The Brisbane Lions overcame the loss of ruckman Oscar McInerney to a dislocated shoulder in another stirring AFL finals comeback, advancing to the season decider with a 10-point upset of Geelong.

A week after coming from 44 points down to beat GWS, the Lions erased a 25-point third-quarter deficit in their 14.11 (95) to 12.13 (85) victory at the MCG on Saturday.

Chris Fagan's side will meet Sydney on September 28 in the first grand final featuring two non-Victorian clubs since 2006.

It is the first time the Swans and the Lions have met in a grand final since 1899, when they played as South Melbourne and Fitzroy.

It will be Brisbane's second successive grand final appearance, following a heartbreaking four-point defeat to Collingwood last year.

The Lions, who finished fifth on the ladder, could become just the second team to win the premiership from outside the top four under the current finals system, introduced in 2000.

Geelong, meanwhile, will rue another missed opportunity after losing a preliminary final for the sixth time in Chris Scott's 14-year coaching tenure.

The Cats lost Max Holmes to another hamstring injury, two years after the speedster missed the 2022 premiership with a minor strain in that year's preliminary final against the Lions.

Captain Patrick Dangerfield would also have been in doubt for the grand final if Geelong had qualified, facing scrutiny over a dangerous tackle on Hugh McCluggage.

Instead it is McInerney who shapes as Brisbane's heartbreak story after hurting his left shoulder late in the first quarter.

The ruck star carried on bravely but was substituted out of the game during the third quarter and taken to hospital.

Lions co-captain Lachie Neale was huge for his side with 31 disposals and 12 clearances, lifting during the third quarter with the game on the line.

Geelong led by 25 points early in the third term, but Brisbane kicked seven of the next eight goals and prevailed in a gripping finish.

Callum Ah Chee kicked three goals for the Lions, including two crucial majors in the final term.

His snap with less than three minutes left gave Brisbane the lead for the final time, before Cam Rayner sealed the result with a left-foot shot on the run.

Joe Daniher was also important for the Lions, stepping into the ruck when McInerney went down, while Ollie Henry kicked a game-high four goals for Geelong in a losing cause.

'It stings a bit at the moment'

The Cats' unmatched AFL consistency since Scott took over as coach in 2011, featuring two premierships, comes with a cost.

Their 10-point loss to Brisbane was their sixth preliminary final exit during his era.

"I suspect — even though it doesn't feel like it at the moment — we'll be more proud in a couple of weeks than we are right now," Scott said.

"But in a way, it's the price of admission — you have to risk this feeling to have a chance to do something great.

"We didn't quite get it done. It's hard."

Scott said his post-game message to the Cats was brief.

"Don't overreact — this is me at my worst and so when you have that self-awareness, say less," he said.

"So the obvious is the disappointment and managing that. I did say to the players and the broader footy department, one of the things I've been proud about … I can't remember a lack of unity or the disappointment getting the better of people and behaving badly as a result.

"We're all disappointed and we have to acknowledge that.

"We had our challenges this season — we had our challenges this week. We found a way to give ourselves a really good chance."

An obvious challenge came on match eve, when assistant coach Steven King collapsed at training and was hospitalised.

While he is now resting at home, King could not be at the MCG for the match. Scott refused to use it as an excuse.

The Cats also had illness in the club ahead of Saturday's game — again, Scott said it was nothing more than what all teams have to manage.

Max Holmes had a bout of gastro during the week and then struggled with hamstring tightness in the second half, just when Brisbane were surging.

"It hurt a bit — again, glass half-full, I'm looking forward to the next 10 years of Max Holmes playing in hoops," Scott said.

"It stings a bit at the moment."

But overall, Scott said "we do have a bit to look forward to", with predictions of Geelong's demise over the last decade regularly made to look silly.

"We're optimistic, but I've never been more aware of how good the rest of the competition is," Scott said.

"The days of six or seven teams rebuilding, at least through this stage, seems to be over.

"We'll just do what we always do — have a real crack at trying to get better, acknowledging if we don't, we'll just get overtaken by teams that have taken their opportunity to stack their list with talent."

