3 minute read

The Brisbane Lions have won their first AFL premiership since 2003, inflicting another massive grand final loss on Sydney with a 60-point belting at the MCG.

SNAPSHOT OF THE 2024 AFL GRAND FINAL

RESULT: Brisbane 18.12 (120) beat Sydney 9.60 (60) on Saturday at the MCG.

MAN OF THE MOMENT: In his grand final debut, Brisbane young Will Ashcroft won the Norm Smith Medal as best afield.

KEY MOMENT: When Eric Hipwood is pulling off party tricks, the opposition is doomed. With the Lions dominating late in the second term, Hipwood snapped superbly from a pocket and celebrated with his best impersonation of another Lions premiership goal-kicking wizard, Jason Akermanis. With all due respect to Hipwood, he can miss the simplest set shot. Game over.

THE STAT: At 63, Chris Fagan is the AFL's oldest premiership coach and the first never to have played at this level.

INJURIES: Brisbane's Cameron Rayner was crunched by Brodie Grundy in the second term, but returned to the game. Capping a dirty day for Swans star Isaac Heeney, he limped off in the third quarter. Swans key position player Logan McDonald was subbed out at halftime.

WHAT'S NEXT? Party time in Brisbane. Two years after they were thrashed by Geelong, another demoralising grand final loss and much food for thought at Sydney.