Lions' grand final triumph declared 'greatest in AFL era' as new dynasty looms
Former Lion Tom Rockliff has hailed his old club's 60-point grand final thrashing of the Swans as the "greatest premiership in AFL history".
Brisbane were without several top stars, and had battled an injury crisis through much of the 2024 season. They languished 13th on the ladder at the halfway mark of the season.
But on Saturday afternoon, the Lions dominated the Swans, running away with the premiership with a seven-goal second quarter.
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Charlie Cameron and Josh Dunkley of the Lions celebrate their 2024 premiership. Getty
The premiership triumph comes as a culmination of a decade-long rebuild. When Fagan took over as head coach in 2017, the club hadn't played September footy since 2009.
They won the wooden spoon in Fagan's first year in charge, but made the finals for the first time in a decade in Fagan's third season in 2019, and only missed the minor premiership on for-and-against.
They haven't missed the finals since.
Rockliff, a 2014 All-Australian, said a lot of credit from that rebuild should also go to David Noble, who spent five seasons as the Lions' football boss between 2016-2020.
Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron, Kai Lohmann, Eric Hipwood and Callum Ah Chee in a full time pile on. Getty
"He came into a footy club that needed arms wrapped around it," he said on Nine's Weekend Today.
"What a journey they've been on, and what a win for guys like Dayne Zorko, Ryan Lester, Eric Hipwood, Harris Andrews that have been through so much there, it means so much to them.
"The journey this year has been an incredible one from where they have been ... what they've been able to do, travel three weeks of finals.
"I think it goes down as probably the greatest premiership ever in AFL history."
Rockliff played 154 games for the club through those lean years between 2009-2017. He said he had reached out to several coaching staff and friends he still had at the club, all of which will be celebrating for a good week.
He said the Lions could be on the brink of another dynasty, similar to the one the club went through after the turn of the century.
"You look at the team yesterday, how young they are ... they've got great young talent and their older boys don't look like they're slowing down," he said.
"Dayne Zorko is 35, he's had an outstanding season, he'll probably be best and fairest winner in the Premiership year to add to his already long extensive medal cabinet.
"They're on a really good journey for a long period of time. I can't see them starting to slide down the ladder.
"All their players in their prime. Lachie Neale is still a champion of the game, and they'll get these guys back from injury as well. Lincoln McCarthy didn't play, Oscar McInerney will probably have shoulder reconstruction.
"Their window to challenge is wide open. They've been played in the last two grand finals.
"Who knows? We could potentially have another three peat on our on the cards."
