AFL grand final 2024: Brisbane Lions earn redemption in thumping win over Sydney Swans
The last Saturday in September has arrived with Brisbane and Sydney to go head-to-head at the MCG.
The stage is set for one team to earn the ultimate redemption, with both sides the losing grand finalists from the past two seasons.
Sydney was embarrassed in an 81-point demolition by Geelong in 2022, while Brisbane suffered heartbreak of a different kind in a four-point thriller against Collingwood last year.
While both teams have roots in Victoria, Sydney to South Melbourne and Brisbane to Fitzroy, neither the Swans nor Lions hold a home-ground advantage at the home of football.
It sets the stage for an epic conclusion to one of the tightest premiership races in AFL history, with minor premiers Sydney the best team in the first half of the year and Brisbane storming home at the back end of the season.
Follow all the action, from pre-game, siren-to-siren and all the post-match wash-up in our live blog below.
Season done
While it was not the decider 2024 deserved, the Lions proved they are the kings of the jungle in one of the AFL’s most successful and competitive seasons in history.
For the Lions, it’s time to celebrate and soak in the reward for their hard work, but for the rest of the competition, it’s back to the drawing board.
And it all begins next week with free agency and a fortnight of trades.
Until then, farewell!
Fages a favourite
Fagan looks like a proud Dad as he sits next to Will Ashcroft in the press conference.
He reflects on all the injuries they suffered at the start of the season and how all of their youngsters stood up to make themselves heard and felt in the competition.
Heartbreaking
John Longmire looks a broken man in his press conference.
He knows his team didn’t put there best foot forward.
To make matters worse the Lions are belting out their song in the back ground.
Grand Final timeline
Great man
Oscar McInerney says he processed the pain of missing a grand final straight away after hurting his shoulder so he could support his team and soak up the day.
The team hung his jumper above the door of the rooms as a reminder of what they were playing for and all those that had got them there.
The cup enters the rooms
The Lions are heading into the rooms as the light fades.
Their families are waiting for them and the cheers are loud and proud.
Everyone is getting in on the action.
The big men!
Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort shared a special moment during the post-game celebrations.
Fagan admissions
The Lions coach has labelled the year “unbelievable” after admitting they were thinking a good finish would be just scraping into the finals.
Well, they did just a little bit better than that.
“That’s probably our greatest-ever performance, we did it on the big stage,” he told Channel 7.
Winners are grinners
As the Swans leave the field, the Lions can get into full swing.
