Brisbane's AFL premiership hat-trick dream remains alive as the Lions set up a grand final repeat against Collingwood next week with a 44-point win over Sydney in the preliminary final.

A resolute final quarter performance from the Lions - who were challenged strongly by Sydney in the third quarter - finally snuffed out the Swans' extraordinary season with a 14.16 (100) to 8.8 (56) win after leading by just three points at the last change.

Next week the Lions and Magpies meet in the 2003 decider - the first time the same two teams have fronted up in a grand final in successive years since 1987.

The other major historical mark at the centre of tonight's game was the Lions' bid to become the first team in 46 years to win three successive premierships, and they would no doubt be the team the Magpies fear most.

However, Brisbane does have some injury headaches, with Nigel Lappin's fine performance ended prematurely when he painfully lurched from the ground in the final quarter after a heavy knock to his rib/torso area.

Michael Voss was also heavily restricted by his knee problems.

But Brisbane had other less lauded heroes on the night - ruckman Jamie Charman who shaded Adam Goodes, at-time criticised recruit Blake Caracella, and the evergreen Martin Pike, who shut down Stuart Maxfield while kicking three goals himself.

The Lions, normally strong starters, were the more efficient team in the opening term but wasted several opportunities with a profligate 2.7 and had only a five-point lead as slight reward for a good quarter.

But in the second term they made the most of fewer opportunities with four straight goals as a hesitant and slightly confused Swans fell 15 points behind at the main change.

When Ashley McGrath's speculative 75-metre bomb rolled through, the reigning premiers were 26 points up within six minutes of the third quarter and fortune appeared on their side.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP