In 2001 Brisbane beat Geelong in the penultimate game of their home and away AFL season and won the premiership.
The next season Brisbane beat Geelong in the same game of their home and away fixtures and secured their second title.
A year later Brisbane again beat Geelong at the same stage and completed a premiership hat-trick.
In 2019?
The Lions’ one-point win over the Cats in round 22 this year sets up an interesting historical quirk which hasn’t gone unnoticed by midfield enforcer Mitch Robinson.
“I certainly saw that,” Robinson told AAP when asked about the link to the premiership era ahead of the club’s first finals campaign since 2009.
“History rewrites itself sometimes and it’d be great for us if we could follow that trend.”
Winning a flag remains however a long-way off for the Lions with a more recent historical trend needing to be overcome when the Lions host Richmond in next Saturday’s qualifying final at the Gabba.
The Tigers’ 27-point win over Brisbane at the MCG in round 23 carries far more significance than results from almost 20 years ago and leaves the Lions winless in their past 13 encounters with the Tigers.
Robinson can again however look to history having been part of a Carlton team which defeated the Tigers in an elimination final in 2013.
“We came from behind in that game too,” Robinson said.
“I think at halftime we were down by 30-odd points and ended up winning that game.
“They’re a completely different team now and so is the one I’m playing for but it’s a big opportunity for us to really put our authority on the AFL, especially in a finals campaign, if we can get over Richmond next week.”