The last Brisbane Lions team to host an AFL final at the Gabba
It’s been 10 years since the Brisbane Lions played in the finals, with their last match at the Gabba a famous come from behind win over Carlton. Here’s what those players are up to now.
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The Lions were behind by four goals heading into the final quarter of the elimination final against Carlton in 2009, before a Daniel Bradshaw masterclass sent the plucky Brisbane squad to the semis.
Just one player remains from that team as the Lions host Richmond at the Gabba next Saturday.
Here’s what happened to those players after that famous victory.
MATT AUSTIN
The midfielder was playing just his seventh game for the Lions when he made his finals debut.
Finished the game with 14 touches – enough to keep his spot for the next week – but only played another seven matches after that before being delisted at the end of 2011.
The 30-year-old now plays for Sebastopol in the Ballarat Football League and was this year picked in the league’s squad for the Community Championships.
SIMON BLACK
Was almost the best man on the field in the win as the 2002 Brownlow Medallist collected 29 touches – one of only three players to have more than 20 disposals.
Went on to play another 57 matches for the Lions before retiring in 2013 as one of the genuine greats of the game.
He then joined the club as an assistant coach, but resigned in 2016 to focus on running his footy academy.
The 40-year-old now runs around on the beach trying to outwit, outplay, and outlast his opponents in Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders.
DANIEL BRADSHAW
Made the difference in the game with five crucial goals from 16 disposals, but played his final game for the Lions in the semi-final loss to the Bulldogs the next week.
Knocked back a contract offer to stay in Brisbane – partly due to the Lions trying to trade him to Carlton to get fellow tall forward Brendan Fevola – and instead went into the pre-season draft where he was picked up by Sydney.
Only played nine games for the Swans and finished his career in 2010 with 231 games and 524 goals to his name.
Was last spotted playing footy in his Victorian home town of Wodonga.
JARED BRENNAN
One of the Lions best players by the end of 2010, Brennan walked out on the club after making huge contract demands, and landed on the inaugural Gold Coast Suns list after a complicated trade.
Played 54 games for the Suns before finishing his career at the end of 2013 with 173 matches and 101 goals to his name.
Has since bounced around country football teams, including the Park Ridge Pirates and the Henty Football Club in NSW.
JONATHAN BROWN
One of the greats of the game, Brown teamed up with twin tower Bradshaw to kick nine goals, six behinds in the elimination final victory.
Retired at the end of 2014 after a string of horrific head knocks, finishing with 594 goals from 256 games.
Now works in various media roles, including covering the breakfast shift on Nova FM in Melbourne.
MITCH CLARK
The athletic tall enjoyed his best season in 2009 for the Lions, playing all 24 games mainly as a ruckman.
He spent two more years on the Brisbane list before he requested a trade home to Perth – only to find himself playing for the Demons instead.
Lasted three seasons there before heading to Geelong in 2015, where he made an immediate impact, before being forced to leave the game to battle clinical depression.
Retired from footy at the end of 2016 and turned his talents to photography. Was also lured Mundijong in WA to play some footy there with ex-teammate Ash McGrath in 2017.
SCOTT HARDING
This was the final game Harding played for the Lions, missing out on selection for the clash against the Bulldogs the next week.
Found his way to Port Adelaide in 2010, where he played two games before being delisted at the end of that year.
By mid-2011, the small midfielder was offered a scholarship to American Football at the University of Hawaii as a wide receiver.
Now works for food tech company Zomato.
JAMES HAWKSLEY
The midfielder was playing just his 10th game when he suited up for the elimination final.
Ended his career at the end of 2012 with 32 games to his name, and moved back home to Perth to play for the Peel Thunder and start a career as an electrician.
RHAN HOOPER
Another who played his final game for the Lions in this finals series.
Moved to Hawthorn but told the club he was heading home to Queensland at the end of 2010.
Played for Springwood last season.
TRAVIS JOHNSTONE
Was in his second season of three at the Lions when he played in this final, having spent nine years at the Demons after being the No.1 draft pick at the end of 1997.
Finished his career with 209 games and has stayed in footy circles, including playing for Palmerston in the NT and Chelsea Heights in Victoria.
