2024 vs 2025 Premiership, which is a greater achievement?

[PerthBoy86]

Hard to really split them I would think as a Lions supporter, but personally, does one feel more amazing or special to you? I would argue 2025 is at least as great, in some ways.

2024 was the 21 year droughtbreaker, the fairytale of coming from 5th, the comebacks against GWS and Geelong, loss of big O and a big smashing. Vindication for Fagan and all those finals 'chokes.'

2025 you finished 3rd, but still were schooled by a Geelong that appeared to have figured you out. Looked decent but not the best late in the season. Were bigger underdogs vs Geelong than Sydney, and the game was close until the 3rd quarter, when you pulled out a demolition job no one saw coming. At one point the margin was even beyond last year's 60 points. Vindication for Oscar, as well as Charlie finding career best form. Second Norm for Will too. A coaching master-class from Fages, I can say I underrated him.

Anyway, do you prefer one over the other or find one more of an achievement?

 

[Elixuh]

 

[Sproj]

2024 was amazing, stuff of fairy tales.
2025 was legendary, stuff of folklore.

 

[JayJ20]

As a non-Brisbane fan, I'm going to say 2024 because Brisbane achieved it by winning 3 straight away finals from outside of the top 4. Not only that, but they had lost 4 of the last 30 games at the MCG prior to that Geelong prelim last year. Since that prelim win, Brisbane have won 8 out of the last 9 games at the MCG.

That's when they established the mental strength required to win anywhere and anytime. It's possible Brisbane don't win this year without last year especially given the GF loss to Collingwood.

 

[Sproj]

As a non-Brisbane fan, I'm going to say 2024 because Brisbane achieved it by winning 3 straight away finals from outside of the top 4. Not only that, but they had lost 4 of the last 30 games at the MCG prior to that Geelong prelim last year. Since that prelim win, Brisbane have won 8 out of the last 9 games at the MCG.

That's when they established the mental strength required to win anywhere and anytime. It's possible Brisbane don't win this year without last year especially given the GF loss to Collingwood.

If we had W.Ashcroft, we're probably 3 time premiers right now to be honest.

 

[The Golfing Lion]

Hard to choose but this year. Incredible the resilience of the team. So many young players, the injury worries bringing uncertainty, Oscar having his moment. Amazing and just getting started

 

[Nathan Barley]

Can’t forget your first

 

[PerthBoy86]

As a non-Brisbane fan, I'm going to say 2024 because Brisbane achieved it by winning 3 straight away finals from outside of the top 4. Not only that, but they had lost 4 of the last 30 games at the MCG prior to that Geelong prelim last year. Since that prelim win, Brisbane have won 8 out of the last 9 games at the MCG.

That's when they established the mental strength required to win anywhere and anytime. It's possible Brisbane don't win this year without last year especially given the GF loss to Collingwood.

In both cases they played 4 finals, but they looked down and out in the semi and to a lesser extent prelim. Looked commanding in those 2 finals this year.

Yes their mentality/resilience is unmatched. The motto 'believe' definitely applies.

 

[Bucking Beads]

2025 might be the best premiership of all time.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Beating a Vic team is sitting much better with me

 

[Bucking Beads]

Beating a Vic team is sitting much better with me

My mate drove me home and I was wearing no pants

 

[ice444]

2025 - injuries and a 2 time brownlow medalist being a sub.

 

[Ironmonger]

Purely in terms of GFs, then it's 2025.

The Swans put out a true shocker last year. The Cats were at least able to sometimes convert on the many occasions the umpires gave them a shot on goal.

We won a grand final where the umpires paid 17-4 free kicks against us in the first half. That is mad!

 

[mighty_lions]

2024 has an emotional place for me, they said we couldn't do and we finally got there
2025 a tale of persistence 54 games in 2 years, all the injuries, dunks and Lachie playing with a syndesmosis and the calf, the toughest draw in history and they've gone back to back

as beast mode said last week, WHAT A CLUB!

 

[Lions2Good]

IMO 2025

• Toughest fixture in history
• Many more injuries compared to 2024
• Geelong IMO are a more daunting opponent vs Sydney (No disrespect, Sydney were great for most of last year however a VIC club at the MCG hits differently)
• Umpires tried to **** us in the first half
• Exposed to more youth and inexperience in the team (Marshall/Gallop etc)

 

[Lion_LegacyXL]

Both 2024 and 205 have their merits.

