Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
It was billed as The Fight and is remembered as The War.
The 1985 middleweight championship bout between “Marvellous” Marvin Hagler and Thomas “The Hit Man” Hearns is lauded as the greatest three rounds in boxing history.
In particular, their opening round was the sport at its most brutal as two all-time greats traded a barrage of vicious blows.
The first quarter on Saturday at the MCG was the AFL’s version of that opening round.
After Lachie Neale was nearly knocked out at the opening bounce, Brisbane and Hawthorn went goal-for-goal.
Amid a succession of highlights in the opening 30 minutes, there was a real sense that the two combatants were producing something special.
Then, somehow, the Lions’ preliminary final against the Hawks became even better.
With nine lead changes – including four in the last few minutes of the final quarter – the Lions’ 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122) win will go down as one of the greatest games in AFL history.
Brisbane looked to have won the game with their turnaround in the third term – renowned as the premiership quarter. Then Hawthorn rallied from 28 points down in the last term to nearly pull off an outstanding comeback win.
Hawthorn wizard Nick Watson took his game to a new level, kicking six goals in a best-afield performance. Teammate Mitch Lewis took a soaring mark and kicked a goal late in the last quarter, while Josh Ward’s final term was enormous.
After not managing one possession in the first quarter, Kai Lohmann kicked five goals for Brisbane. Harris Andrews again starred in defence, and Hugh McCluggage capped his return to form with the match-winning goal.
McCluggage’s goal in the last minute came from the controversial free kick against Jarman Impey that enraged the Hawks.
It was the last and most consequential of several umpiring decisions that added even more spice to an amazing duel.
As he negotiated his fraught post-game media conference, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell could see through his devastation and admire what had just happened.
“That was a game for the ages, I’m sure I will appreciate it at some point, but right now I would rather be anywhere but here,” he said.
In the midst of the chaos and unbridled joy of Brisbane’s changerooms, players were equal parts rapt and stunned at what had just happened.
“That was bonkers – just a rollercoaster of emotion,” Andrews told AAP.
“It’s hard to digest right now. I’m just so proud of the way the boys were able to handle those moments late.”
Charlie Cameron put it on a par with their comeback 2024 semi-final win over GWS, when Brisbane rallied from 44 points down to get up by five points.
“I reckon up there. The Giants semi-final was probably my favorite game of all time,” he said.
“But yeah, that was up there. Hughy McCluggage. What a star. Crazy.”
Unlike Brisbane and Hawthorn, Hagler and Hearns would not go the distance.
After eight minutes of mayhem, the fight was stopped and Hagler won by TKO.
But the bout only added to Hearns’ reputation. He, like Hagler, remains one of boxing’s most revered figures.
The Hawks, likewise, lost no friends on Saturday night. For all their rage and frustration at the loss, this felt like a step towards another premiership.
