AFL Grand Final 2024: How Brisbane Lions’ 204-day dance on thin ice ended in premiership glory
Chris Fagan called it dancing on thin ice— and boy, did the Lions dance. GLENN MCFARLANE examines the key moments from a season like no other, which led to Brisbane’s first premiership in 21 years.
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The Brisbane Lions’ year of living dangerously ended in a stunning ten-goal grand final victory, washing away the tears of last year’s heartbreaking loss with a history-making premiership before a roaring crowd of 100,013.
In closing out footy’s longest continuous season, which in the Lions’ case stretched back a remarkable 204 days, they proved themselves the most resilient – and the best – team of what was a rollercoaster year.
In cursing Sydney to a fourth grand final loss in a decade, Brisbane became the kings of the AFL jungle again, as Chris Fagan’s men outlasted the Swans and the rest of the competition in a ‘survivor-style’ season full of fluctuating fortunes and wild form swings.
It was the club’s first flag success since that famous three-peat of victories from 2001-2003.
But as much as that triple treat of premierships two decades ago was carved out of ruthless efficiency, relentless consistency and an almost arrogant dominance, this one was different, but no less cherished.
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For much of this season, Fagan’s team showed vulnerabilities but somehow managed to regroup and turn those perceived signs of weakness into collective strengths.
In many ways, the Lions strode the tightrope without a safety net throughout the 2024 season, daring to risk falling in order to keep the dream alive.
Or as Fagan told his players, ‘if you are on thin ice, you might as well dance’.
And dance, they did!
But how many times did the ice nearly crack?
Not when they slumped to a miserable 0-3 start to the season, with reports that an end of season trip to the US had fractured team harmony, which the Lions at first dismissed with words and then later with actions.
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Not when five senior players were ruled out of this year with ACL injuries, albeit they got back another, Will Ashcroft, who returned late in the season after his own heartbreaking knee injury in 2023. He joined his father, Marcus, as a Brisbane Lions premiership player, and then closed out it perfectly, winning the Norm Smith Medal as a 20-year-old in only his 31st game.
Look out next year when his brother, Levi, joins him at the Lions.
Not when a remarkable mid-season revival stumbled at the back end, coughing up leads to Greater Western Sydney and Collingwood which cost them the double chance and left them fifth on the ladder.
Not when a 44-point deficit confronted them in the semi-final against GWS before some inspired Joe Daniher magic sealed one of the greatest fightbacks in finals history.
Not even when they gave up a four-goal deficit to Geelong in a preliminary final!
The ice made noises but never cracked.
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Whenever the odds seemed insurmountable for the Lions this year, they managed to overcome it.
And while this flag had a very modern feel to it, there was also a cherished part of Fitzroy’s DNA attached, stretching back more than half a century and a half.
That includes the likes of 86-year-old Kevin Murray, who couldn’t be at the MCG for health reasons, but who watched the game from afar.
In part, these 2024 Lions stayed focused and grounded by the man who made history at the MCG on Saturday.
An emotional Fagan hugged the man he had joined as a Lions premiership coach Leigh Matthews on the final siren as his place in the game’s history was forever stamped.
The one-time kid from Queenstown has turned into a modern father figure of the Brisbane Lions, much like Matthews was a generation ago.
He is now the oldest premiership coach in VFL-AFL history.
Incredibly, the man who has become the 55th VFL-AFL premiership coach never played at the highest level.
But success follows his every step, like a powerful shadow, despite the doubters wondering if he could ever climb footy’s version of Everest as a senior coach.
He gripped the premiership cup with co-captains Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews, who were superb in winning the inaugural Ron Barassi Medals, as well as 35-year-old veteran Dayne Zorko, who became a premiership player in his 277th game.
There were heartwarming stories in maroon and blue everywhere in place of the heartbreaking ones from last September, when the Lions fell four points short in a classic grand final against Collingwood.
Daniher added to his family’s remarkably rich storyline that is already so good that they have had a book written about them.
He joined his uncles, Terry and Chris, as VFL-AFL as premiership players on Saturday.
Is there another chapter to be written? Who knows? The 31-year-old has flirted with the idea of an early retirement, but is undoubtedly playing the best footy of his entire career.
Jarrod Berry told the Herald Sun this week that losing a grand final last year – when he conceded a crucial late 50m penalty that resulted in Collingwood’s last goal – wasn’t as painful as losing his mum to cancer when he was 15.
He would have made his late mum proud on Saturday, as his dad Troy says he has done every day since her passing in 2013.
Brandon Starcevich was the step-ladder for Bobby Hill last September; this time he was a rock in the Lions defence.
So, too, was Jack Payne, who had to watch on due to injury last year, but was able to play a role in what is now a premiership-winning Lions back half.
Callum Ah Chee, with four goals, and Cam Rayner, with plenty of impact, shut out memories of bad grand final performances last season.
Darcy Fort was more than just the accidental ruckman who replaced the unfortunate Oscar McInerney with his solid performance.
McInerney’s emotional embrace with Fagan immediately after the final siren said it all, and summed up his selflessness.
Josh Dunkley won a second premiership medal, eight years after his first with the Bulldogs.
The 21-and-unders Ashcroft, Kai Lohmann (four goals), Darcy Wilmot, Jaspa Fletcher and Logan Morris shone on the brightest of stages in a promise of more success to come.
When Matthews’ ‘If it bleeds, you can kill it’ Lions won that breakthrough flag in 2001, they were hungry and wanted more.
The crazy AFL storylines of 2024 shows the only certainty is that there are no certainties in footy, but Fagan’s team looks every bit as ravenous.
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