Banged-up Brisbane will likely be without star Lachie Neale for the rest of the finals as they attempt to defend their AFL premiership.
The dual Brownlow medallist injured his right calf in the Lions' 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74) qualifying final defeat to Geelong at the MCG on Friday night.
It was Neale's first game in more than a month, with him having been sidelined for the last three games of the home-and-away season due to a quad complaint.
Lions coach Chris Fagan admitted he was "not expecting great news" from Neale's scans.
"Looks like he's done a calf, so that's not a good thing," Fagan said.
Loading Twitter content
"He's a pretty tough sort of guy, can usually play through those, but he couldn't.
"It takes a lot for him to come off, so I'd suspect it's something significant."
Neale still gathered 32 disposals against the Cats, but had limited influence on the game as he was part of a Lions midfield that was badly beaten.
Brisbane overcame major adversity last year, winning all four finals en route to its first flag in 21 years.
Loading Twitter content
But it will take something equally as special for the team to repeat it.
Neale will join premiership defenders Jack Payne (knee) and Noah Answerth (Achilles) on the sidelines.
Important forward Eric Hipwood is unlikely to return for next Saturday night's home semifinal against either Fremantle or Gold Coast.
Fagan admitted he had not thought about if they could win the flag without Neale.
"I'm just worried about trying to win a game next week," he said.
"He's a great player so obviously he helps, and we've got quite a few other guys who are injured at the moment and not playing, so whether that adds up to too many injuries and makes it difficult [remains to be seen].
"But give a lot of credit to Geelong tonight. They were magnificent."
Brisbane's lacklustre performance against the Cats showed they are missing the star power up forward of Joe Daniher, who retired after last year's grand final win.
"There won't be an overreaction to tonight," Fagan said.
"We'll just do what we always do; have a look at the vision and find out where we made errors and how we can improve.
"I've got a lot of faith in this group.
"We can make a drama out of it, but they've been in the last seven final series and done some pretty good work in that time.
"It's not always going to be a bed of roses.
"Every now and then you're going to meet an opponent, like we did, who were red-hot. We'll just stay calm and do what we always do."
If the Lions are able to avoid going out in straight sets and win through to a preliminary final, they will face Collingwood at the MCG.
Geelong shrugged off a pair of controversial free kick calls to advance to a preliminary final after their commanding win over Brisbane.
After being challenged in the first half, the Cats were dominant after the main break.
"I'm not a Cats supporter, but I was angry. That was ridiculous. It is a final. That is so soft," Buckley said on Fox Footy's half-time show.
Loading Twitter content
Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews was equally stunned by the decisions as he was interviewed by Geelong great Cam Mooney while walking off the ground after the half-time siren.
"I watched it on the big screen and I'm not really sure to be honest, but we'll take it," he said.
The two Rayner free kicks came after teammate Kai Lohmann was also awarded a free kick almost 50m away from the play that led to a goal. All three of Brisbane's second-quarter goals came via off-ball free kicks.
Geelong was able to steady itself impressively after the main break, ramming home eight goals to four in the second half as Max Holmes (23 disposals) starred in the third quarter.
A pair of controversial free kick calls from field umpire Brent Wallace threatened to completely flip the momentum of the qualifying final in Brisbane's favour just minutes before half-time. (Getty Images: Michael Willson)
"Are they there? Probably not, but you've got to be mindful this time of the year," Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield said of the free kicks after the game.
"It's a learning thing for our players. I'm not sure they're exactly there, but he's a smart player, Cam Rayner.
"I felt for the most part our guys won that duel."
Ollie Dempsey kicked a remarkable goal in the third quarter as Geelong booked its spot in a preliminary final with a commanding win over Brisbane at the MCG. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)
Chris Scott's charges dominated the midfield, winning centre clearances 12-7 and inside-50s 60-47.
Loading Twitter content
With Rhys Stanley (hamstring) sidelined, ruckman Mark Blicavs (six clearances, 28 hitouts) was superb along with Holmes, Tom Atkins (10 tackles) and Ollie Dempsey (three goals, 25 disposals).
Tom Stewart (11 intercept possessions) was superb and Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron (2.3, seven marks) threatened to tear the game apart early but was let down by poor goal kicking.
