Lions Roar Back from the Brink in Epic Comeback Against the Bulldogs
Wow, what a game that was! If you tuned into the Bulldogs vs Brisbane clash at Norwood Oval, you witnessed one of the most gripping turnarounds in recent AFL memory. Honestly, it was the textbook definition of a "game of two halves." Brisbane, the reigning premiers, looked almost dead and buried early in the third quarter. They were trailing the Western Bulldogs by a whopping 39 points under scorching 30-degree-plus conditions. But just when you thought the Lions were done, they found another gear.
It all changed after halftime. Brisbane came out with a whole new level of energy, pressure, and belief. And at the center of this incredible comeback? Eric Hipwood. He was practically invisible in the first half—just one disposal—but exploded in the second, ending the night with five goals, including the last two of the game. It was like he flipped a switch and suddenly couldn’t be stopped. Every time the ball went near him, something happened. Under the full moon, Hipwood turned into a force of nature.
The Lions kicked 14 goals in the second half—fourteen! That stat alone tells you how dominant they became. Coach Chris Fagan summed it up perfectly after the game. He admitted it’s not the ideal way to win—definitely not heart-healthy—but praised his side’s resilience and belief. And fair enough, because the way they flipped the script was nothing short of phenomenal.
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On the Bulldogs’ side, they were electric in the first half. Players like Sam Darcy, Rory Lobb, and Tom Liberatore were doing everything right. Darcy was brilliant early, kicking two goals and taking on a bit of ruck work, while the Dogs piled on goals and controlled the tempo. They went into halftime up by 33 and even stretched it to 39 shortly after the break. It looked like they had Brisbane figured out.
But then the tide turned. Brisbane’s midfield brigade—McCluggage, Neale, Dunkley, and young gun Jaspa Fletcher—stepped up massively. Fletcher’s 25 disposals and McCluggage’s game-high 32 were pivotal. Brisbane slowly chipped away at the lead, with Logan Morris adding four goals of his own and Cam Rayner delivering one of the clutch plays late in the game that sealed the Lions’ fate as victors.
There was a moment when the Dogs got back within two points in the final quarter after a quick pair of goals, but a costly kick-out error let Brisbane back in, and that was all the Lions needed. A goal from Rayner and another from Callum Ah Chee snuffed out any hope of a Bulldogs resurgence.
This win marks Brisbane's first 5-0 start in the post-Fitzroy era—a huge moment in their history. You could feel Fagan’s pride in his squad after the match. He mentioned how much they focused over the summer on staying humble while backing their ability, and this game was a brilliant showcase of that mindset.
To sum it up, it was a clash of wills, with the Lions digging deep and roaring louder when it mattered most. For the Bulldogs, it’s a tough lesson in maintaining momentum. For Brisbane? It’s another feather in the cap of a team that’s proving week after week that they’re never out of it—not until the final siren sounds.
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