ASHLEY MCGRATH
The 2003 premiership player is best known for kicking the winning goal in the “Miracle on Grass” game against Geelong in 2013.
Notched up 78 more games after the 2009 final before retiring at the end of 2014 as a one club player with 214 matches to his name.
Returned to Mundijong Centrals to play footy under his brother and Centrals coach Toby McGrath in 2017.
DANIEL MERRETT
Merrett has established himself as a lock in the 22 by the end of 2009 as a key defender.
Played another 114 games after the elimination final at the Gabba before retiring at the end of 2016.
Now does some skills work with the Brisbane Broncos and works with Bulimba sporting goods company Tribal Sports.
JOEL PATFULL
The defender was at the mid-point of his career during the 2009 season and had a built a reputation as a quality rebounding backman.
Made another 105 appearance for the Lions until a two-season move to GWS, where he played 38 games.
Is now a social media influencer with fashionista partner Elle Ferguson from their Bondi home.
JAMES POLKINGHORNE
Playing in just his second season and 23rd game, the Melbourne-born midfielder was solid in the elimination final win with 12 disposals.
Put up another 71 games for the Lions until the end of 2014 before being delisted.
Joined Essendon for the 2016 season as a supplements scandal top up player, notching a further seven games in the red and black.
In 2019 he joined the Melbourne University Blacks FC on the team’s coaching staff, and also works for CUB owned marketing company DraftLine.
LUKE POWER
The three-time premiership hero was at his reliable best in the elimination final with 24 touches and a game-high nine tackles.
The veteran played another two seasons at the Gabba before being lured to the new GWS franchise in 2012 to act as a coach on the field, retiring at the end of that season with a stunning 302 games to his name.
Has continued in that mentoring-type role as the AFL’s academy manager in Melbourne.
JACK REDDEN
One of just three players from this team still on an AFL list in 2019, Redden is now a key cog in the midfield of reigning premiers West Coast.
Was in just his ninth game for the Lions when he played his first final, getting 11 touches and kicking a crucial goal.
DANIEL RICH
The only bloke still running around for the Lions and he’s just about as good as ever.
The West Australian was in his first season when he played in this final and would go on to win the Rising Star award.
Like Redden, was solid without being spectacular, picking up 12 disposals and kicking a goal.
Saturday’s night match will be Rich’s 206th game but just his third final.
MICHAEL RISCHITELLI
Now he really is retired.
Famously included in the slideshow of retirees at last year’s Brownlow Medal when he was set to go around again, Rischitelli called time on his career just a few weeks ago.
Was playing his 88th game for the Lions in the elimination final and picked up 15 disposals along the way.
Spent one more season at the Lions before becoming one of the Gold Coast Suns’ first players, putting up another 132 games despite consistent knee problems.
JASON ROE
The elimination final was the defender’s 50th and final game for the Lions after four seasons at the club, retiring due to chronic knee issues.
Roe moved back to the NT after his career where he had a brief brush with the law in 2015, when he received an 18-month suspended sentence for cannabis supply.
Despite the setback, Roe continued to work with Inidigenous youth and was named NT Thunder Academy coach at the end of 2018, dealing closely with ex-teammate Luke Power.
SAM SHELDON
The son of former Blues champ Ken Sheldon, the midfielder was another player in his first season in 2009.
Played 19 games in his opening year but only managed another 24 after that, finishing his AFL career at the end of 2012.
Is now the coach of the Kyabram Bombers in the Goulburn Valley Football League in northern Victoria.
JUSTIN SHERMAN
The handy midfielder from Tasmania spent one more season with the Lions before heading to the Western Bulldogs in 2011.
Was suspended for four weeks in his first season at the Dogs over a racial vilification incident with a teammate and only added 24 more games at Whitten Oval to the 114 he played for the Lions.
Captain-coached the Laurimar Football Club in Melbourne’s outer northern suburbs last season and now works with disadvantaged youth through the YMCA Rebuild program.
CHEYNEE STILLER
Joined Harding and Roe on the sidelines for the semi-final to make way for Jed Adcock, Tim Notting and Josh Drummond.
It was the Queenslander’s 67th game for the Lions after graduating from St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe, and he finished up his career on 100 matches at the end of 2012.
Is now a financial adviser based in Brisbane.
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