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Posted:
2024-09-28 01:26:14
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-28/afl-grand-final-live-sydney-swans-brisbane-lions/104398832
The Brisbane Lions have claimed their first AFL premiership in 21 years after dominating the Sydney Swans in a 60-point victory in the grand final at the MCG.
The Lions led at every change to triumph 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60) in front of 100,013 spectators, with their win built on a blistering performance in the second and third quarters.
They kicked seven goals — including a stretch of six straight — in the second term to establish a 46-point lead at half-time and tightened their stranglehold in the third to push their advantage out to 73 points at the final change.
The victory caps off a 2024 campaign that began nervously for Chris Fagan's team, with last year's runner-up opening the season with three consecutive defeats.
They finished the home-and-away season in fifth place on the ladder to become the first team since the Western Bulldogs in 2016 to win the premiership from outside the top four.
It is the club's fourth AFL premiership since the Lions and Bears merged and adds to the two AFLW titles it has won, which includes last year's flag.
Will Ashcroft was awarded the Norm Smith Medal on the back of one goal, 30 disposals and five clearances — the 20-year-old Lion becoming the youngest player to win the grand final's best-on-ground award in the AFL era.
Callum Ah Chee and Kai Lohmann were outstanding for the Lions with four goals each, and Joe Daniher kicked two amid rumours he may announce his retirement.
Lions co-captain Lachie Neale kept busy with a match-high 34 disposals, while Luke Parker was the only multiple goal-kicker for the Swans with three majors in the final quarter.
The Swans began the grand final in a positive mood, kicking the opening two goals through Will Hayward and Tom Papley.
Hayward swooped on a loose ball inside the attacking 50 to kick the first major, before Papley added a classy right-foot snap effort only minutes later.
Kai Lohmann kicked consecutive goals for the Lions in the first quarter. (AAP: Joel Carrett)
But back-to-back goals from Lohmann put the Lions ahead and a third major, from Hugh McCluggage, added to their advantage.
James Rowbottom got one goal back for the Swans, however Cameron restored the Lions' eight-point lead when he went around the corner from a set-shot chance to slot his first major in the shadows of quarter-time.
Lohmann added to his highlights reel early in the second quarter by finishing off a superb movement from the Lions that began in their defensive 50.
The Lions' celebrations were short-lived as Dayne Zorko gave away a contentious 50m penalty, allowing Robbie Fox the easiest of kicks from the goal square to give the Swans their fourth major.
Fox's score had the potential to derail the Lions, given they felt aggrieved by the umpire pinging Zorko for where he stood the mark.
Callum Ah Chee added two majors during the Lions' six-goal burst in the second term.
Instead, they responded in resounding fashion with six consecutive goals — including two from Ah Chee — to establish an 11.7 (73) to 4.3 (27) lead, which they took into the half-time break.
Both sides were wasteful with their scoring opportunities in the early stages of the third quarter, but the Lions were rewarded for turning defence into attack when Ah Chee iced a length-of-the-field movement to push the lead beyond 50 points.
The Swans replied through Isaac Heeney's set-shot goal midway through the term, although it was negated by an Ashcroft major that pushed the Lions back out to a 54-point lead.
Charlie Cameron (right) congratulates Cam Rayner after his goal. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos)
Three goals followed through Cam Rayner, Logan Morris and Ah Chee to put the Lions well on top at the final change, 16.11 (107) to 5.4 (34).
As much as Fagan urged on his charges as they prepared to lead the three-quarter-time huddle, it was clear the Lions would not be denied victory in the fourth term.
The Swans outscored their opponents in the final quarter, 4.2 to 2.1, but all it did was reduce the Lions' winning margin to a convincing 60 points.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
Thank you and here's to a wonderful 2024 season
Alright that's where I'm going to leave the live coverage for now.
We're still waiting on what BT's big news was going to be, and we have no confirmation yet about Joe Daniher and whether he's going to keep playing on next year.
But we do know is that 2024 was a hell of a year of footy.
It had a little bit of everything.
My personal highlights? The Anzac Day draw after Jamie Elliott's screamer earlier in the match. The Mac Andrew kick after the siren. Isaac Heeney's mark in the qualifying final.
Honestly, I could go on.
But ultimately it ended in the sweetest victory of all for the Brisbane Lions, who ended their 21-year premiership drought in the most brutal and perfect fashion for their fans.
Congratulations to the Lions and to the AFL on another great year.
And from the entire team at ABC Sport, thank you for joining us throughout the year. It's the readers that make our jobs fulfilling and we wouldn't be here without you.
Levi Ashcroft speaks to the C7 team after the game
While the Daicos brothers are rightfully talked about as the best siblings in the AFL right now, get ready for the Ashcroft brothers to turn heads next year.
Levi joined the C7 team after the game for a chat, and if you've seen any of highlights you'd know that he's going to be a force to be reckoned with moving forward.
Honestly, the two Ashcroft boys could set this club up for the better part of the next 15 years if things go how we expect them to go. Watch out for this guy.
The ABC Sport team calls the final siren
And here's Corbin calling the final siren as the Brisbane Lions become the 2024 AFL premiers.
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Wholesome stuff from the Big O
Oscar McInerney has every right to feel hard done by, having played just about every game this year then missing out on the premiership.
Instead, he pays tribute to his replacement Darcy Fort, who has had an incredible journey himself.
Quitting his job as a civil engineer in 2018 after being picked by Geelong as a mature-aged recruit, the then 25-year-old played 8 games for the Cats before being traded to the Lions at the end of the 2021 season.
