Lions overcome first half splutter to continue unbeaten run
Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats, AFL 2025 round 3 The Brisbane Lions recovered from a shocking first half to secure a comeback victory, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season and silencing a vocal travelling Geelong crowd. The game started with the Cats taking an early lead, dominating the first half to lead by 26 points at half time. The Lions turned the game around in the second half running out 9 point winners in a low scoring game.
Cats skipper and outgoing player’s union boss Patrick Dangerfield was instrumental in the Cats’ first half success. Wet conditions made play challenging which suited the Cats better who also capitalized on the Lions’ mistakes.
Brisbane’s comeback in the second half began with four unanswered goals, turning the deficit into a one-point lead at three quarter time. Not only did the Lions bang through the unanswered goals, the Cats failed to score even a solitary point.
Hugh McCluggage and Will Ashcroft were pivotal in this turnaround, amassing 30 disposals each. The final quarter saw the lead change hands multiple times, with Dangerfield briefly putting Geelong back in front. However, goals from Dayne Zorko and Jarrod Berry sealed the victory for Brisbane.
AFL 2025 ROUND 3
BRISBANE LIONS V GEELONG CATS
SATURDAY 29 MARCH 2025, 19:35 AEST
THE GABBA
BRISBANE LIONS 2.2, 3.4, 7.7, 10.10 (70) DEFEATED
GEELONG CATS 3.4, 7.6, 7.6, 9.7 (61)
GOALS
BRISBANE LIONS: Cameron, Rayner, W.Ashcroft, L.Ashcroft, Morris, Hipwood, Reville, Bailey, Zorko, Berry
GEELONG CATS: Dangerfield 2, O.Henry, Holmes, Dempsey, Close, Cameron, Blicavs, Clark
BEST
BRISBANE LIONS: McCluggage, W.Ashcroft, Andrews, Zorko, Dunkley, Lester
GEELONG CATS: Holmes, Smith, Dangerfield, Guthrie, Miers, Mullin
INJURIES
BRISBANE LIONS: Kai Lohmann (ankle)
GEELONG CATS: Nil reported
CHANGES
BRISBANE LIONS: Oscar McInerney, replaced in selected side by Darcy Fort
GEELONG CATS: Tom Stewart, replaced in selected side by Mark O’Connor
SUBSTITUTES
BRISBANE LIONS: Bruce Reville, replaced Lohmann in the third quarter
GEELONG CATS: Mitch Knevitt, replaced Sam De Koning in the fourth quarter
REPORTS
BRISBANE LIONS: –
GEELONG CATS: –
CROWD: 27,966 at The Gabba
About The Author
Ben Jensen
THE CATTERY started out as a labour of love, and remains that, by creator and principal contributor Ben Jensen in mid season 2002. His aim was to make the best 'Unofficial' Geelong Football Club site on the net. A consultant by day and webmaster by night, he created his first website back in 1996 whilst at the time studying Engineering and Science at Deakin University in Geelong.