The Brisbane Lions have made a stunning recovery from heartbreak in last year’s grand final, topping Sydney by 60 points to claim their first AFL premiership in more than two decades.
Lachie Neale (33 disposals) and Norm Smith medalist Will Ashcroft (30) starred in Saturday’s 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60) victory at the MCG, completing the Lions’ long climb to the summit under Chris Fagan was completed.
The 63-year-old took over eight years ago after a three-win season and is now the league’s oldest premiership coach.
He is also the first flag-winning tactician to never have played a senior match.
It is Brisbane’s fourth flag since the Bears-Fitzroy merger in 1996, and the first since the famous hat-trick of triumphs in 2001-03.
In rising from fifth place, the Lions became only the second team under the current finals system – introduced in 2000 – to win the premiership from outside the top four.
Neale and co-captain Harris Andrews led superbly, while Callum Ah Chee and Kai Lohmann both scored four goals.
Ah Chee performed his role on All-Australian defender Nick Blakey perfectly, as did Brandon Starcevich on dangerous Swans forward Tom Papley.
The Brisbane Lions have made a stunning recovery from heartbreak in last year’s grand final, topping Sydney by 60 points to claim their first AFL premiership in more than two decades.
Lions teammates Joe Daniher and Cam Rayner celebrate a goal late in the fourth quarter and victory is assured at the MCG
Dayne Zorko (26 disposals) was also influential and Joe Daniher (16 touches, 2.4) stood out in what could be his final game, with the veteran striker considering retirement.
It’s been a year of setbacks following Brisbane’s four-point defeat to Collingwood in last season’s decider, with the Lions losing five players to long-term knee injuries in early 2024.
The club also had to deal with a scandal from Las Vegas last October, which threatened to leave the playing group in tatters.
In April, it was reported that a disagreement emerged between Lions teammates over what happened in Sin City – and some players had “tough conversations” with each other as a result.
After a slow start to their campaign, Brisbane faltered at several stages – falling to 2-5 and 4-6-1 – before a nine-match winning streak put them back in contention for the premiership.
Back on the big stage after three tough wins in the knockout final, Brisbane conceded the first two goals before livewire Lohmann got his side going with two goals in a minute.
They led by eight points at quarter time and took a stranglehold on the game in a whirlwind blitz in the second quarter.
The Lions have scored 7.4 to 1.2 this season, including a brilliant goal from Eric Hipwood on the boundary line, which put them 46 points ahead at the main break.
The Swans had no answer to Brisbane’s attacking brilliance (pictured left, Charlie Cameron and Josh Dunkley with the Premiership Cup)
Sydney rallied late, but the likes of Kai Lohmann (right) proved too difficult to handle
They never gave up and kicked away after half-time as a rock-solid defense led by Andrews held firm.
Cam Rayner (one goal) provided a highlight when he flew over Tom McCartin to score a spectacular goal in the third term.
Sydney’s defeat was the fourth in a grand final since the 2012 flag, leaving John Longmire with a dreadful 1-4 record as coach in the season deciders.
The latest flop comes two years after a horror 81-point defeat to Geelong on the same stage.
Key forward Logan McDonald carried an ankle problem into the grand final and had to be substituted at half-time after suffering another joint injury.
Superstar midfielder Isaac Heeney also sat out most of the final term with a lower leg injury.
Errol Gulden and Oliver Florent (24 disposals each) were the Swans’ best ball winners on a dismal day, with veteran Luke Parker finishing with three goals.
Winning on the AFL’s biggest stage also saw a superstition come true – after Lions co-captain Lachie Neale ensured he held the premiership trophy slightly longer than Swans counterpart Dane Rampe on Friday.
Many football fans are convinced that whoever is the last to relinquish their hold on the silverware during the grand final parade will ultimately win the flag – and that proved to be the case again on Saturday.
Nearly 12 months later, Collingwood skipper Darcy Moore won the mind games against Lions co-captain Harris Andrews in the build-up – and the Magpies defender was a premiership player the next day.