Brisbane roar back to seal three-peat and break Fremantle hearts in AFL grand final classic

The Brisbane Lions secured a historic third-straight AFL premiership, defeating Fremantle 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) at the MCG. In a barely believable grand final, the defending premiers ended with a four-goal spree in the final four minutes, including the final two from Logan Morris, that followed the Dockers’ Wharfie Time activation.

At that stage Fremantle led by 17 points, but the Dockers folded afterwards. Brisbane finished like a freight train on an afternoon that began with Kylie Minogue’s sparkling performance that featured The Loco-Motion. It was only the second time since 1981 that a team has won the grand final after trailing at three-quarter-time, following Geelong’s comeback over St Kilda in 2009.

Two stunning goals from Fremantle’s Hayden Young late in the third quarter – including a bender from the boundary – booked the Dockers a 10-point lead heading into the final term. The Lions hit back to raise the tension in a fourth quarter which included an unbelievable miss from Docker Josh Treacy from the goal square. But when Patrick Voss put it through with four minutes left, the Wharfie Time horn roared around the MCG. It looked almost certain the wait for a flag was over for the Purple Army, and the celebrations were already beginning. But within minutes the horde from the west were stunned.

Charlie Cameron brought it back to 11 points with a goal seconds later, then Zac Bailey from the ensuing centre bounce dropped the margin to five points. Morris finished the comeback with a set shot and then the sealer as Dockers players dropped to their haunches, shattered.

The rain that had set in over Melbourne in the late morning eased briefly for Minogue’s performance, but it was steady again for the anthems and at the start of the game. The heavy skies left the playing field lit up by the arena lights as if first bounce was in twilight. They illuminated Charlie Cameron’s opener, the rain bucketing as Take Me Home, Country Roads echoed around the MCG. The chorus was interrupted, however, by a Treacy mark and goal from 55. It was a hint at the pattern of the afternoon.

The margin stayed within a goal for a tense opening quarter with a conclusion to match. With seconds to go, an entry by Fremantle found Treacy again, who appeared likely to put the Dockers ahead at the first break with a straightforward set shot. But the umpires denied the mark, believing the ball had not travelled the required distance. It ended in an ugly collision between the forward walking back to his mark and Oscar Allen, who barrelled into the unsuspecting Docker.

Back and forth the second term went, goal for goal. A roaring Voss celebration, some Irish cream from Conor McKenna, Jye Amiss exciting a crowd now purple without ponchos. Kai Lohmann crushed Karl Worner with a shoulder to hand Levi Ashcroft the leveller, before Isaiah Dudley teed up Voss to push the lead to seven – at that stage, the match high.

Yet almost instantly the Lions were back on even terms, as Sam Draper celebrated with arms out wide and chest forward. He wore a theatrical frown but the neutrals had reason to smile. It was all square at half-time, for just the fourth occasion in VFL/AFL grand final history.

The third time, of course, came last year. That was before the Lions blew away Geelong in the second half. So it was a surprise then Fremantle pushed their lead to 15 with Dudley’s second, when he ducked through a McKenna tackle to finish from 45. The loss of Alex Pearce was felt however as the Lions responded with three goals, which returned them to the lead, but then Young rose to return Fremantle the lead they held until the final minutes.

This premiership is just the seventh time in VFL/AFL history that a team has won three successive flags, and the Lions are now alongside Melbourne as the only club to have done it twice. The fact that the Demons’ last three-peat was in 1957 – when there were 12 teams in the competition – underlines the significance of the Lions’ achievement.

That the Lions only played their first match as a merged entity 30 years ago next year affirms their claims to be the AFL’s most successful club. Yet on an night like this, or afternoon even, those achievements are academic. Rather, it is the manner of this triumph the fans will never get out of their heads.