A rare contest, a 50m goal and an unholy trinity of errors: The moments that turned the grand final

This was a premiership for the ages.

In the 129 years of the V/AFL, there would not be a premier who has lifted the cup with a deck as stacked against them as Brisbane’s latest back-to-back premiership team. Undeniably, the Lions’ fifth flag (as a merged entity) has been won the hard way.

The Lions celebrate on the siren.Credit: Jason South

The Lions overcame close to every difficulty imaginable to win the 2025 flag – injuries, a tougher fixture and a shorter pre-season – and on grand final day an opponent that had enjoyed the saloon passage through to football’s biggest day.

The 47-point margin suggests a romp but until time-on in the third quarter, few could have predicted with any confidence where this game was headed.

Not even the most one-eyed Lions supporters could have foreseen the torrent of goals from their side. Their run of 11 of 12 majors turned a match with nine lead changes that was shaping as an epic into the grand final blowout we have been accustomed to since the pandemic.

When the match turned

In a 20-minute period, starting just before three-quarter-time, the Lions slammed six goals to one against a Cats team that looked every bit as shell shocked as Sydney on this day last year.

In a game that had lived on moments – such as Shannon Neale and Max Holmes’s ball-bursters, Zac Bailey keeping his feet while Sam De Koning didn’t and Jeremy Cameron’s Ferrari on Ferrari collision with Patrick Dangerfield – Charlie Cameron seized his. Three of Cameron’s four goals came during this pivotal phase.

One of the worst on ground in the Lions’ qualifying final hammering, Cameron was the first game-breaker. His strength against young Cat Jhye Clark to win a rare one-on-one marking contest deep in the forward line and, importantly, convert, set the Lions on their way.

Moments later, he pounced on a ground ball after Will Ashcroft, a worthy Norm Smith medallist again, sparked a surge that also included deft touches to Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale and Kai Lohmann for another.

His final goal, from a lace-out pass from Ashcroft after Cam Rayner blindsided Mark Blicavs in the centre square, showcased the speed and power that remains a feature in his game even at the age of 31.

In victory, Brisbane confounded the accepted belief of modern-day football that it’s transition, and not contest and clearance, that wins the day.

Much of this game was played in football’s version of the trenches, in tight and in close where only the strong survive. And this Lions side has plenty who thrive in hand-to-hand combat. Football in 2025 supposedly became a turnover game but 11 of Brisbane’s 18 goals came from stoppage.

The Lions dismantled the Cats with their domination at clearance – 52-36 – and smothered them with a ferocity at the ball and ball-carrier, evident from the first bounce that Chris Scott’s men have seldom seen this year.

In the qualifying final, Neale had 32 disposals in a lost cause. In the grand final, he had just over half, 17, in a performance that is the definition of quality over quantity.

Neale vindicated the faith invested in him by Chris Fagan, whose surprise choice to start the dual Brownlow medallist as the sub proved inspired and game-changing. Neale could not play the full game, but the 44 per cent he played was at full tilt. The Lions were at their best when he was on the field.

His goal, on the run from 50 metres out just before three-quarter-time, was one of many in the second half that could have provided a snapshot of the mauling, the result of a panicked turnover that caught out a defence that was hopelessly out of shape to clean up such a mess.

Cats’ moments to forget

Rarely have the Cats been as startled. Connor O’Sullivan, the culprit in Neale’s goal, had an even worse moment in the final quarter.

When the pressure was supreme, and every mistake potentially flag-costing, O’Sullivan froze. Unable to trap a dodgy kick from Zach Guthrie just outside the defensive goal square before the Cats cheersquad, O’Sullivan completed the unholy trinity of errors – fumbling, falling then coughing up a handball for Cam Rayner to goal. The ungracious and unnecessary shove from Kai Lohmann only rubbed his nose in it further.

O’Sullivan was not on his own. The Cats’ very best had grand finals to forget.

Any hope Jeremy Cameron had of restoring a dirty day were foiled by a serious arm injury in the most damaging of friendly fire. This year’s Coleman medallist’s only highlight was a desperate tackle with his good arm on Jaspa Fletcher, leading to Holmes’ long-range goal – the last time the Cats led.

The clock that was wound back to Dangerfield’s glory years last week was turned forward with interest. The captain had a stinker – just 10 disposals in midfield and forward divisions that were rendered impotent. His most pronounced impact on the game was in injuring Jeremy Cameron.

Max Holmes and Bailey Smith were among the Cats’ better players but their combined 62 disposals had less significance than Neale’s 17.

Not much Scott did worked. Mark Blicavs tried to get to Harris Andrews, who, along with Darcy Gardiner, was impenetrable when it mattered.

Scott was beaten by what he knew. Shannon Neale was comprehensively beaten by Andrews for the second time in this finals series.

Tom Atkins, normally so dependable, paid a price for lapses in concentration against McCluggage, who more than atoned for his qualifying final failure.

If there was a Cat whose reputation was enhanced, other than that of Tom Stewart – undamaged by not having any fingerprints on this performance – it was perhaps Oliver Dempsey, the wingman whose four goals made him more dangerous than any of Geelong’s forwards.

So Geelong supporters old enough to remember a time when there was only one Gary Ablett can now bond with their sons and daughters, who now know how humiliating grand final defeat can be.

For the Lions, greatness now awaits. Back-to-back-to-back? It surely can’t be as hard as this year.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.