But this Lions outfit was galvanised under coach Chris Fagan. Even when things looked bleak early in the season,when they fell to a 2-5 win-loss record,they kept the faith and could not have been more dominant.

“All that was being said about us in the media and the narratives that were being written,[Fagan] was sort of saying it could go one of two ways from that point,” Starcevich told this masthead.

“You either come together and unite,or can tear apart,and things start falling apart. But it brought us closer together,and the brotherhood and belief amongst each other grew.

“As things started to turn,we came together even more.”

Can they create a dynasty to rival the three-peat of the early 2000s under Leigh Matthews? They have the experience to do so – having made two preliminary finals,a semi-final final and now two deciders since 2019.

And with a cohort of emerging stars making palpable statements,anything is possible.

The cubs stand tall:What does this mean for Brisbane’s returning class?

In the week leading up to Saturday’s triumph,Brisbane head of football Danny Daly confessed the emergence of the club’s rookie class was one borne out of necessity.

Season-ending knee injuries to Keidean Coleman,Tom Doedee,Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Gardiner left gaping voids in the Lions’ side,coinciding with a horror 2-5 start to the campaign.

But the youngsters who filled their shoes did more than assume roles. They shone in their own right,and played crucial hands in the decider.

Lohmann has established himself as the side’s energiser bunny,while fellow forward Logan Morris came up with two goals and six marks.

Ashcroft was phenomenal,combining brilliantly with Neale,Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley to finish with 30 disposals and five clearances.

Jaspa Fletcher (18 disposals) and Darcy Wilmot (15 disposals,eight marks) rounded out the young quintet,and now the question heading into 2025 will be how on earth Fagan can squeeze his comeback quartet into this side.

Of the fledging stars,only Morris and Lohmann are unsigned beyond 2025,and they loom as key retentions in the off season as the Lions seek to cement their future.

Fitting all the aforementioned guns into his side is just about the finest headache Fagan would have ever experienced. For now,it is time to celebrate.

Can Neale get better again?

Perhaps one of the most surprising things the Brownlow Medal revealed this week was how far down the pecking order Neale finished in the tally – finishing 12th overall.

But the reality has been the 31-year-old has found a way to become even better in 2024.

The Brisbane co-captain was outstanding,composed in the contest while proving to be the everywhere-man.

He dominated the middle and probed forward to orchestrate the Lions’ attack,butalso found himself backfield cleaning up the scraps when Sydney threatened to score.

Never has Neale finished with as many goal assists as what he has in 2024,his 26 almost double his career-best,as well as total disposals (761) and inside 50s. All the more impressive considering he has been nursing a heel injury for much of the season.

On Saturday,he finished with a game-high 34 disposals to go with nine clearances,and Starcevich warned he would only get better.

“He gives himself every chance to be at his best every week with the way he prepares,” Starcevich said.

“He’s still getting better every year. He’s an inspiration to everyone at the club in that if you keep working on your craft you can still get better and better.

“He goes from strength to strength every year and keeps adding little things to his game.”

Dunkley makes history

Dunkley was the only man in this side who had achieved the near unthinkable – winning the flag from outside the top four.

He did so during his Western Bulldogs days,and now he enters illustrious company as the only man in the modern finals format to win two premierships – and with two clubs – since the top-eight format came into effect.

What made Dunkley’s feat more remarkable was the man he opposed in Sydney supremo Isaac Heeney.

Aside from a third-quarter goal when he broke inside 50 unmarked,Heeney’s impact was limited,courtesy of the effort Dunkley had put on him – by the full-time siren,the Swans midfielder had just 14 touches.