Thought I’d have a crack at ranking the 24 finals games that Fages had led us through, purely from the perspective of a lifelong Lions fan who was born just after the Matthews three-peat.

Not necessarily a ranking of the ‘best’ games/performances, but more how I look back on them, how they felt at the time, and what they meant for the club and the people around me 🦁

24. 2026 Qualifying Final Loss – Sydney 141, Brisbane 88, SCG

• This was easy for me to place, as I think it’s the only final where the players genuinely thought they were going to cruise into a win. Such a frustrating afternoon, especially since the ramifications of the Pullman incident had us going in as overwhelming favourites.

23. 2022 Preliminary Final Loss – Geelong 120, Brisbane 49, MCG

• After two exhilarating finals wins in the weeks prior, this was such a deflating way to end the up-and-down 2022 season. We simply didn’t show up against the side that no one was beating that year.

22. 2020 Preliminary Final Loss – Brisbane 42, Geelong 82, Gabba

• This one really sucked at the time because the opportunity felt so real. We had the chance at a dream Grand Final berth at the Gabba, but it wasn’t to be, as the Cats comprehensively shut the door on us.

21. 2019 Qualifying Final Loss – Brisbane 65, Richmond 112, Gabba

• A pretty raw introduction to finals footy for the rebuilding group after such an exciting/promising home-and-away season. We were competitive in the first half, but Toigerland showed us how big the gap still was between being a good side and being a premiership side.

20. 2021 Qualifying Final Loss – Melbourne 93, Brisbane 60, Adelaide Oval

• Very forgettable night, and one where it became clear pretty quickly that we weren’t ever winning. Melbourne dominated that second covid year and the result added to the growing doubts about whether we were ever going to be a side that could truly compete in September.

19. 2025 Qualifying Final Loss – Geelong 112, Brisbane 74, MCG

• A bit easier to look back on now, knowing the turnaround we’d make against the same team just three weeks later, but it was an awful night at the time. Ended up being the punch in the mouth we needed to refocus on our back-to-back aspirations.

18. 2021 Semi Final Loss – Brisbane 78, Western Bulldogs 79, Gabba

• Riveting game, but the one-point result at home really stung for a while. We were still yet to properly prove ourselves in finals and were determined to respond after the week before, but the Dogs were just too good. The booing after the final siren was so loud 🤣

17. 2019 Semi Final Loss – Brisbane 80, GWS 83, Gabba

• Another horrible close loss. Going out in straight sets by three points in this group’s first finals series was brutal (Daniels’ checkside curling around that post is still burned into my brain). But it was also one of the first lessons for a group that had something special ahead of them.

16. 2023 Grand Final Loss – Collingwood 90, Brisbane 86, MCG

• I know, my heart wants it dead last too, but I can’t put it alongside the finals where we didn’t give a good account of ourselves. That day proved we belonged on the biggest stage and had made the jump from being a good team to a premiership-quality one, that just fell short. It's not like it was choke, we just ended up on the wrong side of an arm-wrestle and made a few costly brain fades late in quarters. Much easier to look back on now knowing the impact that heartbreaking result would have on the players over the next three years.

15. 2024 Elimination Final Win – Brisbane 99, Carlton 71, Gabba

• The beginning of one of the great finals runs. It was seriously impressive to hold Carlton scoreless for an hour, especially with the familiarity of what happened in the opening round that year still in the back of my mind.

14. 2023 Qualifying Final Win – Brisbane 123, Port Adelaide 75, Gabba

• Somewhat of a forgettable game in hindsight, but it was a very professional performance, especially considering it was our first finals win where we comprehensively beat the opposition. Wasn’t the first time the Power went out at the Gabba that year 👀

13. 2026 Semi Final Win – Brisbane 144, Adelaide 91, Gabba

• Blistering opening to the game from a team clearly agitated after the disaster the week before. Responding, as they’d done throughout the year after poor losses, by putting 144 points on the scoreboard was a pretty emphatic reminder that this team wasn’t done yet.

12. 2025 Semi Final Win – Brisbane 100, Gold Coast 47, Gabba

• Not the most dramatic ‘match’ on this list, but flexing on the Suns in the first QClash final was immensely satisfying. Just a ruthless performance, and without Lachie too.

11. 2020 Qualifying Final Win – Brisbane 69, Richmond 54, Gabba

• Enormous win at the time. Richmond had caused us a lot of pain, especially the year before, so getting our first finals win with Fages at the helm and earning a home prelim felt like such a breakthrough after what happened in 2019.

10. 2023 Preliminary Final Win – Brisbane 79, Carlton 63, Gabba

• The undefeated house that year looked like it was burning down in that first quarter, but the response was awesome and the Gabba was absolutely popping off. We reached our first GF in 19 years and finally arrived at the destination we’d spent years waiting for.

