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The five best moments from the 2024 AFL Grand Final

The plays from Saturday etched into Brisbane’s footy folklore!

Published by
Frank Seal

Saturday's climax to the season didn't produce the heart-stopping spectacle that neutral observers were hoping for to finish off one of the tightest campaigns in AFL history.

It did, however, give the Brisbane Lions' faithful the experience of flag-winning fun in the dying stages of the game, all but securing their premiership more than a quarter in advance against a devastated Swans outfit.

2023's grand final was always going to be hard to top, and while this game wasn't rife with the same back 'n forth highlights spanning all four quarters, a handful of plays will be remembered for a long time as future Lions look back on the 2024 triumph.

We've looked through the highlights from 2024 Grand Final Day to decide on the five best plays on Brisbane's big day.

The Lohmann Show

A small minority of folk may have picked Kai Lohmann as a Norm Smith smokey coming into the match after his dazzling, yet wasteful display against the Cats in the previous week's preliminary final.

While clearly a long shot prediction, it was coming to fruition in the first half following Sydney's fast start, when Lohmann booted the Lions first, before following up 30 seconds later with his second on the left.

His third goal, kicked in the second quarter, was yet another momentum changer that the Lions never looked back from, using the breeze to curl in the drop punt on the run inside 50.

Eric channels Aker

If we needed any indication that it was just Brisbane's day on Saturday, Eric Hipwood's pearler from the boundary was just that.

Hipwood's stumble, step and ping against the breeze summed up the day for both sides, with Brisbane's utter brilliance and Sydney's lacking intensity.

Somehow Hipwood's kick off the left shaped towards the near side, before curling simultaneously away from goal but through the big sticks.

It warranted a special and luckily Eric was ready and raring to recreate an iconic one from two decades ago.

Lion King's crowning moment

He may have a goal-of-the-year already inked in his short AFL resume, but this goal may be the crowning play of Will Ashcroft's young career.

The quickness, cleanliness, and quick-mindedness to beat Errol Gulden at a forward 50 stoppage, gather a hot footy below the knees and rush the ball to boot for a snap at goal is quite special for a kid with his experience on this big of a stage.

Ashcroft entered the arena ready to impart his presence on the game, and he did so from the opening bounce, determined to win as much of the footy as possible, working in tandem with Lachie Neale to overcome Sydney's three-headed midfield monster.

If there was a separator that decided who took home Norm between Ashcroft and Neale, it was this snap from the rising star.

Rayner's rise

It was an otherwise quiet day for former number one pick Cam Rayner, but he still left his mark on the biggest stage of all with the best mark of the day.

Brisbane never needed the x-factor of their impact forward during the match, blitzing through Sydney's zone all day long without much trouble.

They still got a taste of it in the premiership quarter with game decided, when Rayner found space out the back of a pack and launched to reel in this grab.

Having played his part in getting Brisbane to the ultimate stage, Rayner will be content with his triumphant September campaign, relishing the victory and the moments like these that helped made it happen.

Daniher delirium

This one warmed the heart more than most.

With victory already sealed but just one goal to his name, Joe Daniher capped off a memorable day with a memorable celebration in the dying minutes, snapping home an emotional major to expand the margin to 60 and rally behind the Lions' faithful.

The reaction of his teammates, flocking to share the moment with their key forward, brought joy to the footy world ahead of a potentially difficult call, with Daniher's future prospects reportedly undecided as he weighs up whether to continue playing on.

If this is the final highlight on Joe Daniher's career profile, what a moment to treasure!

Published by
Frank Seal