Brisbane's Jaspa Fletcher (20 disposals), Josh Dunkley (29 disposals), Dayne Zorko (35 touches, 776 metres gained) and Andrews battled hard while Rayner finished the night with three goals.
With AAP
Follow the live blog below for a recap of all the action as it happened.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says Lachie Neale's calf injury appears 'significant' at this stage. (Getty Images)
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan doesn't sound like a man who's expecting to see Lachie Neale again this year.
"It looks like he's done a calf, so that's not a good thing," he says.
"He's a pretty tough sort of guy and he can usually play through those, but he couldn't, so I'm not expecting great news there.
"I don't know the severity of it. I'd suspect it's something significant.
"There's no issues with the quad, it's a calf."
Stay tuned for the press conferences
C
By Chris De Silva
We're not quite done with the coverage tonight so hang around.
The coaches are incoming for their press conferences shortly.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan is up first.
Key Event
'There's nothing we can do': Chris Scott's reaction to double free-kick
C
By Chris De Silva
Geelong coach Chris Scott on how he and his side was able to steady themselves after the controversial frees on the stroke of half-time.
"I'm trying to get to the stage where the emotion is channelled towards good things," he tells Fox Footy.
"Obviously the Rayner free kicks, in the box we were like, 'There's nothing we can do, so we should just move on', and I thought the players did a pretty good job of that as well."
Key Event
'Are they there? Probably not': Dangerfield on free kick drama
C
By Chris De Silva
Here's Geelong co-captain Patrick Dangerfield on those controversial free kicks to Cam Rayner.
"To be honest, I wasn't across it, but Stewie (Tom Stewart) is down there, so that's for him to manage," he tells Fox Footy.
"That's footy sometimes. I mean, it's a final balance.
"Are they there? Probably not, but you've got to be mindful this time of the year.
"It's a learning thing for our players. I'm not sure they're exactly there, but he's a smart player, Cam Rayner.
"I felt for the most part our guys won that duel."
A look at the final stats from the MCG
C
By Chris De Silva
Outstanding stuff from Geelong and the final numbers tell a story.
Geelong will back themselves to win the flag if they keep playing like that in the prelim and potentially beyond.
Here are the final team numbers:
Disposals: Brisbane 376-336
Inside 50s: Geelong 60-47
Clearances: Geelong 38-37
Centre Clearances: Geelong 12-7
Contested Possessions: Geelong 136-120
Marks: Geelong 100-90
Marks Inside 50: Geelong 21-6
Tackles: Geelong 80-64
Tackles Inside 50: Geelong 14-7
And here are your individual leaders:
Disposals: Dayne Zorko (BL) - 35
Marks: Lachie Neale (BL) - 9
Tackles: Josh Dunkley (BL) - 11
Clearances: Mark Blicavs (GEEL), Zac Bailey (BL) - 6
Bailey Smith struck in the third quarter as Geelong booked a preliminary final spot by beating Brisbane at the MCG. (Getty Images)
Geelong is through to a preliminary final for the second straight year!
It was a stiff task tonight against the reigning premiers, who came into the game in fantastic form, but Geelong has passed the test with flying colours.
This is as good a pressure performance as we've seen from the Cats under Chris Scott, they were absolutely at it from the first bounce.
Geelong's composure was excellent after that controversial double-goal from the umpires on the stroke of half-time.
Other less-experienced teams might have lost the plot after that, but not these Cats, who just came out and upped the ante even more in the second half.
Geelong now has a week off which all its veterans will no doubt enjoy, while Brisbane has to face the winner of Fremantle and Gold Coast next weekend in a semi-final.
Brisbane has traversed the long route to a premiership before, having done it last year.
The sour note for the Lions is the calf injury to Lachie Neale which will almost certainly rule him out of next weekend's clash.
Atkins kicks the sealer for Geelong
C
By Chris De Silva
Tom Atkins settles this qualifying final with a wonderful set shot!
Geelong out to a 31-point lead now.
Atkins has been excellent again tonight. He's got 17 touches, nine tackles and three clearances.
Rayner hits the post on the left!
C
By Chris De Silva
Oh boy, Cam Rayner hits the post with one on the left boot from 50m out.
That's exactly the spot he kicked a clutch sealer in last year's prelim.
We're into the final five minutes, and the Cats are holding firm here.
That Rayner goal might've made things real interesting though.
Dunkley snaps through another to keep Lions alive
C
By Chris De Silva
Do we still have a game on here?