Two big changes are the retirements of Geelong stars Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy, who did not play against the Lions.

"Just when you don't think you could feel any worse, you start thinking about that stuff," Scott said.

Lions tweak travel plans, look to back up ruck

The Lions will fly to Melbourne a day earlier than they did last year in their loss to Collingwood.

Fagan expects the club to travel south on Wednesday, instead of Thursday as they did in 2023.

"We might change things a little," Fagan said.

"We might come down on Wednesday and just relax into it a bit, get a couple of training runs here in Melbourne.

"I'm not sure that we're going to be able to get on the MCG twice, but that won't matter.

"I just think it's good to be down here and just prepare ourselves for the game."

The result against the Cats ended the Lions' 20-year run without a win against Geelong outside of Queensland.

Since Brisbane beat the Cats in the 2004 preliminary final, the Lions had lost 13 games at Geelong's Kardinia Park fortress, as well as the prelim at the MCG in 2022.

The Lions have turned around their poor record under Fagan at the MCG this year, defeating Melbourne in round five, losing a nailbiter to Collingwood late in the home-and-away season, before downing the Cats in a preliminary final at the venue of the grand final.

"This year we've had two wins and a one-point loss, so we go better on the MCG than we used to," Fagan said.

Fagan said he was disappointed for injured ruckman McInerney, as his replacement faces a huge task coming up against Sydney big man Brodie Grundy, who is a dual All-Australian.

"It's just such a real pity," Fagan said.

"It'll give somebody else an opportunity, someone like a Darcy Fort or a Henry Smith.

"We're lucky, our reserves team played until last week … so we've got players ready to come in."

Fagan also confirmed superstar midfielder Lachie Neale would continue to be managed with a heel injury as he was in the lead-up to facing the Cats.

After barely training during the week, Neale starred with 31 possessions and a game-high 12 clearances.

Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.

Brisbane def Geelong by 10 points

That's it for the blog tonight!

Have you caught your breath yet? Wouldn't blame you if you haven't. The good news is you've got a week to recover and get yourself primed for next Saturday's AFL grand final between Sydney and Brisbane.

I'll be back on the blog on Monday night for the Brownlow Medal count, so I hope to see you then. Thanks for your company tonight, it's been an absolute pleasure!

Will the Lions have to do it without Big O in the grand final?

Oscar McInerney popped his shoulder out, put it back in, came back on the field, popped his should back out and has ended up in hospital. None of that bodes well for a grand final appearance in a week.

His absence would be keenly felt by the Lions, but they can take heart in the knowledge most of their second-half comeback tonight was done without that talismanic ruckman.

Jack pushes through the Payne

One of a million critical moments in that game, but certainly one of the biggest. Jack Payne with a moment to remember.

A heartbreaker for Geelong

Any preliminary final defeat is tough to take, but this will hurt the Cats. They were about 150 seconds away from a grand final, but when the big contests came in the dying moments they were beaten by their Lions' opponents.

There were plenty of big performances tonight, and from some of the next wave of Cats which is encouraging for the future of the club. That'll mean more when they regather for preseason, as right now tonight only represents a missed opportunity.

They're up and about in the Brisbane rooms!

Reckon they're pretty happy with that one? I don't think there's any risk in Brisbane overcelebrating this one, as many teams are criticised for after prelims. The wave the Lions are riding is being built on a feeling, and scenes like this only strengthen that.

Goodness me, is it next Saturday afternoon yet? What a grand final we have in prospect.

Cam Rayner is still swept up in it all

Cam Rayner played an exceptional last quarter, and his head was still spinning when he spoke to Channel Seven after the siren,

"It's unbelievable. This group has been up for it all year. To come back and do this, it's all about moments.

"It's been tough slogging it out in the half-forward line this week, but to steady and finish it for the boys, I love this so much. Hopefully we correct our wrongs from last year.

"Time to get back to the family but get ready to go again, it's an exciting week."

The two goals that won the Lions the prelim

First Callum Ah Chee, then Cam Rayner. Clutch.

