Brisbane and Adelaide will meet in a pivotal AFL semi-final as the Lions look to rebound from a surprising qualifying final loss and the Crows seek to extend their recent resurgence. The match marks the first finals encounter between the two teams in 23 years and represents a crucial test for both sides with ambitions to advance deep into the postseason.
Brisbane secured third place during the regular season and initially appeared poised to reach a preliminary final on their way to a fourth consecutive grand final appearance. However, the two-time reigning premiers were outplayed and outworked by Sydney in their qualifying final, suffering a 141-point score against—the highest they have conceded in 21 finals under coach Chris Fagan. The defeat raised concerns about the Lions’ defensive vulnerabilities and signs of fatigue after eight straight finals series. Despite these issues, Brisbane retains confidence in traversing a long finals path, as they did during their premiership runs in 2024 and 2025, having historically recovered from heavy finals losses.
Defensively, the Lions have struggled with conceding points off turnovers, a weakness that contributed to their downfall against Sydney. Their midfield, led by dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale—ranked the league’s top centre clearance player—was outperformed at centre bounces, a significant factor in their recent defeat. Players such as Will Ashcroft and Hugh McCluggage were also below their usual standards and will be pivotal in the team’s efforts to reestablish control in the critical on-ball contests.
Adelaide enters the contest buoyed by their first finals win in nine years after overcoming a late challenge from the Western Bulldogs. The victory broke the Crows’ recent finals frustration, including last year’s straight-sets exit as minor premiers, and has lifted the weight of expectations that accompanied their home final. Under coach Matthew Nicks, Adelaide has produced a strong finish to the season, winning 10 of their final 13 matches, including triumphs over top-six opponents such as Geelong and Sydney.
The Crows’ defense has been a standout this season, ranking second in the league for fewest points conceded, a key improvement that could prove decisive against Brisbane. However, Adelaide still struggles with transitioning from defense to attack, ranking low in linking defensive 50 entries to inside 50, an area Brisbane is likely to exploit given the Lions’ recent success in pressuring oppositions through turnovers.
Historically, Adelaide has found Brisbane a difficult opponent, managing only two wins in their past 10 matches since 2018 and failing to secure a victory at the Gabba in five meetings over that period. This semi-final matchup will test whether the Crows can overcome that trend and build on their late-season momentum.
With the Lions’ midfield stars seeking to regain their form and the Crows looking to push their defense into an effective attacking platform, the semi-final promises to hinge on which team can execute under pressure. Brisbane must tighten their defensive structures and generate clean clearance work, while Adelaide will aim to maintain their defensive resoluteness and improve attacking chains to challenge the reigning premiers. The outcome will shape the trajectory of both clubs' quests for finals success this season.