It took 16 rounds, but the Brisbane Lions are back where they belong. In a determined final-quarter comeback against Melbourne last week, Brisbane's Hugh McCluggage nailed a difficult set shot to win the game for the Lions, and ultimately catapulted them back into the top eight.
It has been a long time coming for the Lions this season. Off the back of a heartbreaking grand final loss, it was widely expected Brisbane would come back stronger in 2024. However, after a 0-3 start (and at one stage 2-5), there were worrying signs for Brisbane's revenge year.
Following Round 16 though, the Lions have won six of their last eight games, as well as recording a draw. In a two-month span, the Lions have gone from being on the brink of a failed season to a side in form, with the talent to contend for a premiership again.
How did this staggering turnaround happen?
Key forwards hit their stride
Amongst the Lions' red-hot winning streak, key forwards Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood have displayed their full potential. In the Lions' latest eight-game form of 6-1-1, Daniher is averaging 2.5 goals per game, and Hipwood is averaging 2.3. Compare that to the seven matches beforehand, where Daniher averaged 1.7 goals per game and Hipwood 1.2, there is a stark difference for Brisbane's tall timber.
Daniher and Hipwood are clearly key components for Brisbane's success. The Lions have only lost one match when Hipwood and Daniher both score at least one goal, and that was by the slimmest of margins, a one-point Opening Round defeat to Carlton.
Furthermore, the Lions average the second-most shots at goal in their last five games, highlighting that when Daniher and Hipwood are scoring it positively impacts the rest of the teams' goalkicking opportunities too.
Charlie Cameron is slowly but surely increasing his consistency after a poor start to the season, and first-year player Logan Morris has flourished since his remarkable debut. Kai Lohmann is also averaging more than one goal per game in a breakout year.
Re-signings showing their worth
After receiving offers from multiple clubs, Hugh McCluggage chose to remain loyal to the club that drafted him, signing a mammoth seven-year deal reportedly worth close to $1 million per season.
Seemingly, there has been a weight lifted off of McCluggage's shoulders since. In his four games since re-signing, McCluggage has averaged 24 disposals per game, as well as adding a scoring presence to his arsenal. McCluggage has scored multiple goals twice in his last four games, as well as his clutch match-winner against Melbourne in Round 16.
HUGH MCCLUGGAGE CALLED GAME!#AFLLionsDees pic.twitter.com/Z62CqueIju
— AFL (@AFL) June 28, 2024
McCluggage has not been the only player to show faith in the Lions. Despite the talent surrounding him, Jarrod Berry remains integral to the Brisbane midfield, inking a five-year extension on Tuesday. Berry is averaging a career-best 21.3 disposals per game in 2024.
Also on the same day, Charlie Cameron extended his contract until 2028, bolstering Brisbane's forward line for years to come.
Cult figure Bruce Reville earned himself a one-year extension too, improving weekly, with his best performance of 17 disposals and two goals coming against Port Adelaide just a fortnight ago.
Not only have the recent re-signings been significant in Brisbane's mid-season charge, but the Lions stars have shone brightly in their latest winning patch. Lachie Neale has recorded disposal numbers of 36 (vs. Richmond), 38 (vs. Bulldogs), and 37 (vs. Port Adelaide) during Brisbane's last eight encounters. He has only recorded less than 25 disposals once throughout this section of the season too.
Josh Dunkley has steadily improved across a consistent year, most recently recording 14 and 17 contested possessions against the Power and Demons.
With the committed talent on their list, it's no surprise that Brisbane is back to winning so quickly.
Off-field drama settles
Although the Lions have not had to deal with as many off-field scandals as clubs such as Melbourne, there have been two sizable concerns that may have implicitly impacted Brisbane's on-field performance.
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3AW's Sam McClure broke a story in March that an off-season trip to Las Vegas taken by some of the playing group was "causing headaches" at the club.
“There's even suggestions put to me today that it has caused some tough conversations to be had between teammates as to what went on on that US trip," McClure said.
However, Brisbane vehemently denied the situation was impacting their poor start to 2024.
“It's just bulls***. There's no split in the group. This was in November, by the way. It's not the reason we're going no good," chief executive Greg Swann told the Herald Sun.
Unsurprisingly though, the debate of a rift in the playing group has settled as Brisbane's performance has improved.
Another off-field scandal that perhaps impacted Brisbane's performance was the heavy AFL probe into the racism allegations at Hawthorn, in which Lions coach Chris Fagan is alleged to have contributed to.
Hawthorn superstar Cyril Rioli and other First Nations players claimed that they had endured racism between 2008 to 2016 at Hawthorn.
Not only did meetings with the Human Rights Commission remove Fagan from main training days leading into Round 3, it also was a heavy mental burden for the Lions coach.
In May, the Human Rights Commission terminated its discussions with the two parties after failing to find a resolution. Whilst the plaintiffs may take action to the Federal Court, the current probe into Fagan has stagnated, allowing for his focus to be on his Brisbane side.
Since the closure of the Human Rights Commission discussions, Brisbane have won four consecutive games at an average margin of 36.8. It could be a coincidence, but off-field issues can tend to implicitly harm on-field performances. With Fagan's burden uplifted for the time being, his coaching has been masterful, producing two dominant away victories against the Power and Bulldogs, as well as instilling the motivation in his midfield to lift and fight back against Melbourne.
What's coming next?
Not only are the Lions pressing for the top eight, but they'll be sure to have their eyes set on the double-chance come September.
The Lions are likely to be favourites in Round 17 (against Adelaide), Round 18 (West Coast), and Round 21 (St Kilda). Round 20 (Gold Coast), Round 22 (GWS) and Round 24 (Essendon) are 50/50 games on paper, but with the Lions' current form, as well as home ground advantage against the Giants and Bombers, these too could be likely wins.
Round 19 against Sydney at the Gabba will be the real test against the league's current benchmark. A grand final rematch at the MCG versus Collingwood will also be indicative of if the Lions are truly back to their best.
If the Lions can secure a victory in either of these games, it should be a sign to the competition that the kings of the AFL jungle are back on the hunt for premiership success in 2024.
