Will Ashcroft became the second-youngest winner of the Norm Smith Medal when he had 30 touches in a grand final at the age of just 20 years and 145 days.
Who soared,and who flopped,on the AFL’s biggest stage? In a lopsided grand final,the influential players were far easier to spot for the triumphant Brisbane Lions.
Joe Daniher made an instant beeline behind the netted area in the bowels of the MCG to escape the same reporters all keen to ask him the same question:“Did you just play your last game?”
It was predicted “a few moments of brilliance” would be needed to claim the trophy. In the end,nearly every Lion had a moment of that nature.
Chris Fagan insisted the crisis his men found themselves in earlier in the season because of injury and poor form had emboldened them and helped them to a breakthrough premiership.
Sure,grand final victories by narrow margins are exhilarating,but the Lions’ win over the Swans was the kind that dreams are made of. Seldom can 23 footballers live out the best day of their football lives and know it at the time.
2024 AFL grand final Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions at MCG
Isaac Heeney was carrying a stress fracture in his ankle throughout the Swans’ AFL finals campaign,and it flared up at the worst possible moment on grand final day.
In the wake of Brisbane’s destruction of Sydney,catch up on the latest news,expert analysis,player ratings and plenty more.
All eyes were on Katy Perry in the lead-up to the AFL grand final. And when she finally performed pre-game,she was best on ground.
The rampant Brisbane Lions have destroyed the Sydney Swans by 60 points,who lost their fourth consecutive AFL grand final on Saturday in an absolute horror show at the MCG.