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Preview Geelong. Grand Final. You know when. You know where.

Who would you pick for the grand final?

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Thomasno said:
Cats players seemed to be enjoying themselves a LOT on Monday night; and Danger especially seemed to be lapping it up in that interview with Maddern.

Hopefully they’re feeling pretty full of their bath water come Saturday
Click to expand...
Thought the same.
Danger very happy with himself, BOG on Friday, cruising into the GF and getting lots of attention.
 
I wouldn't read too much into the demeanour of the Cats players, they would be trying to stay relaxed and not obsess about the game so far out from it.... I'd assume our players would be much the same.
 

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Gone are the days of the ‘Go Home Five’ — Lions stand a game away from AFL dynasty​



The Brisbane Lions are 120 minutes of football away from cementing themselves as the next great AFL dynasty.
What should send shivers down their rivals’ spines is next year, they could be even better.
Chris Fagan already boasts an embarrassment of riches with arguably the deepest list in the competition at his disposal but there is plenty more to come for a club that could be in the premiership window for another half-decade – at least.
West Coast captain Oscar Allen will depart his boyhood club to join the Lions in the upcoming trade period and Essendon ruckman Sam Draper is expected to follow suit.
[PLAYERCARD]Oscar Allen[/PLAYERCARD] is headed to Brisbane. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Oscar Allen is headed to Brisbane. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images
Sam Draper will likely do the same. Picture: Michael Klein

Sam Draper will likely do the same. Picture: Michael Klein
A young forward line whose only perceived flaw is the absence of a genuine tall target will soon have two at its disposal – one a forward first who can ruck and the other vice versa.
The ‘Go Home Five’ are a distant memory in the Queensland capital with Brisbane now a bona fide destination club capable of going toe-to-toe with even the heavyweights in Victoria.
Draper’s teammate, Jordan Ridley, was also weighing up a trade request to Brisbane before ultimately deciding to remain at Bomberland.
It is not all roses for the reigning premier, however.
Callum Ah Chee could play his last game in the maroon, blue and gold on Saturday with the premiership utility expected to join the Adelaide Crows as a free agent at season’s end.

And lockdown defender Brandon Starcevich still has a big decision to make on whether he wants to return home to Western Australia on a big money move, or stay at the Lions for less and chase further success.
Both players have been instrumental in recent years and in a perfect world, the Lions would love to keep both.


[PLAYERCARD]Callum Ah Chee[/PLAYERCARD] will likely play his last game for Brisbane this weekend. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Callum Ah Chee will likely play his last game for Brisbane this weekend. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
But if Chris Fagan can successfully pilot Brisbane back to a grand final after losing Joe Daniher to a shock retirement – and watching best-23 players drop like flies seemingly every second week – then the good life can no doubt roll on even if the two premiership Lions depart next month.
So how is it that they can bring in Allen, Draper and potentially more on competitive contracts while boasting a long list of elite players worth their own sizeable pay packets?
The secret to success, as we have seen this September, is the kids.
Eight – count them eight – players who faced Collingwood in last Saturday’s preliminary final were aged 22 or younger.
Darcy Wilmot has not missed a game since debuting in an elimination final against Richmond in 2022 and first had Daniel Rich then Dayne Zorko to learn the rebounding ropes from.
Kai Lohmann has had more than his fair share of injury struggles but the weekends not spent playing league footy were more than made up for by working under arguably the greatest small forward of the past decade in Charlie Cameron.
How the Lions built their list through the draft.

How the Lions built their list through the draft.
Who the Lions traded in across the journey.

