Lions beat Hawks in epic AFL preliminary final

Brisbane have survived an almighty final-quarter fightback from Hawthorn to win an all-time great AFL preliminary final by nine points.

A controversial holding-the-ball decision against Hawks defender Jarman Impey gave Hugh McCluggage a free kick and he kicked the match-winning goal with 18 seconds left.

The Lions won the centre bounce and kicked another goal on the siren to give them a nine-point win, 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122), at the MCG on Saturday.

Brisbane will play Fremantle in next Saturday's grand final - the first time the teams have played each other in a final.

The Lions are aiming to become the third team this century - Brisbane in 2001-02 and then Hawthorn in 2013-15 - to pull off a premiership three-peat.

Hawks fans were in uproar after the final siren and a bottle was thrown at the umpires as they left the field, after their team had rallied from 28 points behind during the last quarter.

There were nine lead changes in the game - four alone late in the final term.

Among many highlights, Hawks key forward Mitch Lewis took a soaring mark and kicked a goal to put them back in front with only a couple of minutes left.

Tom Barrass and James Sicily then took two massive defensive marks, but the Lions went forward again and the crucial free was paid against Impey.

Hawthorn's Nick Watson was best afield with six goals, and he was instrumental in their brave last-quarter charge.

Trailing by 22 points in the second term and 16 points in the third, Brisbane went on a scoring rampage that appeared to have decided the game, before Hawthorn's outstanding rally.