AFL finals 2024 LIVE updates: Miracle Lions comeback win still ...

Andrew Stafford reports:

For the first time tonight, the Giants are slowing the game down, chewing up seconds, taking some uncontested marks.That’s fine, it’s chewed up a few seconds, but they can’t afford to shut up shop yet. Cameron kicks his 401st career goal. Margin three goals, with 14 minutes to go.

Charlie Cameron enters the fray by accepting a quick handball and runs into goal. Bang. Giants’ lead has been cut to 18 points.

Punches being thrown and traded. Greene at one end, Hipwood at the other.Crucially, the ball was delivered inside 50 by Cam Rayner, finally getting a run in the middle, which should have happened earlier.The margin is still 25, but we know how quickly the Lions can score if they get a roll on, as they did in that third quarter.

Brent Daniels finds Toby Greene with a pass, only for the Giants skipper to grass the mark, yet he has the composure to take possession and snap successfully while falling back.

However, Eric Hipwood, who has had a rugged night, immediately responds for the Lions with a snap. Giants 98, Lions 73.

Andrew Stafford reports:

Also, a nice milestone for Charlie Cameron, who kicked his 400th career goal in that quarter, a superb achievement for a small forward. The Lions aren’t giving this up yet. Fourth quarter under way.

For now at least, the question asked of the Giants has been answered by Jesse Hogan.Two big contested marks. One direct, unselfish assist. And his fifth goal. And a margin that had been cut to 13 is back to 25 at three-quarter time.Of course, credit must also go to the Giants’ midfielders, especially Tom Green, who has been immense, for getting it forward. But this is Jesse’s match. What an unbelievable footballer he has become — in his 10th season, and at his third club, he’s finally everything he promised to be.

It is pity that there are so many empty seats here in western Sydney, as that third quarter was absolutely compelling, Brisbane trying to stage an unlikely comeback, before Jesse Hogan unselfishly sets up Xavier O’Halloran and gets his 5th major of the night. At one stage it looked like Adam Kingsley was getting nightmare from his side’s 4th quarter collapse last week at the SCG, but thankfully for him, the resistance looks to be quelled. Do Brisbane have a final gear they can go through? Incredible quarter that really brought this contest to life. Giants 92, Lions 67.

Hogan a hero: Jesse HoganCredit: via Getty Images