The Western Bulldogs have spoiled Brisbane’s flag unfurling celebrations with a stunning five-point win at the Gabba on Saturday night.
In a seesawing final quarter which produced five lead changes, it was the Dogs who prevailed 16.15 (111) to 15.16 (106) in an Opening Round thriller for the vault.
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“They were gone for all money,” Demons great Garry Lyon said of the Dogs, who trailed by as many as 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 ruckman Tim English, who sprinted through the middle of the ground to take the mark just outside the goalsquare.
But the Dogs’ win has come at a cost, with young forward Arthur Jones concussed in the third term in an incident involving Lions co-captain Harris Andrews.
Andrews threw his arm back in what looked to be an attempted shepherd, but he made heavy contact with Jones’ face.
That act has left Andrews sweating on the Match Review Officer’s findings, which will be revealed on Sunday night.
“If you throw that (arm) 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 an injury blow of their own, with All-Australian midfielder 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” 50-metre 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.
The Dogs’ win soured what had been a day of celebration for the Lions, who unveiled their 2025 premiership flag in front of fans at their in Brisbane.
THE 3-2-1 (what we learned) …
3. ‘PROBABLY GET BLOWN AWAY’: SIGNS OF DOGS GROWTH AS PIVOTAL MINUTES PAVE WAY FOR ALL-TIME SCALP
The Bulldogs were on the canvas in the third term.
After the Dogs took a three-point lead at the seven-minute mark of the premiership quarter, Brisbane – not dissimilar to the grand final last September – piled on five-straight goals to take a game-high 26-point lead.
Nobody would have given Luke Beveridge’s Dogs a chance, especially given their defensive struggles stemming from last year, and the rampant nature of Brisbane’s style of play.
But the travellers fought tooth and nail – a phrase Dogs fans have heard a bit, recently – remarkably kicking nine of the game’s final 11 goals to emerge victorious.
They first took a lead at the nine-minute mark of the fourth after Ed Richards saluted with a set shot.
“The Doggies had to show fight here, didn’t they? The game was getting away from them, but they have done it so well,” caller Anthony Hudson said after Richards’ goal.
Brown added: “Got to 26 points, you’re spot on – it looked like slipping away.”
The sides traded blows, including a captain’s goal from Marcus Bontempelli and a Lions response featuring Cam Rayner.
And after Aaron Naughton capitalised from the goalsquare after a costly 50-metre penalty, Tim English drifted forward to mark and kick what proved to be the winning goal at the 30-minute mark.
“That is extraordinary. That is an unbelievable game of footy. No one loses any fans,” Demons icon Garry Lyon said in the immediate aftermath on Fox Footy.
“Maybe the Western Bulldogs just won a whole heap more, because they were gone for all money against the reigning premier … great coaching from Luke Beveridge, the way he threw his side around here.”
Speaking to Fox Footy’s Alastair Lynch post-game, Bontempelli spoke to the growth of the playing group, to recoup after a tough stretch in the third term.
“That last five, sort of eight minutes of the third quarter, just showed a bit of grit to hang in there and stay in the game, and we’ve been talking about that for a long time as a footy club.
“Years ago, we probably (would have got) blown away a bit there, so I think it’s just a good small sign of a bit of resilience early in the season, and obviously against a really good team.”
2. 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.”
An iconic sequence for Zakostelsky! | 00:28
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.”
1. SUPERSTAR LION UNDER IN MRO’S SIGHTS
Brisbane’s triple All-Australian defender Harris Andrews is all but certain to draw the MRO’s ire after an incident in the third quarter that concussed a rival.
After a marking contest on the wing, Andrews looked to put a block on Bulldogs opponent Artie Jones in an attempt to prevent him from gaining possession.
However, he collected Jones high with a hit that was hard enough to concuss the young Dogs forward, who was ruled out later in the third term.
“He got an errant backhander … he (Andrews) was aware that he was there; I think that’s one of the things that you’ve got to consider,” Garry Lyon said as multiple replay angles were shown.
“If you’re going to throw that (elbow) back like that, you run the risk of going through the matrix, which I’m certain it will.”
“Harris Andrews put a block on – now, I’m sure it’s not intentional, but Harris looked around, identified where Artie was, and thrown his arm back to put a block on.
“But he is in some trouble, I would have thought, (since) Artie Jones went out of the game with concussion, and it is high contact.
“So, I think he’s got a few worries there.”
Given Jones was knocked out, Andrew is likely facing multiple weeks on the sidelines, with upcoming Brisbane matchups against Sydney and St Kilda.
The Lions’ co-captain’s fate will be revealed by the Match Review Officer on Sunday night.
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