Brisbane Lions veteran Ash McGrath has had a 200th game to remember, with the West Aussie helping his side to a remarkable five-point win over Geelong.
THAT is why we love footy, why we love sport in general. It produces fairytales, plot twists and dramatic endings no fiction writer would dare deliver. It is reality television at its best.
Yesterday at the Gabba, the Brisbane Lions and Geelong put the game of AFL back in the spotlight.
Ash McGrath, in his 200th game, kicked the winning goal after the siren to give Brisbane their best win here of this era.
A day after the Wallabies lost a Test when Kurtley Beale muffed an on-the-buzzer shot at goal, McGrath calmly went back and drilled a set shot from 50m.
It was a nice reward for a long and distinguished servant of the club. But McGrath wasn't the story yesterday. The Brisbane Lions were the story and all footy fans owe them our thanks for what they produced.
At halftime, this game looked over. The Lions appeared to be sliding to their ninth loss of the season. And a city that has been pre-occupied with the Wallabies and the State of Origin series may have barely noticed.
And then the Lions knocked over the heavyweights who had won 10 of their first 11 games.
Simon Black and Daniel Rich were superb.
Ash McGrath is congratulated by Lions teammates after kicking the winning goal against Geelong at the Gabba. Picture: Darren England
The defence battled hard. Dayne Zorko was a livewire and Brent Moloney finished strongly. It was a performance that restored some faith.
It would not be a stretch to say some people would have fallen back in love with our game. And it could be a macro-shot of Brisbane's season.
The Lions were uncompetitive early when the game was there to be won before a thrilling strong finish forced the question - are there the makings of a finals contender in this outfit?
That is too early to answer.
But what it has shown, and not for the first time, is that when Brisbane get it right they can scare the very best sides.
Geelong now face some soul searching. Their last three weeks have produced average performances against battlers Gold Coast, GWS and now Brisbane.
If the Lions can work out how to play like they did in the final quarter for entire games they will win more than they lose in the run home.
Simon Black in action for the Lions against Geelong at the Gabba. Picture: Darren England
There were no obvious difference in the clearances, although the Cats dominated early and Brisbane's contested footy was the equal of their more highly fancied rivals.
But for a half of footy, and for the second week in a row, they could not work out to move the footy into attack.
Critics of skipper Jonathan Brown need to take a breather.
At halftime, the Cats had almost twice the inside 50 entries. And when Brisbane did get it in there the build-up was so laborious the Cats were able to get numbers back.
Brown was up against a pair of very good defenders in Harry Taylor and Tom Lonergan and he kept Brisbane in the contest with a very good third quarter, which became the foundation of the final quarter fightback.
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