A tough night for the reigning premiers. And if not for being gifted two goals from a double free kick just before half-time, it could’ve — and probably should’ve — been a more one-sided result.

It included co-captain Lachie Neale’s night brutally ending in injury, while Hugh McCluggage didn’t have “a minute to breathe the entire match” after being clamped.

We rate every Brisbane player out of 10 from their qualifying final vs Geelong.

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1. Kai Lohmann

Drifted in and out of the game but never stopped trying. Kicked the opening goal of the second term after drawing a free kick on Tom Stewart inside 50 to become Brisbane’s first multiple goalkicker. 6

3. Jaspa Fletcher

Can hold his head high including a particularly good first half. The classy Fletcher was one of Brisbane’s best in an otherwise slow start including nine touches in the opening term alone. “He’s playing a game,” Jason Dunstall said. 7

4. Callum Ah Chee

Had enough of the ball, but like many of Brisbane’s forwards, didn’t have his usual influence. Certainly not as impactful as Ah Chee’s three-goal outing in last year’s preliminary final in one of the best games of his career. 4

5. Josh Dunkley

One of his side’s best. A typical workman performance from tough inside midfielder including five tackles in the first term. 8

6. Hugh McCluggage

A tough night for recently made first-time All-Australian. Worn like a glove by Oisin Mullin, who even kicked his first career goal in the first term while keeping the Lions jet to a season-low disposal count. “Hasn’t had a minute to breathe the entire match, they’ve done a job on him… four kicks at 50 per cent efficiency,” Jason Dunstall said. 2

7. Jarrod Berry

Took a while to het going in his return from injury. Not his usual influence. Did kick an important goal on the run in the second term to get Brisbane within a point during the visitors’ best stretch of the night. 5

8. Will Ashcroft

Quiet by his standards early — and especially his last finals outing! But like all stars do, the Norm Smith medallist got better as the game went on. Turned into a solid night. 7

9. Lachie Neale

A then game-high 32 disposals before his night ended in sour scenes. Limped off late in the forth term after pulling up and grabbing his calf in alarming scenes “He put his head into his jumper and let out a nice swear word, so he’s done something,” boundary rider Cameron Mooney noted. Didn’t take the champ long to get going in his first game back from a calf issue.  Racked up 14 disposals alone in the second term Didn’t miss a beat and you wouldn’t have known he hasn’t played in over a month, but suddenly his season in doubt in a potential Lions disaster. “He’s had a massive night, by the way, he was the one driving them when the rest weren’t,” Garry Lyon added. 8

10. Levi Ashcroft

We know he’s going to be a star, but the younger Ashcroft looked like a kid playing his first final in a quiet start. Built into the game as it went on but subbed out at three-quarter time with the second-lowest disposal tally of his career (13). 2

13. Logan Morris

A tough night for Brisbane’s key forwards as they were constantly overpowered by Geelong’s zone defence struggled to get in one-on-ones. Morris Couldn’t get his hands on it early in a matchup with Jack Henry. Didn’t kick his first goal until late in the third term. Kicked five goals last time these times met at GMHBA Stadium in Round 15, plus a career-best six goals last time he played at the MCG against Collingwood in Round 21. A night where the Lions missed Joe Daniher. 3

14. Sam Day

Limited impact from the 32-year old tall forward. Had Sam De Koning for company mainly and just couldn’t get going. 2

15. Dayne Zorko

Most disposals on the ground. The evergreen 36-year old had a real crack including tallying game-high 10 disposals in the first term. Started at half back but went wherever he pleased. “Playing some sort of game, he’s all rip, tear and bust. He’s not that fussed about how it gets forward, he’s just going and throwing the boot on it,” Garry Lyon said of the veteran. 8

16. Cam Rayner

The villain of the night. And talk about zero to hero! After barely touching the ball in the first half, with Mark O’Connor following him everywhere, was gifted given two goals from a double free kick just before half-time to get Brisbane back within 15 points.  Booed heavily by Cats fans thereafter whenever he went near the ball and even gave it to the Geelong cheersquad after kicking his third major. Plenty of theatre. Might want to avoid pubs down the highway for a while! 6

20. Sam Marshall (sub)

N/A.

22. Ty Gallop

Like Morris and Gallop, really struggled to get involved in a grim night for the Lions key forwards. 2

23. Charlie Cameron

First goal in the opening two minutes of the game, but very quiet afterwards. Gave away a free kick late in the third quarter that left to Geelong going coast-to-coast to extend its lead. “Been that sort of night for Charlie Cameron,” Jason Dunstall said afterwards. “He ran into an open goal very early on the nigh, but no impact since. 2

27. Darcy Gardiner

Had his hands full. Gardiner was early predominantly matched up on a lively Patrick Dangerfield, who helped set the tone for the Cats early. Was switched onto the red-hot Jeremy Cameron late in the first term. 5

31. Harris Andrews

Such a key leader and pillar of Brisbane’s defence. But even Andrews had no answers for Geelong’s buzzing attack. Kept Neale honest in the first quarter when several other Cats were humming. Mightn’t be a better defender in the game when he’s on, with Jason Dunstall noting the Lions co-captain was “impassable” during the second quarter. 7

32. Darcy Fort

An honest performance against no traditional rucks. Found himself matched up on a variety of opponents, with Geelong deploying a triple-threat ruck combination of Mark Blicavs, Sam De Koning and Connor O’Sullivan. 7

33. Zac Bailey

After a slow start, started to get going in the second term. Lacked his usual spark and big moments that can turn a game, but had the most score involvements of any Lion. Matched up with Max Holmes a lot and you’d have to give Holmes the points. 7

35. Ryan Lester

Had his hands full early with a red-hot Jeremy Cameron, who kicked 2.3 in the first term. “Is there another matchup for him?,” Cats legend Cameron Mooney. Not the first to struggle on Jez — and won’t be the last! 4

37. Brandon Starcevich

One of Brisbane’s best defenders. Had the assignment on Tyson Stengle and kept the Cats small forward goalless. 7

44. Darcy Wilmot

Got enough of the footy with 20 touches but couldn’t find his usual time and space to get his leg drives going. 6