Ty Gallop’s family, coaches and teachers reflect on Brisbane Lions AFL grand final rise

Ty Gallop’s rise to the grand final arena is a story of resilience and competitive fire. As he prepares for Saturday’s premiership decider, his family, coaches, and teachers recall the key moments that forged his path to becoming an AFL star.

Brisbane Lions rising star Ty Gallop.

Less than a year ago Ty Gallop was playing social AFL 9s footy with his mates and unsure if his dream of playing at the top level was over.

Now he stands on the cusp of kicking the Brisbane Lions to an AFL premiership in just his sixth senior game.

The bolter from the Sunshine Coast has lit up the finals series, booting four goals in his past two games as the tall forward prepares to take on Geelong in the grand final, the team who attempted to draft Gallop last year before the Lions matched the bid at pick 42.

It caps off an incredible rise from the relatively unknown 195cm talent who was plucked from obscurity after a huge 2024 season where he was named the QAFL’s rookie of the year, gained Queensland Allies selection and featured in Brisbane’s VFL preliminary final against Werribee.

The 19-year-old had spent his junior career bouncing in and out of Brisbane’s academy team but chose to forgo an apprenticeship at the end of 2023 to have one final crack at making it to the AFL.

Ty Gallop representing Kawana as a junior.

It put him on the path to achieving huge feats in 2024 but in October last year he remained in the dark on if he had done enough to convince recruiters he was worth putting on a list.

“He had just had a huge year, booted 30 goals in just eight games for Maroochydore in the QAFL and kicked eight against eventual premiers Morningside as an 18-year-old,” Mountain Creek SHS teacher and Aussie rules coach Peter Bock said.

“Despite the year he’d had he was still playing AFL 9s with his mates in a midweek social competition, unsure of what was next.”

After moving to Queensland with his family when he was nine-years-old, Gallop was the middle child between older brother Bae and youngest James.

“His stepdad Rod and older brother Bae never let him get an easy point in the backyard and Ty does the same now with his younger brother James,” mum Jess said.

Sunshine Coast Aussie rules talent Ty Gallop in action for Maroochydore.

Bock said Gallop had always been a very chatty and a likeable kid.

“My earliest memory is driving him to an Aussie rules game when he was in year seven and he just yapped away the entire time,” Bock said.

“He played basketball growing up as well and was a good all round sportsman but for a kid that never showed major sporting aspirations in his early years of high school, Ty’s drive and buy-in to make it to the elite level has been massive.

Ty Gallop’s family.

“Lots of kids on the Sunshine Coast have dreams but he’s dealt with his fair share of setbacks so it speaks to his character when things haven’t gone his way and he’s been able to overcome certain hurdles,” Bock added.

“We knew if he could break into an AFL system he would become a star but no one 12 months ago would’ve thought he’d be lining up in an AFL grand final.”

Ty’s mum Mrs Berens said she was over the moon and excited for the coming days.

“He’s really given it his all and sacrificed a lot since he finished school in 2023 and I think that’s also why he steps up and performs well under pressure,” Mrs Berens said.

“He’s always been so determined and never given up on anything so it’s definitely been a rollercoaster but we can’t wait to see him run out onto the MCG on Saturday.”