Brisbane have claimed the 2024 AFL Premiership with a 60-point win over minor premiers Sydney in the Grand Final.
A seven-goal second term blew the game open, with forwards Callum Ah Chee and Kai Lohmann doing most of the damage in attack with four goals each.
Midfielder Lachie Neale and Will Ashcroft were immense in the centre of the field, while Brisbane's backmen stood strong as a collective to keep the Swans to five goals across the first three quarters and put the match out of reach for John Longmire's men.
The win caps off a stellar 2024 fightback from Chris Fagan's men, who started the season with no wins from five games after losing last year's decider. The Lions sat in 13th at the midway mark of the season and fought back to secure a home elimination final to open September. They trailed by 44 points in a semi-final against GWS a fortnight ago and stunned Geelong last week at the MCG to progress to the Grand Final.
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Here's how the game unfolded...
FULL TIME
Sydney: 9. 6. 60
Brisbane: 18. 12. 120
1:37: JOE! A late snap for Daniher to put the icing on the cake. And all of his teammates get to him!
2:00: Make that three for Parker.
3:54: Parker gets his second for the quarter and brings the lead down to 60 points with less than four minutes left.
Crowd: 100,013
6:53: Zorko's errant flying kick in the middle finds Fletcher all alone on the wing. The young Lion launches a long ball to the hot spot, with Lohmann sitting under it and flying for a nice mark. He goes back and gets his fourth for the day.
SUB MADE: Connor McKenna has been brought into the game in place of Logan Morris (tactical)
10:02: A second for the Swans in 17 seconds, with Warner getting out the front of the centre clearance and drilling it on the run from the same spot as Parker.
10:19: The Swans get one back finally, with Parker marking atop the 50m arc before wheeling onto his right foot and kicking one with some ease. A quiet MCG reaction, with this game in the books.
14:14: It's Ah Chee again as he outmarks Rowbottom with a juggling effort in the pocket. Unfortunately, he can't add a fifth as his difficult kick goes across the face for a point.
19:05: The Swans go forward first and it looks as though Blakey has been swung into attack. He gets the opening chance of the fourth quarter but his set shot goes to the right for a behind.
Three-Quarter Time
Sydney: 5. 4. 34
Brisbane: 16. 11. 107
Five more goals for the Lions that quarter, with Sydney kept to the one major. Some poor decision-making from the Swans in the middle third has directly led to goals on the counterattack for Brisbane, who recorded another six marks inside 50 that term.
Will Ashcroft and Lachie Neale look a level above Sydney's all-star midfield unit, with Jarrod Berry and Hugh McCluggage offering plenty on the outside. Callum Ah Chee has booted four goals and assisted two to have an equally strong claim for the Norm Smith Medal, with Kai Lohmann's busy first-half yet to be reflected in the second half.
A day of 'what could've been' for Joe Daniher so far, with the tall forward kicking 1.4, but having a game-high 11 score involvements.
0:34: Goal number four for the No.4! Rayner intercepts a Gulden kick in the back half and bombs one forward to space, with Ash Chee gathering 50m out and running into an open goal. Gate: Shut.
2:15: A turnover on the wing for Sydney allows the Lions to pounce, with Bailey's drilling kick finding Dunkley inside 50. Dunkley lifts his eyes and spots Morris on a better angle, with the young forward kicking his second for the day.
5:14: Another missed chance for Daniher, who gets on the end of a Lohmann handball but can't kick straight with a turning shot 15m out.
5:35: Another highlight to add to the reel for the Lions, with Rayner taking a high-flying mark at the back of the pack in the forward pocket. He steps around onto his left foot to bring up Brisbane's 14th goal and make it a 60-point game.
9:28: Brisbane get one back from a boundary throw-in, with the hitout landing right into Ashcroft's lap and the young Lion snaps truly from 20m out.
10:32: The Lions are caught napping as Blakey breaks away on the wing, with Heeney unmanned 25m out from goal on a small angle and found. The gun Swans kicks it through the middle for a much-needed major.
12:56: The Lions get out the front door of the centre clearance via Neale, who's high kick towards Daniher is won by the Lions forward after a strong marking contest against McCartin. Joe can't convert, with his set shot off to the right for a behind.
