Brisbane’s 2024 grand final glory
In the wake of Brisbane’s destruction of Sydney, catch up on the latest news, expert analysis, player ratings and plenty more.
Updated
From crisis to glory: How the Lions stormed back from the brink
Chris Fagan insisted the crisis his men found themselves in earlier in the season because of injury and poor form had emboldened them and helped them to a breakthrough premiership.
- by Jon Pierik
Grand final ratings: Fagan’s perfect 10 while one Swan was awarded a 0.5
Who soared, and who flopped, on the AFL’s biggest stage? In a lopsided grand final, the influential players were far easier to spot for the triumphant Brisbane Lions.
- by Libby Birch and Brendan McCartney
Not again: Shocking Swans capitulate on the AFL’s biggest stage
The rampant Brisbane Lions have destroyed the Sydney Swans by 60 points, who lost their fourth consecutive AFL grand final on Saturday in an absolute horror show at the MCG.
- by Vince Rugari
Analysis
Pastor of the players: The unforgettable embrace that marked Fagan’s legacy
Perhaps no other coach before Chris Fagan has listened to the MCG crowd chanting his name in the last quarter of a grand final.
- by Greg Baum
Analysis
How the Lions tore the grand final apart in 15 minutes of pain for the Swans
Sure, grand final victories by narrow margins are exhilarating, but the Lions’ win over the Swans was the kind that dreams are made of. Seldom can 23 footballers live out the best day of their football lives and know it at the time.
- by Andrew Wu
‘How did that happen?’ Will Ashcroft stuns his triple flag-winning dad
Will Ashcroft became the second-youngest winner of the Norm Smith Medal when he had 30 touches in a grand final at the age of just 20 years and 145 days.
- by Peter Ryan
‘I wasn’t moving well’: Heeney reveals stress fracture after Sydney’s grand final shocker
Isaac Heeney was carrying a stress fracture in his ankle throughout the Swans’ AFL finals campaign, and it flared up at the worst possible moment on grand final day.
- by Vince Rugari
Fagan’s heroes: Brisbane Lions make amends by mauling Swans in grand final blowout
The Brisbane Lions turned the decider into a rout through a second-quarter blitz, condemning the Swans to a fourth grand final defeat in 11 years, despite their minor premiership.
- by Jake Niall
‘We don’t know where we went wrong’: Why 2024 thrashing hurt scarred Swans more than ’22
Key Swans stars admitted Saturday’s AFL grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions feels worse than their 2022 thumping at the hands of Geelong. But Dane Rampe vows they will fight back.
- by Steve Barrett
Why the next move of the AFL’s greatest enigma is anyone’s guess
Joe Daniher made an instant beeline behind the netted area in the bowels of the MCG to escape the same reporters all keen to ask him the same question: “Did you just play your last game?”
- by Marc McGowan
The ‘absolutely crazy’ premiership story of how the Lions held the Fort
A fortnight ago, Darcy Fort was playing in the hail against Werribee. On Saturday afternoon at the MCG, he was showered in confetti, beer and plaudits.
- by Michael Gleeson
‘We don’t know where we went wrong’: Why 2024 thrashing hurt scarred Swans more than ’22
Key Swans stars admitted Saturday’s AFL grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions feels worse than their 2022 thumping at the hands of Geelong. But Dane Rampe vows they will fight back.
- by Steve Barrett
AFL grand final as it happened: Party time in old Fitzroy after Brisbane’s redemption flag
The party is underway as the Lions celebrate their win in the AFL grand final today. Follow along for the post game celebrations and the reactions from the Swans to another heartbreaking loss.
- by Roy Ward, Danny Russell and Shelby Garlick
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/brisbane-s-2024-grand-final-glory-20240928-p5ke8u.html