The tens of thousands Brisbane fans in the MCG stood as one, applauding, cheering, but barely able to believe what they had just seen. It was only half-time, but with a 46-point lead the Lions had one hand on the 2024 AFL premiership trophy. Katy Perry long since forgotten, so too the drama of the past two weeks, and most of all the pain of one year ago.
None embodied the great shock of the spectacle like Eric Hipwood. The much-maligned tall forward, doing his best to be somewhat less maligned. Amid the maroon surge, the long limbs of the 27-year-old delivered the peak of the mania. Along the boundary in the forward pocket, far from Hipwoodâs natural habitat, Kai Lohmann slipped him the ball with Swans stand-in captain Dane Rampe bearing down on him.
Even optimistic Lions fans feared what would come next. Some have deemed Hipwoodâs contract an albatross, but in this battle of the birds, it was Hipwood the hunter, the Swans the prey. A neat in and away sent the defender sliding on the softest corner of the MCG surface. Hipwood looked up and slotted his shot through, putting one hand to his head and the other to his open mouth in exaggerated surprise.
It was a throwback to the 2005 celebration by former Lion Jason Akermanis, the flashy Brownlow medallist and three-time premiership winner some would suggest had too much self-belief. But while Akermanisâ gesture was satire â his two goals in a minute surprised himself least of all â Hipwood was all sincerity. This was, the crowd understood, an astonishing period in the grand final.
Hipwood is a Queenslander who came through the Lions academy, a child in primary school the last time the man they call âAkerâ helped the club to a flag. An entity with a complicated past, Brisbane Lions are now able to point to two great eras of success. That sentiment was set in stone when Leigh Matthews presented Chris Faganâs team the trophy, the two Brisbane premiership coaches having already shared a teary embrace on the siren.
The victoryâs euphoric flourish of goals â 12 to the Swansâ two in the second and third quarters â was the product of the Lionsâ hunger and desire, fermented over 12 months of regret and what-might-have-beens.
There was Lachie Neale, gliding around on his problematic but painless heel. He wonât be able to walk come Monday, but on Saturday afternoon he was flying. Darcy Fort, the back-up ruck who had the better of Brodie Grundy. Callum Ah Chee, adding to his September legend with four more goals. And the shimmering flow of Lohmann, with four himself, and a nuisance throughout.
Then there was Will Ashcroft, the leagueâs new prince charming. The 20-year-old was busy around the ball and classy in his use, earning him the Norm Smith medal and the title as the youngest-ever winner. This was just the 13th match after recovering from an ACL injury for the son of Marcus Ashcroft, a three-time premiership player drawing another line between the Lions of the present and past.
Until the goal rush arrived, the match had rumbled along, the kind of contest assistant coaches dream of. Both sidesâ weapons were largely neutralised, and the result was a clunky spectacle. But as the second stanza ticked on, the bands holding these two teams together stretched then snapped, as Zac Bailey pushed Rampe under the ball out wide, part of a scoring chain ending in a Lohmann goal. It would soon become a locomotive.
Brisbaneâs inside 50s piled up, Sydney unable to clear their lines. For a moment the Lions showed mercy. Behind, after behind, after behind, like dinner time at the pound. But it was the big dog who would end the run. Joe Daniherâs major followed quickly by a brilliant piece of ruck play that ended in another goal, just one roar among seven in a spectacular 20-minute period.
The omens for the Lions looked promising as soon as Perry started her set with Roar. But if thatâs the sound of a lion, those wondering what noise Swans make wonât have learned anything from this afternoon at the MCG. Whatever fans think of Perryâs new stuff, at least sheâs attempted a comeback.
The Swans offered little counter. Seconds after Heeney scored the Swansâ first goal in more than a quarter of play during the third term, almost instantly there was the Lionsâ own poster boy Ashcroft banging one through. In front of a largely red MCG, it was a Swans performance more deflating than their 81-point defeat against Geelong two years ago. That day Sydney were in the decider early in their improvement arc. On Sunday, the minor premiers will hope they havenât peaked.
But this was a day for the Lions and their unforgettable mid-match surge. They have become known as the comeback kings in recent weeks. But by the time Fagan and his players lifted the cup in the fading Melbourne light, the Lions were simply kings.