Geelong vs Brisbane: AFL star players and million-dollar property market momentum
From Hamptons-style mansions in Brisbane to coastal retreats on Victoria's Surf Coast, the stars of the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats have proven just as strategic with their real estate moves as they are on the footy field.
And it's not just the players who have cashed in on property plays.
According to Atom Go Tian, Senior Data Analyst at Ray White Group, the rising fortunes of both cities' property prices have been closely tied to their AFL success.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Tian said: "The Lions' transformation under Chris Fagan mirrors one of the most dramatic property turnarounds in recent memory. Between 2005 and 2018, Brisbane averaged 13th on the ladder while their housing market crawled along with just 18 per cent growth over 14 years."
"The team was mediocre, the city's confidence was flat and property investors looked elsewhere."
"Then everything changed. As the Lions roared back to relevance with preliminary finals, grand final appearances, and now another shot at September glory, Brisbane house prices have exploded 107 per cent over the past six years.
"When your team consistently delivers September thrills, your city becomes more attractive, more confident, more valuable."
Geelong, meanwhile, has become a case study in how on-field success can reshape a city's property market.
Tian said: "The Cats have written the playbook on how sporting excellence drives property growth. Sixteen top-four finishes in the last 20 years, including premierships in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2022, have helped transform Geelong from industrial town to a lifestyle destination.
"Each September run brings national media attention, each premiership delivers civic pride that attracts investment and tourism.
"The football success became inseparable from the city's economic development story, with the team serving as the city's best marketing asset for attracting the population and investment growth that powered property appreciation.
"The connection runs so deep that when the Cats had their worst season in decades (12th in 2023), property prices dropped 3 per cent, one of only two declines in the past 20 years.
"When Geelong struggles, the market notices."
On the field, Saturday's result is anyone's guess.
But in the property game, Brisbane has already claimed victory. The Lions have tripled their supporter base since 2018, with those migrating from the AFL footy mad eastern states laying claim to their new city's team.
Combine that with skyrocketing house prices, and Brisbane is the team, and city on the rise.
Of course, Geelong's established market and enviable coastal lifestyle remain unmatched, but as Tian points out, "Brisbane has momentum that can't be ignored. The Lions have reignited belief in their city and the property market has followed."
That momentum for both teams is reflected not only in city-wide statistics but also in the private moves of the players themselves.
From Brisbane to Geelong, footy's biggest names have been making savvy plays in real estate reflected in their winning property portfolios.
Patrick Dangerfield: Building a legacy on the Surf Coast
Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield and wife Mardi chronicled the build of their Moggs Creek dream home in an online series, Danger's Build.
The couple bought the land in 2016 for $2 million before lodging plans for a $1.2 million residence in 2018.
Dangerfield reflected on what the area means to him in his building series on YouTube.
"The Surf Coast is where I grew up and spent all of my childhood. When I was drafted to Adelaide in 2007, I was away for eight years, and that time really reaffirmed how much I loved and missed the coast. When I came back to Geelong, there was only one place I wanted to live."
"The house we bought had been built after the Ash Wednesday fires in the early 1980's. Unfortunately, it wasn't really suitable for a renovation, so it was easier to start from scratch and build something new."
"We lived in the old house for about 12 to 18 months to really understand the block and how we'd use it. Then we worked with our craftsmen and architects to design something that would look wonderful, function well as a family home, and really suit the area."
"I've always been passionate about houses. Even as a 12 year old, I'd walk up and down the Surf Coast looking at the beautiful homes and dreaming that one day I'd design and build my own."
"My favourite parts of the house are definitely the two wings that overlook the ocean. The views are just incredible."
Bailey Smith: A $4 million coastal escape
Geelong's star recruit Bailey Smith secured a $4 million slice of paradise on the Surf Coast before even pulling on the Cats jumper.
The 23-year-old purchased a six-hectare property near Torquay boasting landscaped gardens, an in-ground pool with a pool house, and even an in-ground trampoline.
Buyers advocate John O'Brien, who helped Smith find the property, said it was the perfect retreat just 10 minutes from the beach and half an hour from the Cat's home ground GMHBA Stadium.
Rhys Stanley: A dream farmhouse come true
Geelong premiership ruckman Rhys Stanley and his wife Kirsten spent nearly three years building their forever home, 'Farmhouse Fields', on the Surf Coast.
Inspired by European design, the home was finally completed just before Christmas 2024, with the couple and their three children moving in after years of planning.
The luxe farmhouse reflects a growing trend of AFL players embracing lifestyle properties on Victoria's coast.
Lachie Neale: From Coorparoo to Seven Hills
Brisbane's midfield maestro Lachie Neale has been as shrewd off-field as he is on it.
After being lured north from Fremantle in 2018, Neale purchased a $1.77 million home in Coorparoo. Four years later, he flipped it for $2.6 million, pocketing close to a million-dollar profit.
Not content to rest, Neale reinvested in a Hamptons-style home in Seven Hills for $2.43 million, solidifying his presence in Brisbane's booming inner suburbs.
With an estimated annual salary of up to $950,000, Neale is proving he knows how to win both on and off the field.
Josh Dunkley: A new chapter in Paddington
Teammate Josh Dunkley wasted no time settling into Queensland life after crossing from the Western Bulldogs.
Alongside partner and superstar netballer Tippah Dwan, Dunkley purchased a $2.265 million character home in Paddington.
The couple enlisted The Block alumni Leah and Ash to renovate, creating a five-bedroom showpiece complete with a pool, wine cellar, and sprawling backyard.
Dunkley has already shown off the results in videos featuring drone shots of the impressive grounds a perfect entertainer's haven after a hard-fought season.
Originally published as Geelong vs Brisbane: AFL star players and million-dollar property market momentum
