A run-of-the-mill match at the Gabba turned wild after Brisbane produced one of the great all-time comebacks against Geelong and the Miracle on Grass was born — 10 years ago tomorrow. Andrew McGarry looks back at a day of footy drama.
The incredible comeback at the Gabba was not down to any single player — in fact you could well argue the old cliché that there were 22 heroes there that day. But the main reason the game is remembered so well is because of the actions of one in particular — Brisbane's Ashley McGrath.
There was plenty of footy flowing through his Indigenous family. Ashley's older brothers Cory and Toby would go on to play in the AFL and WAFL respectively, with Cory having six combined seasons at Essendon and Carlton. Ashley played colts for South Fremantle and was taken by Brisbane at pick 13 in 2000. He played in the third of Brisbane's winning grand finals in 2003, then was part of the group that took the Lions on after their '04 loss to Port Adelaide that was the end of the dynasty."I think I played my 100 game against Geelong [in 2008]. They beat us quite badly. Every milestone game we had [at Brisbane] we seemed to come off with a loss," he says.
"That weekend was the weekend of the British and Irish Lions rugby union Test [at Lang Park]. So everyone was talking about rugby in Brisbane that weekend," he says. Also lining up for Brisbane that day was former Geelong and Melbourne midfielder Brent Moloney, who had arrived in Queensland for the 2013 season.
"Dayne Zorko was a bit of the X-factor with my goals that day. He just soccered it out of the air [for my first], it bounced into my hands and I used my speed to run in and kick one," McGrath recalls. When Jonathan Brown kicked the Lions' seventh major late in the third term, Brisbane still trailed by more than six goals.
The Lions kicked another behind before the siren, with the Cats leading by 38. The visitors had not looked like their attacking selves in the final minutes of the term, but no-one was thinking of a crazy finish — or were they? Steven Motlop snapped from deep in the pocket for a behind, and then the Cats had another chance when Steve Johnson caught Ryan Lester cold after a kick-in. Stevie J's kick drifted right — the lead was back to 40, but the game really could have been over right there.
Zorko's shot from just outside the 50m arc went lowish, and hard, and through. It was 34 points the margin, five and three-quarter minutes gone in the last."That's where the belief started to come, and because when you're out there, you're not really looking at the scoreboard. You're going off the crowd and the momentum," he says.The crowd were up and about since the deflection off Wenn, and the Lions began to turn the screws on Geelong.
The Irishman, used to soloing with the round Gaelic football, bobbled the oval equivalent in one hand, regathered and flicked it onto his boot for an instinctive poacher's goal.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pat Cummins pulls off miracle as Aussies win Ashes Test for the ages.patcummins30 has produced a captain’s knock for the ages to lead Australia to a thrilling two-wicket win over England in an epic Ashes series opener at Edgbaston. ENGvAUS 7NEWS
Read more »
Feds keen to ensure ‘green and gold runway’ doesn’t end in BrisbaneAn investment tool is set to be developed to help draw major global sporting events to Australia in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Games – and beyond.
Read more »
Massive US Navy ship visits Brisbane ahead of war games off the coastThe USS America has docked in Brisbane. Brisbane Times went aboard for a tour of the amphibious vessel, which Carries up to 20 aircraft, including six F35s. The vessel will be docked in Brisbane for a few days. More details here:
Read more »
Massive US Navy ship visits Brisbane ahead of war games off the coastThe amphibious assault carrier USS America is due to arrive in Brisbane on Tuesday afternoon with a shipload of sailors and marines.
Read more »
NSW touch down in enemy territory as injured star makes huge call about his fitnessFavourites or underdogs? Billy Slater says it makes zero difference to how his QLDmaroons will attack Origin II tomorrow night. Queensland are hot favourites to clinch the series at Suncorp Stadium. 7NEWS
Read more »
Nicholas has a good eye for an eye — and knows a great prosthetic eye can make a world of differenceCraig lost an eye to cancer but says the 'hardest thing' has been people's reaction. An orbital prosthesis handmade by Brisbane technician Nicholas Puls has helped him feel more confident.
Read more »