13:51: The Lions have the numbers on the transition, with Daniher doing the unselfish thing and centring the ball to Ah Chee. The Lions small marks and converts his set shot from the hot spot.
17:10: An early wobble for the Lions, with Cameron winning a free for holding atop the goal square but managing to hit the post from so close!
SUB MADE: Sydney have replaced Logan McDonald (ankle) with tactical sub Braeden Campbell.
Half-Time
Sydney: 4. 3. 27
Brisbane: 11. 7. 73
A seven-goal term for Brisbane, who have tallied 14 marks inside 50 from 28 entries, with all of their forwards chipping in one way or another. The Lions have used the ball 65 more times but lead the tackle count by five. They're finding the needed space across the field, leading the marks count 82-43 and having 64 more uncontested possessions.
The 46-point buffer is the fifth-highest half-time lead in a grand final, 11 points behind the record (1983 - Hawthorn vs Essendon, 1941 - Melbourne vs Essendon)
Kai Lohmann might have one hand on the Norm Smith Medal, booting three goals, assisting another and having five score involvement from 11 disposals.
Callum Ah Chee could be his biggest competitor to half-time, kicking two goals of his own while assisting a further two and having a game-high eight score involvements.
Lachie Neale leads all accumulators with 18 disposals, 10 contested possessions and five clearances (all game-highs), while Will Ashcroft has 17 touches and six score involvements to the main break.
Hugh McCluggage was a leader for the Lions in the opening quarter but was kept to two disposals in the second term after gaining attention from James Jordon.
Brodie Grundy is putting up numbers for the Swans with 13 disposals, 12 contested possessions, three intercept possessions, three clearances and 13 hitouts, but Sydney are losing centre clearance 6-10.
0:57: Morris adds to the Swans' pain as the Lions kick clear, with his set shit from 15 converted to take Brisbane's tally to 73 points in the first half.
2:20: The Swans finally get a look on goal, with Heeney finding Fox on the run through midfield and his piercing kick bullets into the hands of McLean 30m out. He can't convert, with his kick going to the right.
3:17: The game is getting away from Sydney now. The clearance again goes in favour of the Lions, with Morris found atop the 50m arc. His long kick forward is collected by Ah Chee following some clever forward craft. He converts a close-range kick and now it's 41 points!
4:12: A MIRACLE GOAL FROM HIPWOOD! The Lions get the centre clearance and gather possession inside 50, with Fletcher, Lohman and then Hipwood connecting int the pocket. The latter slips, steps up and then manages to slot one from the wrong angle for a left-footer.
4:39: Blakey's clearing kick from deep in defence falls short of the mark and lands with Berry 40m out from goal on a 45-degree angle. The Brisbane wingman's set shot stays straight and goes the distance to make it a 29-point game.
7:55: Daniher goes into the middle and manages to outmuscle Grundy, gather the ball and boot it forward. Ah Chee has front position and marks just inside 50, no angle. His set shot starts right but fades late and sneaks in for another goal.
8:41: Another mark inside 50 for the Lions, with Cameron finding Daniher 35m out from goal. After missing several chances earlier, Joe makes no mistake and extends the Lions' lead to 17 points.
10:23: Lohmann continues to look dangerous, this time taking an uncontested mark 35m out near the boundary. His set shot is high but falls short and is punched over the line by the Swans.
11:16: Another behind for the Lions through Fort, who marks just inside 50 on a 45-degree angle. His kick goes to the near side for a point.
12:29: The Lion cubs link up, with Ashcroft finding Morris' mitts 30m out on a small angle. The young forward's set shot starts and stays to the right for a behind.
13:31: A goal-line scramble ensues after Hipwood's high shot on goal ricochets off the deck back toward goal. Daniher can't gather and is brought to ground by a couple of Swans, with a score review showing the ball comes off McCartin before going over the line.
14:22: Fox walks into the goalsquare for a comfortable major from point-blank range after a 50-metre penalty is paid against Zorko for encroaching the mark 55m out from goal.
14:40: Lachie Neale takes as few bounces out of the back half with time and space. His kick up the wing goes over Bailey's head but the Lion gathers, runs and handballs it over to Lohmann, who kicks his third from 40m out on the run.
Matchups: James Jordon has dropped his run-with role on Zorko and is now staying close to the hot hand of Hugh McCluggage.
