- Callum Ah Chee pointed to the heavens following a goal
Brisbane star Callum Ah Chee made a touching gesture to the heavens after he scored in Saturday night’s semi-final, as the Lions went on a 53-point Gabba rampage.
The 27-year-old forward half-forward notched up a goal after gathering a loose ball in the early stages and snapping at goal with his left foot.
Ah Chee then turned his fingers into the shape of a heart and pointed them towards the sky.
The tribute was to Ah Chee’s late grandfather who passed away during the week.
Ah Chee journeyed home to WA during the week to be closer to his family and mourn the loss of his granddad.
The footy star wore a black armband for the match and had the names of family members, including ‘Pop’, written on his wrist tape.
Callum Ah Chee made a gesture to the heavens after he scored in Saturday night’s semi-final
The tribute was to Ah Chee’s late grandfather who passed away during the week
‘A moment of poignance for the family,’ commentator Al Nicholson said.
The Lions will play Collingwood in an MCG preliminary final on Saturday after their injury-hit side showed depth of class in a 14.16 (100) to 6.11 (47) QClash clinic.
Last year’s Norm Smith Medallist Will Ashcroft dominated, Josh Dunkley laid a finals-record 18 tackles, Hugh McCluggage – after 14 touches in a sobering loss to Geelong last week – had 33 and 10 clearances, while Cam Rayner shrugged an AFL record eight tackles.
In a historic finals battle between Queensland’s AFL ‘siblings’, it was the big brother, after taking some early blows, who got his way on Saturday night.
‘They keep responding this group and in a funny way that game last week prepared us,’ Lions coach Chris Fagan said.
‘We almost did to the Gold Coast what Geelong did to us.
‘Josh Dunkley … phenomenal. One of the great blokes to coach.’
The loss ended the Suns’ first finals foray – in the club’s 15th season – while the Lions are into a fourth straight preliminary final and two wins from back-to-back flags.
The Brisbane Lions’ premiership defence sprung back to life in a 53-point Gabba rampage
The Lions will play Collingwood in an MCG preliminary final on Saturday
The Suns were hot early, Ben King getting plenty of ball and Noah Anderson (26 disposals) kicking what’s becoming a trademark goal streaking away from the centre circle.
Brisbane, missing a host of talent headlined by Lachie Neale (calf), went goal-for-goal though.
Dayne Zorko’s ball movement, the welcome pressure of a busy Charlie Cameron and a bulldozing Rayner all created opportunities.
King had two early majors before star fullback Harris Andrews took over duties from Darcy Gardiner and applied the clamps.
Anderson and Matt Rowell were ominous early, but the Lions had solutions to nullify the All Australian pair.
Ashcroft (28 touches) was generally incisive and added two opportunistic goals, Dunkley (20 disposals) waged war with Rowell (23 touches, eight clearances, one goal), and McCluggage collected 21 first-half disposals.
At the other end, the Suns began to struggle to find options.
And it was the Lions’ defence that needed thanking when Kai Lohmann (three goals) played on to kick his first after another backline turnover.
A 50-metre penalty proved costly late in the half, Zac Bailey (three goals) enjoying surprising time and space to crumb and kick the Lions 25-points clear at the main break.
Lohmann, sporting a fresh buzz cut, then rubbed his scalp after nailing another to begin the half.
Suns game-breaker Bailey Humphrey missed after choosing to snap a set shot from in front, and Bailey twisted the knife at the other end with a leaping mark and goal.
Teenage rookie forward Ty Gallop then kicked his first AFL goal to push the lead beyond 40 points and ice the game with minutes still to play before the final break.
