GEELONG has come agonisingly close to its first win of 2022, with a late miss from Chloe Scheer proving costly as Brisbane escaped with a two-point win on Saturday afternoon.
Scheer kicked three goals and could have had four, but missed a set shot in the dying minutes of the game, leaving victory in the lap of the Lions.
The Cats took it up to the Lions for the majority of the game, keeping the reigning premiers goalless in the opening quarter before Brisbane worked its way back into the contest in the 3.9 (27) to 4.1 (25) win.
But the victory was soured terribly by an injury to forward Gabby Collingwood, who was playing her first game since suffering an ACL injury in 2020.
Collingwood looked shattered as she was helped off the field during the second quarter and the Lions confirmed she would be assessed by medical staff.
Collingwood missed the entire 2021 season, including the Lions' Grand Final win against Adelaide.
LIONS v CATS Full match coverage and stats
The injury comes as another blow to the Lions, who lost premiership star Kate Lutkins to a ruptured ACL three weeks ago.
In their first game at their new home ground on the Sunshine Coast, the Lions had serious trouble breaking down Geelong's miserly defence, with Brisbane dominating the inside-50 count 38-12 but unable to capitalise on the scoreboard.
After leading by just seven points at the final change, the Lions created a handy gap early in the last quarter.
But Geelong wouldn't say die, with former Crow Scheer booting two final-quarter goals to bring her new side within three points of victory.
But ultimately, the Cats had left their run too late, with the Lions surviving an almighty scare.
BRISBANE 0.2 1.4 2.7 3.9 (27)
GEELONG 1.0 1.0 2.0 4.1 (25)
GOALS
Brisbane: Davidson, O'Dwyer, Bates
Geelong: Scheer 3, Emonson
BEST
Brisbane: Bates, O'Dwyer, Bodey, Anderson, Grider
Geelong: Scheer, A. McDonald, Webster, Emonson, M. McDonald
INJURIES
Brisbane: Collingwood (knee)
Geelong: Nil
LATE CHANGES
Brisbane: Nil
Geelong: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: TBC at Maroochydore Multi-Sports Complex
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