Brisbane Lions under fire after collapse against Collingwood exposes grim AFL finals reality

AFL great David King has taken an extraordinary swipe at Brisbane coach Chris Fagan after the shock defeat to Collingwood exposed a grim AFL finals truth for the Lions. Fagan's side looked to have a crucial top-four spot all but locked up after leading by 17 points with just five minutes to go in their second-last game of the regular season, until the Pies booted three quick goals to take the lead and snatch a stunning one-point win.

The costly slip-up means the Lions failed to take advantage of Geelong's loss against St Kilda by leapfrogging the Cats into fourth spot. And unless Geelong suffers a shock defeat against struggling West Coast in the final game of the home-and-away season, Brisbane are all but assured of missing out on a double AFL finals chance that comes with a top-four finish.

It also means Fagan's men will need to become the first team in 25 years to win three straight away games if they hope to win the premiership. The Lions are typically strong at home in the finals, with eight of their past 12 finals matches being played at the Gabba. But their away record under Fagan in the finals stands at just one victory in four games.

The Lions have also held the lead in five of their past six losses at the MCG but failed to convert their advantages into victories and it paints a grim picture for Brisbane heading into their finals campaign. Kangaroos dual-premiership great King has branded it a huge disappointment for a team that he believes has the "best list" in the AFL and pointed the finger of blame squarely at Fagan and the Lions' coaching staff.

AFL greats criticise Brisbane over costly slip-up before finals

“They’ve got the best list – I think their on-field talent is better than a fifth position on the AFL table after 23, 24 rounds,” King told Fox Footy's First Crack. “The question mark is in the coaches box. It’s as simple as that. The challenge right now is that when these moments come, the other team gets their way. And they are able to force situations that put Brisbane into a flat spin. It happens too regularly. Geelong have got half the talent Brisbane has got and they’re in the four.”

Fellow AFL great Leigh Montagna agreed with King and said the Lions had blown a “golden chance” to finish in the top four, labelled Brisbane "the biggest loser" of the weekend. And the St Kilda legend warned that Fagan's men would have to defy history if they hope to go one better than last year and win the AFL premiership in 2024.

“No one in over 25 years, going back to Adelaide in ‘97, have been able to win three away games in a row to win a premiership," Montagna said. “It’s almost set themselves an impossible task. Considering two weeks ago, they were the favourites. I had them as the favourites. They were in the box seat and it was all opening up for them.

“They’ve let a golden opportunity slip for me. I find it really difficult for them to win the premiership. They’re going to have to defy history and I think they’ve only got themselves to blame. I think they should be really disappointed... It’s all a too familiar tale."

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Fagan said he remained optimistic ahead of Brisbane's final game of the regular season at home to Essendon on Saturday night, despite lamenting the nature of his side's late collapse against Collingwood. "The players are very disappointed. We're very disappointed," Fagan said after the game. "It was a game where, when we had momentum, we should have taken our shots more than we did, particularly in that third quarter. Margins of three goals aren't big margins in footy anymore. They can be cut back pretty quickly."

with AAP