AFLW Grand Final 2023: Brisbane Lions waste no time to make space in trophy cabinet

While Lions players were busy celebrating their second AFLW premiership, club officials wasted no time making room in the trophy cabinet for their latest silverware.

Dakota Davidson was the final quarter hero for Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane wasted no time making room for its first premiership cup since moving to its new home base at Springfield, clearing space for its latest silverware while players still celebrated on the ground.

And they might yet have to leave a spot for “Jerry” – the icon of their victory.

The Lions trailed by seven points at quarter-time but winger Sophie Conway said they had relished the challenge of overrunning a rampant North Melbourne, and did exactly that to win by 17 points and claim their second AFL Women’s premiership.

The Kangaroos booted two goals on the cusp of three-quarter time, but Conway – who dedicated the victory to her late mother, Christine – said she never doubted her teammates.

“I think we do (enjoy the challenge) – we thrive under that,” she said.

“Even throughout the whole game, I thought our group was extremely adaptable … I thought our group this year was super adaptable and I’m really proud of the group to get the job done and come in at three-quarter time and know that this was ours.”

While the players were celebrating, the Lions akota were already making space in their new trophy cabinet after their second AFLW premiership win. Picture: Getty Images.

Conway’s mum Christine was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, when Conway was just 13 years of age.

Then, in December 2016 she was diagnosed with brain cancer. She passed away just six months later.

“(Being named All-Australian) was a nice start to the week, but this has capped it off 10 times better,” Conway said.

“I hope mum’s proud of me – I hope she’s watching. I know she would be, so this one’s for her and this season’s been for her. Let’s just keep building and getting better.”

Lions chief executive Greg Swann said the trophy cabinet in the foyer of the team’s new base at Springfield was being reworked “as we speak”, while Brisbane Lions men’s team coach Chris Fagan – who was at the ground with men’s co-captain Harris Andrews for a front seat to the victory – said the men’s team could take a leaf out of the victorious women’s outfit’s book.

Lions winger Sophie Conway dedicated the grand final win to her late mum, Christine, who passed away in 2017 after battling cancer. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s a good reflection on our whole footy club – what a year we’ve had, for the seniors to make a grand final in the men’s and the women’s to win,” Fagan said.

“They give us a lot of hope, because they’ve been there a lot of times … all those experiences that they’ve had helped them.

“They lost a lot of good players this year, too, so all credit to them. They’re really professional.”

Fagan lauded the “fun” nature of the premiers.

“They make a hell of a lot of noise,” he laughed.

“You always know when they’re there – they’re just different to the boys. They just play with a massive spirit, I reckon, and I think Craig (Starcevich) coaches them really well.”

The Lions also celebrated with a green jerry can during their celebrations... a symbol of their hard work following a pre-season boot camp. Picture: Getty Images

Swann said the regeneration of the group after being “raided a lot” had largely been the product of local talent, and while he had been nervous another “honourable loss” may loom as the Roos led at the final break, he said the victory was “huge” for the club – and Queensland, being the first grand final victory in six attempts across three sports in 12 months.

“They bring so much energy and enthusiasm – like they play,” he said of the team.

“They just crack in, they’re relentless. They’re a credit to us. As the Lions, they’re fantastic for us. They’re great ambassadors for the club and they’ve been really successful. It’s huge.”

The players lifted a green jerry can aloft in their on-ground celebrations, which was later revealed to be a symbol of hard work following a pre-season camp where the filled cans were lugged on a long hike by players.

Lions forward Dakota Davidson, who kicked two final-quarter goals to spark victory, said players had signed the can in the glory of victory and would be celebrating with their “22nd player” in the days to come.

DAKOTA’S WILD RIDE FROM ‘SCARY 24 HOURS’ TO AFLW GRAND FINAL HERO

It had to be Dakota.

Death, taxes and an injury storyline in grand final week are the three certainties in footy.

On Sunday, Brisbane Lions forward Dakota Davidson ensured she was the one rewriting the script.

