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.
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.
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.
After last year’s grand final loss,the Lions wrote down all their missed opportunities,little realising they’d be reviewing them just one year on.
There will be more than 30 players at the MCG on Saturday who have played in grand final losses – a scenario that is almost without parallel in a heavily equalised competition.
Ahead of the grand final Isaac Heeney has the opportunity to write a new chapter,not only as a superstar on the field,but one who can command even bigger paydays.
Follow the colour and action as the Swans and Lions take to the streets of Melbourne for the AFL grand final parade and final training session at the MCG.