The M.C.G. played host to an extraordinary Preliminary Finals showdown on Saturday, 19 Sept, as the Brisbane Lions secured a high-scoring 131–122 victory over Hawthorn. In a contest that rewrote expectations for defensive solidity, both outfits threw everything into an attacking masterclass, ultimately yielding a combined 253 points on the board.
Coming off a strong win against Fremantle, Hawthorn entered this clash looking to make their mark on the big stage. However, the visitors from Brisbane arrived with serious offensive momentum, building on their recent form after defeating Adelaide Crows 144–91 last start. The market had kept a watchful eye on the visitors leading up to the bounce, with the Brisbane Lions seeing a drift in the head-to-head market from 1.79 out to 1.82 before tip-off.
High-Octane Scoring Takes Over the M.C.G.
From the opening siren, it was evident that the total points line of 177.5 was in for a serious challenge. Brisbane's recent scoring trends had shown an average of 122.2 points across their previous five overall outings, and they leaned heavily into that potent forward structure once again. Hawthorn matched fire with fire, but the relentless pressure from the visitors proved too much to contain over four quarters.
The total points market saw massive movement in the lead-up, with the over dramatically firming from 1.9 down to 1.36, while the under drifted significantly from 1.9 out to 3. Punts on the over proved entirely justified as both forward lines carved up the turf, leaving defensive structures in tatters and delivering a massive scoreline for the neutrals.
How the tips went
It was a clean sweep for our published selections as the Brisbane Lions delivered across every major market. The head-to-head selection on the Brisbane Lions at 1.79 saluted, overcoming the late price drift to secure the win.
In the handicap markets, the Brisbane Lions -2.5 line at 1.9 also got home comfortably as the visitors converted their attacking dominance into a definitive nine-point victory at the final siren. Finally, the total points selection on the Over (originally published at 169.5) cruised to a win as the two sides combined for an incredible 253 total points.