Who the Lions traded in across the journey.
Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher began their careers in 2023 and have only known grand finals.
Ashcroft’s debut season was cut short by an ACL tear but if anything it made the father-son even hungrier to prove himself – a Norm Smith Medal just 13 games into his injury return testament to that.
And Fletcher has gone from fringe winger to ultimate utility in 2025, transforming his game in a single off-season to become one of the best intercept medium defenders in the league.
Off the heels of Brisbane’s 2023 grand final heartbreak came Logan Morris, who arrived with pick 31 in that year’s draft and kicked two goals in a grand final less than 12 months later.
In year two his 52 goals and counting not only leads all Lions, it places the 191cm forward among an elite group including Lance Franklin and Jeremy Cameron to reach the half-century at age 20.
And last year, having just toppled Sydney by 60 points to win the premiership, the Lions added two first-round talents in father-son Levi Ashcroft and academy graduate Sam Marshall.
Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher are used to success. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher are used to success. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/Getty Images
Later, at pick 42, they blocked a bid from Geelong on unknown academy forward Ty Gallop.
The younger Ashcroft stepped into the deepest midfield in the competition from day dot and has played every game in his debut season, averaging a touch under 20 disposals.
Like his brother before him, he looks made for the big stage and destined to be a core piece of the club’s success for a decade and longer.
In his first days at the club Marshall topped the 2km time trial and did not look back. It took him much of the regular season to stamp his starting ticket but with each passing week the Sunshine Coast product grows.
His first quarter of the preliminary final put many of his experienced rivals to shame.
And then there is Gallop, who in just his fifth league game booted three goals and clunked a game-high three contested marks to be the No. 1 rated player on the ground last weekend.
His Leo Barry-like pack mark and cool-as-you-like set shot goal to seal the win was not typical of a player of his inexperience.
Yet the Lions keep unearthing them.
Ty Gallop picked a great time to show his promise. Picture: David Caird

Ty Gallop picked a great time to show his promise. Picture: David Caird
In November the club will add Lions Academy jet Dan Annable, who will arrive in the national draft as another top-10 talent ready to roll off the production line and straight into the engine room.
The core of Brisbane’s list still has five-plus years of its best footy ahead of it.
Cam Rayner is still only 25. Zac Bailey just turned 26 on Tuesday. Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry will only be 27 at the start of next season.
As Lachie Neale’s stellar career winds down, the 32-year-old will become the cream on the cake rather than the base layer holding it all together.
Josh Dunkley is only 28, as is Harris Andrews – much to the chagrin of opposition coaches who by now must be sick of trying to magic up new ways to disrupt the bedrock of Brisbane’s backline.
Brisbane has also been able to cash in at the draft. Picture: Michael Klein

Brisbane has also been able to cash in at the draft. Picture: Michael Klein
The fly in the ointment next year will be Bailey. We have already heard of the Bombers’ big money offer for the damaging mid-forward and that noise will only grow next year as he edges closer to the end of his contract.
Few would begrudge Bailey leaving for more money – especially if the Lions add another one or two flags to their tally before his time is up.
But it would not shock to see him remain in Queensland and chase sustained success with a group as close-knit as any in the competition.
For years Geelong’s foes have begrudgingly marvelled at the Cats’ ability to attract players for less.
At some point over the past nine years, Fagan found a similar formula.
Is it any wonder the two winningest clubs of the past decade face off in the grand final on Saturday?

More Coverage​

‘100% playing’: Inside Lions’ plan for Neale’s miracle GF comeback‘100% playing’: Inside Lions’ plan for Neale’s miracle GF comeback
Originally published as Gone are the days of the ‘Go Home Five’ — Lions stand a game away from AFL dynasty


https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/n...p/news-story/5736c56ee95c1db3cf5342d40753c14c
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...g/news-story/8a1678917c90c2cb5385ec240ac80253​

 
Interesting the number of ex-players and coaches tipping Brisbane. Simmo and Horse on Fox both just tipped Brisbane.
 
M Malice said:
If the playing group know that Ah Chee and/or Starcevich are likely to leave at the end of the season it will add an extra degree to our determination to win it... if we even need it. Then you have Dizzy and O missing out last year.
Click to expand...
The big one is Big O retiring. That'll motivate our boys.
 
