Brisbane thrash Sydney to win AFL Grand Final
AFP, Melbourne :
Brisbane Lions convincingly won the Australian Football League (AFL) premiership on Saturday after stunning Sydney Swans in front of 100,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In a one-sided grand final, the underdog Lions took control in a dominant second quarter before running out with a 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60) victory.
Callum Ah Chee and Kai Lohmann kicked four goals apiece for the Lions.
It was Brisbane’s first title since their famous hat-trick from 2001-03 and was redemption after they lost by four points to Collingwood last year.
Brisbane turned their season around after winning just two of their first seven matches.
“To play like this after what happened last year and at the start of the season … I’m lost for words,” said Lions star Lachie Neale, who finished with a game-high 34 possessions.
A dynamic game similar to Ireland’s Gaelic football, Australian rules is the country’s most popular spectator sport with the two previous finals games in recent weeks at the iconic MCG attracting an average of 95,000 fans.
Sydney, who lost the 2022 grand final to Geelong, entered as favourites after finishing the regular season on top of the ladder.
The Swans kicked the opening two goals before the Lions steadied and led by eight points at quarter-time.
There were concerns that Brisbane might tire after needing big comebacks to pull out victories in their previous matches against Greater Western Sydney and Geelong.
But they were rampant in a blistering second quarter, kicking seven goals to one with forward Eric Hipwood nailing a miraculous shot deep in the right pocket.
The Lions led by 46 points at the main break and they cruised in the second-half.
It was a bitter disappointment for the Swans, who have lost four grand finals since winning in 2012.
From rugby heartland, it was the first time Sydney and Brisbane squared off in a decider.
The match was expected to attract record television ratings for an AFL grand final to reflect the growing popularity of Australian rules in the northeast of the country.