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It’s a day no Brisbane fan will ever forget.
The Lions were utterly magnificent to romp to a commanding 60-point grand final win over Sydney – and a more complete performance on the biggest stage you simply couldn’t ask for.
Brilliant up forward – especially Kai Lohmann and Callum Ah Chee – dominant in midfield and miserly in defence, Chris Fagan’s men utterly pulverised the Swans to atone for their 2023 grand final heartbreak, and write their names into footy folklore.
Will Ashcroft became the second-youngest Norm Smith Medallist in history with a slashing 30-disposal, one-goal performance, but from Lohmann to captain Lachie Neale, a score of teammates had claims on best-afield honours too.
Here’s every Lion rated.
Kai Lohmann: 9
What a way to forge your reputation as a big-game player. Everywhere in the first half with three goals, including a beauty from the pocket to kick-start the Lions’ second-quarter surge. Was surely leading Norm Smith voting at half time.
Kai Lohmann celebrates one of his three first half grand final goals. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
Joe Daniher: 6.5
A dominant force in the air and in the ruck, but early inaccuracy threatened to make the Lions’ task more difficult than it eventually proved. If it is indeed his final game, that goal in the dying minutes and subsequent celebration is a pretty fine way to finish off.
Callum Ah Chee: 9.5
Could easily have won the Norm Smith Medal. Handed the job of keeping Nick Blakey occupied, destroyed the Swans dasher all game long. Ran hard, marked strongly and kicked beautifully. Four goals for the most underrated X-factor in footy.
Josh Dunkley: 8
Was given the job on Isaac Heeney, as expected – and destroyed him. Just 14 disposals for the Swans ace, while Dunkley racked up 11 tackles to go with his 21 disposals. The Lions’ only previous premiership winner – what a recruit he has been.
Hugh McCluggage: 8
Best afield in the first quarter with nine disposals, and forced John Longmire to send James Jordon to him and change their structure. Quietened from there, but when the game was up for grabs had an enormous impact.
Jarrod Berry: 7
A quiet achiever, racked up 10 marks on the wing as the Lions spread Sydney far and wide. His 20 disposals included 16 kicks and went at 90 per cent efficiency. More than atoned for the late mistake in last year’s grand final that has been driving him all year.
Will Ashcroft: 9.5
At 20 years of age, the youngest Norm Smith Medallist of the AFL era – and thoroughly deserved. Contributed to the Lions’ utter stoppage dominance, with his class on the outside dazzling as well. Only Zorko had more metres gained than his 436, while his third-quarter goal to all but seal the result was the icing on the cake.
Lachie Neale (c): 9.5
Can’t have been far behind Ashcroft in Norm Smith voting. Nine clearances and 18 contested possessions to rip the Swans apart at the coalface, while his defensive running was epitomised by a first-quarter stop right on the goal line to save a major at a crucial stage. 35 disposals and the first ever Ron Barassi Medal – and all with a busted foot.
Logan Morris: 6.5
Important when it mattered. Quiet on paper with just 11 disposals, but eight marks showed how influential he was in the air in the first half. Subbed off late in the last quarter with two goals to his name.
Dayne Zorko: 8.5
Set up the Lions all day with his run and laserlike kicking from half-back. Job made easier by losing the Jordon tag in the second quarter, and the Swans paid him little heed from there to their detriment. 26 disposals at 96 per cent efficiency – what a move to half-back his has been.
Cam Rayner: 5.5
Hardly sighted before joining the party with a towering speccy in the third quarter to kick start party time. Finished with 16 disposals, but simply wasn’t needed to produce his usual game-turning magic.
Charlie Cameron: 6.5
Two crunching early tackles set the tone, as did his goal right on quarter time to extend the Lions’ lead. Two bad misses dented his figures, but still played a role.
Conor McKenna: 1
Only got on in the dying minutes for party time with the match over. Becomes just the third Irishman to play in a premiership.
Jaspa Fletcher: 5.5
Like Berry, spread well to the vast spaces of the MCG with seven marks off a wing. Shaded by Ashcroft among Lions father-sons, but he won’t care one bit.
Eric Hipwood: 4.5
Barely sighted aside from a spectacular second-quarter goal – and iconic reaction. A premiership player, but nine disposals won’t do much to quell the doubters.
Harris Andrews (c): 7.5
Marked everything in the first quarter as a towering presence behind the ball, then hardly had to do anything as the Lions dominated territory from there. Finished with 10 marks, while his 16 disposals went at 100 per cent efficiency. The best key back on the ground by a distance.
Darcy Fort: 6.5
More than held his own against Brodie Grundy to justify his premiership medal. At 31 years old, after 36 games… one of the great grand final stories.
Zac Bailey: 5.5
Like Rayner, was never needed as a game-breaker due to the Lions’ utter dominance. One of the premiers’ quieter performers with just 17 disposals and no goals; a far cry from his epic display in 2023.
Ryan Lester: 7
What a story. Solid as a rock early and hardly tested from there. 11 marks behind the ball – but would have taken some performance to improve on his preliminary final heroics.
Brandon Starcevich: 8
One of the best afield to quarter time, zoned off Tom Papley and repeatedly swept up behind the ball. Probably the best small defender in the AFL.
Jack Payne: 6.5
None of the Swans’ talls had any influence on the game, and while Payne was less impactful than Starcevich or Andrews, has to be given credit for that. A game-high eight spoils.
Noah Answerth: 6.5
Another link in the Lions’ miserly backline. A nervy start opposed to Will Hayward, but unyielding from there.
Darcy Wilmot: 7.5
A superb rundown tackle on Heeney in the first quarter to defuse a threatening Swans play will have delighted Fagan. One of the Lions who gave them total control of the ball across the ground.
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