and will now need to defy history to claim the 2025 premiership, Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna has warned.
Labelling the Lions the “biggest loser” of the weekend, Brisbane are now all but assured of missing the double prized chance – unless Geelong fall to lowly West Coast at home – as a result of their shock loss to Collingwood.
And that spells disaster for Chris Fagan’s men, Montagna believes, as the club will need to win three straight away games just to make the grand final.
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“For me, they were the biggest loser of the weekend. They lost twice on Saturday,” Montagna said on First Crack.
“Not only they lost the game, they lost an opportunity to finish top four and a golden chance to win this elusive premiership they are now having their sixth crack at.
“For me, I just think now you look at it, they’ve got to do it the hard way. Only one team in 25 years have done it from outside the four.
“No one in over 25 years, going back to Adelaide in ‘97, have been able to win three away games in a row to win a premiership.
“It’s almost set themselves an impossible task.
“Considering two weeks ago, they were the favourites. I had them as the favourites. They were in the box seat and it was all opening up for them.
“They’ve let a golden opportunity slip for me.
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“I find it really difficult for them to win the premiership. They’re going to have to defy history and I think they’ve only got themselves to blame.
“I think they should be really disappointed.”
History shows eight of Brisbane’s past 12 finals have been played at the Gabba – while their away record in finals under Chris Fagan has registered just one win in four matches.
More recently, the Lions have led in five of their past six losses at the MCG but been unable to get the job done.
“It’s all a too familiar tale,” Montagna warned.
Fellow First Crack panellist David King agreed the Lions were wasting a prime opportunity for a premiership.
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“They’ve got the best list – I think their on-field talent is better than a fifth position on the AFL table after 23, 24 rounds,” he said.
“The question mark’s in the coaches box. It’s as simple as that.
“The challenge right now is that when these moments come, the other team gets their way. And they are able to force situations that put Brisbane into a flat spin. It happens too regularly.
“Geelong have got half the talent Brisbane has got and they’re in the four.”
But King was adamant Brisbane could still challenge because “the talent is there”.
The Lions have played at least two finals every year for the past five seasons in a remarkable run of dominance. But they have just one grand final appearance to show for their efforts – the heartbreaking four-point loss to Collingwood last year.
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