And he held his own against Brodie Grundy, winning 12 disposals and 19 hitouts on the way to becoming a premiership player.
Best celebration pictures from the MCG
The team at Getty Images rarely miss, and we saw more great shots from the snappers at the 'G today.
Here are some of the best.
The AFL grand final quick hits
It was an incredible game throughout and picking a handful of moments was tough, but my man Jon Healy has done his best to narrow it down.
Here's the quick hits from Brisbane's stunning 2024 premiership win.
The song in the rooms
I don't envy whoever has to mop up that Gatorade.
Former Swan champ takes aim at the team
While this day is rightfully about the Lions, there will be plenty of questions asked about the brand of footy the Swans played today.
Just 45 tackles to Brisbane's 64 in the end. The Swans averaged 58 a game through the year.
And Jude Bolton wasn't impressed.
Jarrod Berry pays tribute to his mum
This hits hard for those of us who have lost a loved one to cancer.
Wise and thoughtful words from Jarrod Berry after being asked about losing the 2023 grand final.
Lions hold the AFL and AFLW premiership cups
How good for the Brisbane Lions to break their premiership drought and also become the first ever side to hold both AFL and AFLW premierships simultaneously.
- Adam
Great call Adam,
Worth acknowledging the all-club success with the Brisbane Lions, as they hold both the AFL and AFLW flags.
Fitzroy lights up at Lions win
The mood was electric all game at The Royal Derby Hotel in Fitzroy, the official home of the Brisbane Lions in Melbourne.
As the final siren sounded, the sea of maroon, gold and blue erupted in joy as a 21-year premiership drought came to an end.
Fans embraced each other and broke out into the team song, with the disappointment of last year now a distant memory.
For Brisbane fan Roxanne, it was the first time she could actually appreciate seeing her team win the flag, something she could only describe as "bloody amazing".
"I was born in 2001, so this means a lot for me," she said.
"That was beyond my expectations, I knew the boys had it in the bag."
Does Oscar McInerney get a medal?
Does the Big O get a medal?
- David P
Despite playing 25 games this year, Oscar McInerney unfortunately doesn't get a premiership medal after hurting his shoulder in the prelim.
I personally don't like it. I'd love to see a system where everyone at the club gets a medal, and maybe the 23 that play have a slightly differently engraved medal to signify they played the game.
Almost got continent bingo!
Following as well Kyle, from a sports pub in Calgary, Canada!
- Daniel
Hi from Istanbul! At the airport on our way to Morocco. Great coverage from the ABC. Go Lions!
- Maureen
North America is ticked off, and we almost got Africa!
In all seriousness, thank you so much for joining us all around the world, not only today for the live coverage, but all year.
I reckon it was about this time last year I suggested we try to live blog every day of action from the AFL, and while it's been exhausting to pull off I couldn't be more thrilled with the result.
Thank you to the ABC decision makers who supported the idea, and to all the bloggers through the year who made it possible. It's an awesome team of reporters.
And I promise it's only going to get better next year.
The Brisbane Lions with the premiership cup!
Darcy Wilmot is up and about
Remember the days when the Auskick kids used to be ignored on the stage? How good that clubs don't let that happen anymore.
Every Lions played acknowledges the kids and there's some nice moments.
Darcy Wilmot also takes his moment to snatch the mic and have a bit of a scream.
The Lions are handed the premiers cup by Leigh Matthews!
Neale, Andrews and Fagan invite Dayne Zorko onto the stage, and the cup is lifted by the three players for what I believe is a first.
Zorko was the skipper from 2018 to 2022 before handing it off to Andrews and Neale.
Another great story of a Queenslander who took up the Sherrin.
Chris Fagan accepts the Jock McHale medal
The oldest head coach to win a premiership in VFL/AFL history, a school teacher from Tassie, who never played at the highest level of the game.
An incredible achievement from Fagan, and any questions over his tactical ability have been firmly put to rest.
Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews get their captain's medal
They receive the newly minted Ron Barassi medals and thank the crowd, the Swans, the players and the club.
Arguably the two most important players at the Lions having followed such different paths.
Neale, a rising superstar at the Dockers who wanted something different, and Andrews a local kid who went against the mould of private schools in Brisbane and took up the Sherrin.
Incredible stories, both of them.
Will Ashcroft wins the Norm Smith Medal!
What an unbelievable story.
The son of Marcus Ashcroft, who played in all three of Brisbane's hat-trick of premierships, claims the award for best player on the field.
In just his second season, he becomes the youngest winner of the award in the AFL era.
Having done is ACL late in Brisbane's campaign last year - missing the grand final as a result - he returned in round 17 this year and played in just two losses in the run home.
And would you believe, his little brother Levi will head to the Lions next year via father-son and there's talk he's even better than Will.
Votes:
14 – Will Ashcroft
8 - Lachie Neale
7 - Callum Ah Chee
1 – Kai Lohmann
Judges (3-2-1):
Jack Riewoldt (Chair) – Will Ashcroft, Callum Ah Chee, Lachie Neale
Riley Beveridge (AFL.com.au) – Lachie Neale, Will Ashcroft, Callum Ah Chee
Shaun Burgoyne (Channel Seven) - Will Ashcroft, Lachie Neale, Callum Ah Chee
Anna Harrington (AAP) – Will Ashcroft, Lachie Neale, Callum Ah Chee
Rory Sloane (Adelaide Crows) - Will Ashcroft, Callum Ah Chee, Kai Lohmann