Brisbane Lions secure third consecutive AFL premiership

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan admitted it was the Dockers who deserved to win, but when “Wharfie Time” rang out across the MCG on Saturday, it was the reigning premiers who lifted most – claiming their third-straight premiership.

In the aftermath of the seven-point triumph – 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) – Lions great Lachie Neale confirmed he was leaving the club, while Fagan admitted he could still walk away from the job on the highest of highs.

In cold, initially wet conditions before 100,023 supporters, the Lions left their loudest roar until the closing minutes after they trailed by 17 points with four minutes to play.

But there was another surprise post-match when Dockers star Shai Bolton won the Norm Smith Medal, given Lions midfielder and two-time Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft was arguably best afield yet again. Bolton is only the fifth man to claim the medal in a losing grand final side.

Neale, who has been linked with a move to Collingwood, confirmed to Channel Seven he was leaving the Lions after they cemented their legacy as one of the all-time great sides. The dual Brownlow medallist and four-time Lions best and fairest said this remarkable victory was a fitting end to his time up north.

“I have absolutely loved my time at this football club,” the 33-year-old told Seven.

“It’s been an incredible ride. To finish with three premierships is a dream.”

Lions co-captain Josh Dunkley said his team had been inspired by the Dockers’ “Wharfie Time”, as they booted the final four goals after a burst of music and energy from the Dockers’ supporters to post one of the greatest premiership victories.

“We talked about taking energy from ‘Wharfie Time’ … we grew another leg,” Dunkley said.

With a minute remaining, a clutch set shot from Logan Morris put the Lions up by just a point, and Fagan’s men then held on for dear life.

Morris capped the comeback with just eight seconds left after a brilliant run by Ashcroft – leaving a distraught Dockers coach Justin Longmuir with his head in his hands, and his players devastated and slumped on the turf. This was a meltdown for the ages.

Fagan later said the Dockers “deserved to win today” but praised his team’s “heart” and fight, having also had to come from behind to pinch victory against Hawthorn in the preliminary final.

He was determined not to make grand final week – and the big day itself – all about him, but in the aftermath of the game he admitted on Seven that this could have been his final game at the Lions’ helm.

“I’m going to have a think about it this week – I’ve been doing it for 10 years. It’s a hard job. I need a few days to clear my head,” Fagan said.

“It’s not locked in. I’ve been doing it for 10 years, and it is a very taxing job.”

Dockers skipper Alex Pearce tore his Achilles tendon in the third term, finishing the game on crutches. Pearce later spoke of the pride he had in his team.

While Hayden Young, Bolton, Caleb Serong, Murphy Reid, Luke Jackson and Sam Switkowski (in his final game) were all outstanding for the Dockers, it was a typically even team contribution for the Lions that got the job done.

Ashcroft had 32 touches, including nine clearances, while Morris finished with three goals.

Dunkley was also superb, recording 12 tackles, including a pair that stopped a goal, and another which directly led to a goal.

This Lions side joined their 2001-03 brethren in capturing a three-peat of flags, ensuring their place in history as one of the greatest-ever teams.

On a day of drama, the Lions led by a point at the first change, each side booting three goals. They made the curious move to start Neale on the bench, but the robust ball winner was soon in the thick of the action after a late reprieve by the AFL’s appeals board to allow him to take his spot for the decider.

Charlie Cameron delivered the first goal with a delightful left-foot snap, ensuring an early rendition of Take Me Home, Country Roads.

The Dockers steadied through a long set shot from Josh Treacy, and had the lead when Isaiah Dudley accepted a handball and converted.

The Dockers looked to go long down the line, while the Lions were keen to ignite their gameplan based on uncontested football.

Dunkley had the job on star Docker Serong, while forward Patrick Voss, also playing a defensive role, held intercept king Harris Andrews possessionless in the opening term. Reid had a team-high nine touches for the Dockers to that point, while Dayne Zorko also had nine for the Lions.

The arm-wrestle continued in the second, each side having momentum at stages, only for the other to respond.

Conor McKenna delivered yet another freakish goal when he scooped up a loose ball on a tight angle and dribbled it through.

Voss booted two goals for the term, and continued to ensure Andrews was a non-factor in defence. The Ashcroft brothers got busy, as did Dunkley, who delivered successive smothers within seconds on Bolton and Serong to stop what seemed certain goals.

Neale, who played for Fremantle in the 2013 grand final, heard the jeers of the Dockers supporters when he marked and lined up for goal, and then the cheers when his shot was wayward. With nine lead changes to half-time, this was as tight and tough a grand final as anyone could have wanted.

The drama went to a new level after the main break when Pearce injured his right leg chasing a loose ball on the wing, his afternoon over and requiring crutches to move. His absence forced fellow defender Heath Chapman to play as a tall on the threatening Oscar Allen.

The Dockers dominated early, but squandered several opportunities before a brilliant Dudley goal, having somehow managed to avoid a collision with McKenna, gave them a 15-point buffer - the biggest lead of the game to that point.

However, the Lions responded as the great team they are. Three goals in less than eight minutes regained the lead, their speed of ball movement something to behold.

But two late goals by Young, the second a set-shot snap on the left foot from right on the right boundary, gave the Dockers a 10-point lead at the final change, before a remarkable final quarter.

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Shai Bolton has won the Norm Smith Medal, taking the individual honour despite his Dockers losing a thrilling grand final to the Brisbane Lions by seven points.

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