Last Sunday afternoon was spent undergoing scans on a feared ACL tear, hours after being inconsolable on the bench.

This one proved mightily sweeter as she flexed her muscle – and her boot – to deliver Brisbane a fourth AFL Women’s premiership.

Just like the lyrics to the Stereophonics song that shares her name, it was a case of “take a look at me now”.

“It was a scary 24 hours, I’m not going to lie,” Davidson said on Channel 7 post-game.

“Obviously scans came back clear and every child dreams of playing in a premiership. So I did everything I could to make it to this day.

“God I’m so glad I did, because this is unreal.”

North Melbourne have knocked and knocked on the door of a flag.

And on Sunday, they just about bloodied their knuckles as they rapped on the timber yet again.

Dakota Davidson was the final quarter hero for Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

But Brisbane firmly deadlocked and bolted it, winning by 17 points to claim their second premiership in five attempts.

With all the hallmarks of the Shinboners before them, the Kangaroos gritted their teeth to do all they could to stave off a frenetic Brisbane.

After both preliminary finals were decided by less than a kick, it was always going to be like this.

Tense. Frantic. A battle. Just the way the Roos had liked it after years of fighting the notion they couldn’t mix it with the best in the competition.

When Kate Shierlaw and Alice O’Loughlin both kicked goals late in the third term, the 12,616-strong Ikon Park crowd seemed all but resigned the cup wouldn’t be travelling far – just a few drop punts to Arden Street.

Cue Davidson, with her left knee heavily strapped after a preliminary final injury that threatened her shot at her second premiership, who booted two in the final quarter and was joined by teammate Ellie Hampson to ensure some extra baggage back to Brisbane would be required, after all.

Davidson, like this Brisbane side’s uncanny ability to welcome the feeling of their backs against the wall, is unique.

She celebrates the second the ball leaves her boot. She knows and – along with her skipper Breanna Koenen – ensured the Lions are queens of the jungle once more.

Teammates jump on Davidson after her final quarter goal. Picture: Getty Images

When the Lions captain moved to Kangaroos star Jasmine Garner – who, like in so many games before had been everywhere - in the second half, things shifted.

Brisbane didn’t mind playing this game at Ikon Park – its size, for one thing, which they used to their advantage in the third quarter to stretch the width of the ground and the margin.

Hoping to become the first expansion side to claim an AFLW flag having joined the competition in the first round of growth in 2019, the Roos played like they had a point to prove.

As president Sonja Hood put it this week, there had been a narrative that the club was “hopeless” having not claimed silverware since 1999.

“It’s clearly not,” she declared.

That they’d beaten competition powerhouses Melbourne and Adelaide on the way to the decider, and only Brisbane remained.

They remain unconquered.

“Our time is now,” the team’s pre-game banner read, with their time having to wait for now.

Lions coach Craig Starcevich – who watched as the likes of Emily Bates, Greta Bodey and Jesse Wardlaw signed elsewhere at the end of last season, after falling short of Melbourne in the grand final - said earlier this month that a premiership would be just reward for the likes of that pair, who have stuck fat amid three rounds of expansion while others left.

Jasmine Garner was a standout for North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane has built and reworked and regenerated its list three times now – through every round of expansion and every expansion club that has come knocking on its stars.

“To be written off, year and year again shows how good a group, how good the culture and program we have at the club,” Koenen said, having played in the first AFLW grand final in 2017.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of my girls today.”

Those who remained, ensured there was no heartbreak for the second year running, Queensland’s first grand final victory in six attempts 12 months – two in AFLW, one in AFL, one in NRL, one in NRLW and one in the WBBL on Saturday night.

There’s often drinking from cups and even shoes in sporting celebrations in years gone by.

You’d have to think the jerry can might get a run in Brisbane.

The olive-green vessel was thrust to the top of the group’s huddle in the seconds after the siren – a symbol of the team’s work.

“We did a camp at the start of the year,” Davidson revealed.

“We had to carry them for 20km through a trek. So, every time times get tough we always throw up the jerry can. Everyone knows it’s time to work hard like we did in preseason.”