18:59: The first score of the term comes from Warner, who is found in space 45m out from goal by Fox with a retreating handball. His one-step shot goes to the left for a point.
Quarter Time
Sydney: 3. 1. 19
Brisbane: 4. 3. 27
An even contest that could've been more favourable for Brisbane if they could capitalise. Both sides are balancing quick ball movement with possession football. The game has broken out at times, allowing several clean chances on goal, mostly for the Lions, while the Swans have looked to control the play in the front half and meticulously open up Brisbane's backline.
Lion Hugh McCluggage has a game-high nine disposals to go with his goal, with teammate Kai Lohmann managing multiple majors in the opening quarter and Ah Chee having as many goal assists. Ah Chee also has an equal game-high five score involvements, tied with Joe Daniher.
Brisbane have 33 more touches for the game already, limiting all Swans to less than seven disposals each.
0:09: This time it's Brisbane with the slow build-up, working the ball up the field at a lower tempo. A handball over to Berry from Rayner on the wing sees the ball quickly kicked deep into the pocket and lands with Cameron. The Lions' gun steps onto his right foot and bends it through with perfection.
1:54: The Swans get their third of the quarter with less than two minutes on the clock via Rowbottom. After slowing down the game and controlling the possession, the Sydney midfielder is found with some space near the 50m arc, no angle. He goes back, steps around onto his right foot and drills it.
4:18: A 50-50 contest between Ah Chee and Blakey 50m out from the Lions' goal is spilt after the latter looked to have been collected high. No whistle comes and McCluggage gathers, runs towards goal and slots one from 40m out.
5:10: A third chance for Daniher, this time a set shot in the pocket on his favoured left side. He quickly steps around but shanks his kick to the close side for a behind.
8:24: Another for Lohmann within a minute as the Lions get forward and find Ah Chee again. Hipwood gets his hands on it before finding Lohmann front and centre, with the young Lion's snap shot from 20m out pinpoint.
8:41: The Lions manage to gain space through the corridor and Ah Chee is found with nobody around him 35m from goal. He has a number of options over the top and passes one by foot to Lohmann who halves the distance from goal for a set shot. Kai makes no mistake.
11:43: Two goals in 20 seconds for the Swans! Warner's kick inside 50 from the clearance bounces up to McLean, who finds Papley with a handball and the Sydney small forward bends one through from 40m out on a tough angle.
12:01: Amartey gets a free kick in the pocket following a marking contest and Hayward's quick thinking sees him collect the spilt ball and snap truly from 20m out. First blood to the Bloods!
15:44: The Lions link up on the wing with Dunkley, Berry and Hipwood all getting in on the action. The latter's long kick into attacking 50 lands in the lap of Daniher 35m out from goal on a 45-degree angle. His kick, like Cameron's prior, starts and stays right for a behind.
Matchups: Swan James Jordon has gone to Dayne Zorko in a tagging role in attack. Brandon Starcevich has the role on Tom Papley, while Harry Cuningham has the job on Charlie Cameron at the other end. Swans veteran Luke Parker is looking to make Harris Andrews accountable in Sydney's attack too.
18:27: Cameron is paid the mark 25m out from goal, with Neale gathering the ground ball after it's spilt, but his goal doesn't count and it's brought back to Cameron. The Lions livewire can't capitalise as his kick misses to the right narrowly.
20:00 (mins remaining): We're underway at the MCG...
And it all comes down to today!
Both teams go into the game as selected, with Braeden Campbell (Swans) and Conor McKenna (Lions) named as the tactical subs.
COIN TOSS: Brisbane have won the toss and will kick to the Punt Road end to start the game.
Sydney enter the encounter as the favoured side, having taken out the minor premiership with 17 wins during the home and away season - three more than the Lions.
The two sides have taken separate routes to get to today, with the Swans progressing to a home preliminary final immediately from a thrilling come-from-behind quakufying final win over GWS in week one. After another week's break, the New South Wales side notched up a comfortable victory over Port Adelaide at the SCG last week to book their fifth grand final under coach John Longmire.
Brisbane took a longer path to the grand final, having started their September series with an elimination final over Carlton before a stellar win over GWS in Sydney's west a week later after trailing by 44 points in the game. The Lions removed a sizeable deficit again last week against Geelong at the MCG to go three from three this post-season.