THE Brisbane Lions have written another extraordinary chapter in their history, producing a stunning late comeback against Fremantle to claim their third consecutive premiership and establish a new era of Lions greatness.
Brisbane looked to have surrendered its grip on the 2026 AFL Grand Final when Fremantle opened a 17-point lead with less than five minutes remaining at the MCG in front of 100,023 fans.
But just when the Dockers appeared destined to celebrate their first premiership, the Lions produced four goals in a breathtaking late surge to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and win 96-89.
In a Grand Final that will be remembered for its extraordinary finish, Brisbane refused to accept that its premiership defence was over. Charlie Cameron and Zac Bailey began the revival before Logan Morris became the unlikely hero, kicking two goals in the final minute to first put the Lions in front and then seal one of the most remarkable premiership victories in the club’s history.
For much of the afternoon, however, the Lions had been forced to fight for their lives as Fremantle controlled large portions of the second half and established the biggest lead of the contest, leaving Brisbane with seemingly no margin for error as the clock wound down. Yet the Lions found another level when it mattered most, producing the kind of resilience that has become synonymous with this era of the football club.
Morris had been relatively quiet for much of the afternoon before stepping forward when the premiership was on the line. His contested mark and composed set-shot conversion put Brisbane ahead, before his subsequent snap effectively ended Fremantle’s hopes and secured the young forward his third premiership in just his third season.
The comeback was built around a powerful team performance, with Will Ashcroft leading the way with 31 disposals and Josh Dunkley producing 21 disposals and 12 tackles in another enormous finals performance. Dunkley now has four premierships to his name, while Charlie Cameron finished with three goals and was among Brisbane’s most influential players.
The victory also carries enormous significance for the Lions as a football club because it places this generation alongside the legendary Brisbane side that dominated the early 2000s. By completing the 2024-26 three-peat, Brisbane has matched the achievement of the 2001, 2002 and 2003 premiership teams and created a second dynasty in the club’s history.
That is what makes this premiership about more than a single game or a single season as the Lions have now built a legacy that stretches across generations, linking the players who established Brisbane as a powerhouse at the beginning of the century with a new group that has delivered three premierships in the space of three years.
For the Lions, that refusal to surrender has become part of their identity and another generation of supporters have their own era of Lions history to remember.