Hey guys
Unfortunately my team didn't make it so selling our corporate tickets which we have purchased earlier this year
It gives you level 1 seats
Crown breakfast with food and drinks before the game

We have 4 tickets available
If intrested let us know

We purchased back in June for $3000
Each
Happy to let them go at $2200 each
Meet and exchange to show its legit and show purchase value

Thank you
 

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On midweek tackle, they did an expose on the lion's soft cap. So when Brisbane travels interstate for one of their away games; things like hotels, food for the players and staff are all considered part of the soft cap. Hence why we usually travel as late as possible so we can save money from our soft cap. However, during the pre-season, Dany Daly would circle a couple of away games where they afford to travel a day earlier. The Collingwood game that took place 2 months ago was a game where the players spent an extra day in melbourne as well as our games in WA. The reason for the WA games are obvious because it's a 5 hour flight, and the Collingwood game was picked because when we travel to melbourne a day earlier, we always performed better. In fact, we haven't lost a game when we traveled a day earlier this season.

Daly would also save a bit of money just incase we make finals; however, once you make the grand final, you're exempt from any fines for going over the softcap. Which is why you'll see the club go all out on bringing as many people as possible here - even those on the injury list. I thought it was interesting and it explains why Fagan has been so strong on increasing the soft cap, because I believe if the club didn't fear any fine from the AFL, they would preferably travel a day earlier each time as it's proven to be advantageous for us.
 
Last edited:
smelly cat said:
FWIW I think Bec Maddern is the GFC #1 ticket holder.
Click to expand...

I get that and it would be fine if she did that on a Geelong affiliated media platform, instead, she said it at the Brownlow where an attempt to be impartial isn't too much to ask. Heck even Eddie McGuire wished Cam Rayner all the best heading into the 2023 grand final on Footy Classified.
 
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GenericUsername202 said:
On midweek tackle, they did an expose on the lion's soft cap. So when Brisbane travels interstate for one of their away games; things like hotels, food for the players and staff are all considered part of the soft cap. Hence why we usually travel as late as possible so we can save money from our soft cap. However, during the pre-season, Dany Daly would circle a couple of away games where they afford to travel a day earlier. The Collingwood game that took place 2 months ago was a game where the players spent an extra day in melbourne as well as our games in WA. The reason for the WA games are obvious because it's a 5 hour flight, and the Collingwood game was picked because when we travel to melbourne a day earlier, we always performed better. In fact, we haven't lost a game when we traveled a day earlier this season.

Daly would also save a bit of money just incase we make finals; however, once you make the grand final, you're exempt from any fines for going over the softcap. Which is why you'll see the club go all out on bringing as many people as possible here - even those on the injury list. I thought it was interesting and it explains why Fagan has been so strong on increasing the soft cap, because I believe if the club didn't fear any fine from the AFL, they would preferably travel a day earlier each time as it's proven to be advantageous for us.
Click to expand...
This isn't 100% right. Each club gets the same soft cap - so interstate travel cannot be included for a club like Brisbane travelling 12 times a year vs Collingwood travelling 6. There is no way we pay for flights, hotel and food from soft cap and Collingwood can hire an extra coach.

I imagine there's some "optional components" regarding family, non football staff, etc that this applies to, or exceptions to AFL policy.
 
McLuggages said:
This isn't 100% right. Each club gets the same soft cap - so interstate travel cannot be included for a club like Brisbane travelling 12 times a year vs Collingwood travelling 6. There is no way we pay for flights, hotel and food from soft cap and Collingwood can hire an extra coach.

I imagine there's some "optional components" regarding family, non football staff, etc that this applies to, or exceptions to AFL policy.
Click to expand...
I don't know who exactly was the source for this, but the host on midweek tackle was adamant that we do have to pay for extra things that does come out of the soft cap. Especially feeding the players and staff on interstate trips.
 
Polia04 said:
Hey guys
Unfortunately my team didn't make it so selling our corporate tickets which we have purchased earlier this year
It gives you level 1 seats
Crown breakfast with food and drinks before the game

We have 4 tickets available
If intrested let us know

We purchased back in June for $3000
Each
Happy to let them go at $2200 each
Meet and exchange to show its legit and show purchase value

Thank you
Click to expand...
If I'd seen this before I cancelled flights I would've taken you up on it 🙈
 
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