FT: BRISBANE WINS! THE LIONS WIN BY 10! They are in the grand final!

I'm speechless. I can not believe the game of footy I have just watched. How much character does this Brisbane team possess?

How many times were the Lions done tonight? They looked miles off it in the first 10 minutes, kept alive then by the Cats' poor kicking. They couldn't win without Oscar McInerney, that's for sure. The second quarter looked to kill them off. Then Ollie Henry's goal to put Geelong ahead with two minutes to play surely put it to bed.

Not tonight. Not these Lions. They are never, NEVER beaten. And they have let that bravery and belief carry them all the way to the 2024 AFL grand final.

Still can't get my head around that. Cam Rayner's last quarter! Cal Ah Chee! Ryan Lester and Noah Answerth! Too many Lions to name.

The Swans await next Saturday, another fearsome opposition. But these Lions clearly fear no team or no situation. A staggering win.

Rhys Stanley misses from the goal square!

THAT was Geelong's last chance, a sitter of a shot at goal with 30 seconds to play, and Rhys Stanley has missed it.

It's curtains for the Cats, the Lions will roar into the grand final!

Jack Payne runs down Mitch Duncan! Holding the ball!

And that will ice the game! The Lions' defenders stops Geelong's final chance and they can kill the clock with a minute to play!

CAM RAYNER HAS PUT THE LIONS INTO A GRAND FINAL!

Ashcroft! Hipwood! Rayner on his left from 50! I think the Lions are going to win it!

Two MASSIVE goals from stoppage straight out of the middle to win the biggest game of the year. The Lions are on the verge! 11 points up with 1:45 on the clock!

How do they keep doing this?!?!?

CAL AH CHEE PUTS THE LIONS BACK IN FRONT!

They never say die! They never lie down! The Lions force it forward and Callum Ah Chee snaps a ripper from 40 metres out!

Charlie Cameron would have had a free kick for too high, but Ah Chee snapped before he heard the whistle and nailed it. 2:12 on the clock, Lions lead by five! My word!

OLLIE HENRY PUTS THE CATS IN FRONT!

What a game of footy! The Lions were in, surely! It was all over! Tom Stewart just DESTROYED Zac Bailey in the biggest and best tackle of the year to save Geelong's season.

The Cats streaked forward through the middle, kept composure, dished off to Henry and let him snap a beauty from the pocket.

Incredible game. Lost for words. 2:42 to play, Cats by a point.

Jeremy Cameron snaps ... and misses!

That was a huge chance for a stoppage goal for Cameron.

Five-point game. Handy point? Five minutes to play.

Ollie Henry steps up for the Cats! Six-point game!

Every chance must be taken now, and Ollie Henry delivers with a big contested grab and a cool snap on his left foot.

Kai Lohmann missed a great chance at the other, and the Cats carried the ball end to end for that critical Henry goal. 6:19 to play. It's up for grabs.

Jeremy Cameron lines one up from 50 and misses

Moments earlier Shannon Neale's set shot was on line but dropped a a yard short of the line, allowing Joe Daniher to recover at the last second and mark.

Cats miss a couple of critical chances. Nine minutes to play.

Logan Morris! Lions by 12! They're closing in!

The Lions just keep on taking risks, keep on trying the cheeky kicks and bold runs, and it keeps on coming off! The Cats have no answer for their dare and adventure and now the lead is out to two goals.

They split them through the middle yet again, but how about the little chip kick over the shoulder from McKenna from the pocket to Morris in the goal square? Incredible.

Cal Ah Chee puts the Lions back in front!

The Cats look out on their feet as Brisbane go end to end, straight through the middle again. Geelong hasn't been able to defend the corridor at all in this second half and it might cost them the game.

Ah Chee marked in an acre of space, took his time and delivered the set shot. It's a six-point game with 11:14 on the clock.

Fifteen minutes to play

Desperate stuff out there. Crucial last-ditch tackles at either end, half-chances missed.

The rain is falling, the pressure is at fever pitch. Lions lead it by a point.