Josh Dunkley snaps through his first of the line to trim the margin to 26 points with seven and a half minutes left.
There's technically still time, but the Lions have to get a serious move-on.
Bailey gets Brisbane's first of the final quarter
C
By Chris De Silva
Zac Bailey strikes from inside the goalsquare for Brisbane's first goal of the last quarter.
He's had a solid night out there Bailey, with 25 disposals and six clearances to go along with that goal.
Meanwhile, Neale has popped an ice pack onto his right calf, which is what it looked like he pinged.
The sting has gone out of this match as we head into the final 10 minutes.
Key Event
Lachie Neale pulls up and limps off the ground in worrying scenes
C
By Chris De Silva
Lachie Neale is limping out there.
He had possession of the ball and was on the run and suddenly grimaced and started limping and hands the ball off.
Neale immediately grabs behind his right leg, around the calf region.
He stays out there for a few more minutes but eventually limps off and he looks absolutely shattered after reaching the bench.
"He put his head into his jumper and let out a nice swear word, so he's done something," says Cam Mooney, who is riding the boundary for Fox Footy.
Neale's sitting on the bench and looks visibly emotional, which isn't a great sign if you're a Brisbane fan.
Loading Twitter content
Neale drills one on the run to put the Lions to bed
C
By Chris De Silva
I might be calling this one a little too early, but I think Geelong is home here.
Shannon Neale absolutely flushes one on the run after outworking Harris Andrews in the middle of the ground, and then gets on the end of a handball from Zach Guthrie before drilling one on the run from 47m out.
Superb stuff from the Cats, they're out to a game-high 37-point lead now.
The fat lady is warming up the vocal chords.
Loading Twitter content
Marshall subbed on as the final quarter gets underway
C
By Chris De Silva
Chris Fagan has activated his sub with Sam Marshall coming on for his finals debut.
Levi Ashcroft is the man that's been subbed off. He had a tough time out there on his finals debut, finishing the night with 13 touches.
The final quarter is underway the MCG.
Key Event
3QT: Geelong 13.12 (90) leads Brisbane 9.5 (59)
C
By Chris De Silva
Ollie Dempsey struck with a remarkable goal to put Geelong in the driver's seat heading into the final quarter at the MCG. (Getty Images)
A response befitting champions from Geelong after the umpiring shenanigans in the second term.
A less-experienced side would've allowed that to ruin all their momentum, but Geelong has stood up mighty tall to all but put this game to bed.
The Cats kick 5.1 to 2.3 for the quarter to turn a 15-point half-time lead into a 31-point three-quarter time lead.
You've got to say this is a margin that is more reflective of the state of play out there.
Geelong has been the better team tonight, and they've been relentless with their tackling pressure.
It's not often you see a team that is leading by 31 points out-tackle the opposition as well, but that's what has happened, with the Cats winning the tackle count 67-43.
Geelong's star duo of Max Holmes (21 disposals, five clearances) and Bailey Smith (16 disposals, three clearances) both got busy in that quarter and hit the scoreboard as well.
Holmes had 10 touches in that third quarter alone and put together the second-highest rated quarter by any Geelong player in a final EVER.
Meanwhile, Ollie Dempsey has 22 touches to go along with three goals and he's been arguably the best player on the ground for the Cats.
Key Event
Dempsey soccers home an absolute ripper at the post
C
By Chris De Silva
ALEXANDER ISAK EAT YOUR HEART OUT!
Isak went for 125 million pounds earlier this week, and this is a finish the Liverpool striker would be proud of.
Patrick Dangerfield has a long shot on goal and it's floating towards the left goal post and Ollie Dempsey rushes in and half-volleys the ball home on his left foot with a quite remarkable finish.
That is honestly one of the best finishes you're ever likely to see, he's made that look ridiculously easy. Wow. What a goal.
Loading Twitter content
Martin gets a massive goal for Geelong before 3/4 time
C
By Chris De Silva
Max Holmes has taken control of this game in the third quarter!
Tyson Stengle did an excellent job of bringing the ball to ground at half-forward, and Holmes crumbs to perfection and then drills a ball inside 50 to Jack Martin, who takes a mark and runs into the square to kick the easiest of goals.
Cats continuing to keep the Lions at bay.
Loading Twitter content
The ABC of SPORT
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.
