The Brisbane Lions have overcome 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.

Fagan’s metaphor of dancing on thin ice has become the unintentional motto for Brisbane’s finals campaign. But it was on a tightrope that Brandon Starcevich and Jarrod Berry walked in an unwinnable 2 versus 4 on the boundary line that somehow, someway, resulted in a Rayner goal.

But for the second week in a row, Brisbane rallied after halftime to book its spot in another decider a date with Sydney at the MCG.

Geelong and the Brisbane Lions have each won eight of their past 10 matches, but the premiership race will end for one of them on Saturday evening.