In 2024 we came from the clouds and we were down and out on several occasions written off due to our injuries and our early season form having started 0-3 and sitting at 13th on the ladder after the mid season bye. We looked done after finishing 5th then having to travel on the road for our last 3 finals. We came back from overwhelmingly massive margins in our semi final and prelim winning classics against quality sides then the grand final against the Swans was a celebration, showcasing our best football that we've been building towards for years. That was a magical day.

2025 there were greater expectations for us, despite not playing consistent football it was a better h/a season for us having breaking several hoodoos such as beating Hawthorn and Collingwood at the MCG and Geelong down at GMHBA for the first time in 22 years. Even though we dropped a few games to lower sides on the ladder it's the first time in my 18 years supporting the club that we felt like a genuine power house in the competition.

Personally last years flag holds a special place to me for various reasons. It's the first flag I got to experience, I didn't get to experience the Lions 3 peat era as I wasn't introduced to the sport until a few years after. My mum recently passed away in July this year from cancer so last year she got to finally see me experience my club win a premiership.

However this year beating Geelong feels more meaningful compared to Sydney last year. The Cats are the most successful club in the modern era alongside Hawthorn. Geelong have also been a massive bogey team for us for years and they've arguably surpassed Collingwood as our greatest rival club in recent years. Furthermore this year being our 5th flag ties us with Hawthorn in the AFL era. Ultimately it's too hard to decide for me.

 

[Fluke]

For me being 'raised' on the premier league, I probably value the H/A season a bit more than the average punter. For that I say 25. It was more of an achievement even making finals this year, let alone getting top 4.

(Off topic, but also why I think it's ridiculous only those that play the GF get medals...)

 

[3KZ is Football]

The 2025 Premiership for me. We prevailed despite injuries, a terrible draw and an absolutely diabolical half of umpiring in the first half of the Grand Final. The personal player narratives were also more moving, especially Oscar Mc Inerney’s, Darcy Gardiner

27

Darcy Gardiner

Age

30

Ht

192cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.6

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

2.1

4star

G

0.0

1star

D

10.7

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

3.7

4star

T

2.1

3star

G

0.0

1star

D

10.2

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.0

1star

’s and Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

32

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

’s.

More significantly, the win was achieved with a side full of young players, three of whom were in their first seasons. The 2025 Premiership really announces that WE HAVE ARRIVED as the dominant team in the competition, especially given the age profile of the team.

 

[fugitive]

2024 was pure emotion and adrenaline especially with those semi and prelim wins. 2025 was a much greater in terms of endurance and resilience given our draw and injuries. Even Fages said last night that he was fearful that we might have run our race coming into the GF.

 

[mpal6]

2024 - we didn't know how to win. we also didn't know if we had the squad to do it. Lot of unknowns, not to mention Big O going down in prelim and us wheeling in Fort and hoping all goes well.

2025 - we knew how to win but AFL decided to make it as hard as possible in fixture. Injuries piled up as well but the juniors who came in fitted seamlessly and stepped up when needed.

2024 will always be ahead. It'll take some beating even if we win anymore in future.

 

[luthor]

So many factors to try to compute when comparing the two.

Both have well documented storylines.

Can't split them.

Sit on fence and luxuriate in both

 

[Tom14]

Purely in terms of GFs, then it's 2025.

The Swans put out a true shocker last year. The Cats were at least able to sometimes convert on the many occasions the umpires gave them a shot on goal.

We won a grand final where the umpires paid 17-4 free kicks against us in the first half. That is mad!

It was a red hot, high quality grand final for 2.75 quarters. Then we busted the dam wall open.

I'll appreciate 2024 more because it was the first for 20 years, got to see Joey go out on top - but this was a better grand final performance and win, particularly given how many senior players missed through injury.

 

[uzabuz]

Can’t split em

As the great man once said they’re equal dogs

 

[briztoon]

2027’s will eclipse 2026’s from what I heard.

 

[Nuggo]

2025 - tough draw, being hunted, age profile - our KPF's were 19 and 20 lol. Steel mindest to go back to back. Humility to provide a chance to go for 3