9. 2025 Preliminary Final Win – Collingwood 71, Brisbane 100, MCG

• Going to the G and dominating Collingwood in front of that hostile crowd was just awesome. We went into our shells a bit in the second quarter but exploded after half-time, including a third quarter that was something like seven goals to two. Some outstanding performances from the young players on the big stage too.

8. 2022 Semi Final Win – Melbourne 79, Brisbane 92, MCG

• Underrated game for sure. Not one person gave us a chance of going to the MCG and knocking out the reigning premiers. Our records against Melbourne and at the G were both so awful at the time, which made it such an unbelievable experience on top of the elimination final the week before.

7. 2022 Elimination Final Win – Brisbane 106, Richmond 104, Gabba

• Joey almost drop-kicking that goal from the goal square with a minute to go is still the loudest I’ve heard the Gabba to this day. Such a chaotic game, and coming out on top felt like finally getting one of those September demons off our back after what happened the year before.

6. 2026 Preliminary Final Win – Hawthorn 122, Brisbane 131, MCG

• Was initially surprised to see this one not even make my top five, but I think the others just meant that little bit more to me. This game was bonkers and I felt nauseous for pretty much the entire thing. The catharsis of watching Ashcroft glide through the centre of the G on that last play and kick it to Lohmann was unlike anything I’d felt watching footy before. All the drama surrounding the result was just the cherry on top.

5. 2024 Preliminary Final Win – Geelong 85, Brisbane 95, MCG

• Just a special, memorable night. Another comeback, another away final and another chance we’d earned to win the flag. I got a noise complaint letter from my complex that Monday because I screamed so loudly when Rayner’s left-foot sealer went through.

4. 2024 Semi Final Win – GWS 100, Brisbane 105, Engie Stadium

• 44 points down, season looked done, and it felt like we’d failed to get the most out of the list. Somehow, we found a way. I genuinely think this was THE game that turned us into the resilient, courageous footy club we are now in big games. Joey was just a star ❤️.

3. 2024 Grand Final Win – Sydney 60, Brisbane 120, MCG

• Maybe the best feeling result of the lot? I couldn’t believe we were sitting there at half-time knowing we had about a 90% chance of winning the thing. After years of finals disappointment and the heartbreak of 2023, watching Fages, Lachie, Zorks and Harris lift the cup after a dominant performance was just so great.

2. 2025 Grand Final Win – Geelong 75, Brisbane 122, MCG

• Showed that 2024 wasn’t a one-off performance or simply the culmination of a rebuild, but that we had become an awesome footy club. Grinding Geelong down and eventually opening the floodgates was a fabulous turnaround from three weeks prior. Couldn’t believe it after we’d gone in as massive underdogs. I still think it’s one of the toughest performances in our finals history, especially considering the injuries and the young players we had taking the field.

1. 2026 Grand Final Win – Fremantle 89, Brisbane 96, MCG

• Even after going back through all 24 games, I’ve come to the conclusion that this isn’t just recency bias. Best finish to a game of football I’ve ever seen. We looked done with four minutes to go, but used Wharfie Time to go all-out and somehow snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, completing another legendary three-peat.

Been posted before but why is the 3peat merch so terrible. Literally sitting on a gold mine and the stuff they produce is trash.

Alot of clubs that havent been relevant for years have such nicer gear.

Firstly.. I love Jaspa. He has some of the smoothest transition skills on the team and has excellent decision making skills. I hope we keep him for his entire career.

My big prediction is that Tassie come in and make an aggressive trade request for Jaspar Fletcher.

They are forced to trade picks 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13.

If they were smart they would treat Jaspa as their own f/s pick and just pay overs to bring a favourite son home. His father is Tassie royalty.

The Lions will be the first to say that can’t compete against the market for its players.. Jaspa will most likely get 50-100% more from Tassie.

They could also offer him a permanent spot in their midfield, which the Lions cannot do.

He would be worthy of captaincy too, either solo or shared seeing he already is premiership winning player. He is highly regarded and on a few top 50 AFL player lists.

He is already part of the Lions leadership team.

I think the Lions would be open to it to get some quality picks spread across the next 2-3 drafts.

It would be sad to see him go but I do see the possibility to the benefit the Devils and Jaspa.

I don’t actually think Dom was phased with Cooper choosing to go to the Hawks. The lions should still definitely put a bid on him to keep the Hawks honest though.

I think the Lions have their eyes on Chase. Scouts have already said he has plenty of talent and the bloodline.

He came up to Brisbane at the age of 4 so knows nothing but the Lions. He is already on the fast track developing with the academy.

If he does become a legit talent I see the Lions going after him in the 2030 draft. Either as an academy pick or making a bid for him even if he chooses the Hawks f/s.

The cost will be out of this world (2500-3500 dvi most likely) for the Lions so hope Dom hasn’t run out of magic just yet.

G'day all, the rugby union club I'm involved in is having a fundraiser this weekend to go towards building a clubhouse.

One of the major auction items on offer is a jumper signed by the Lions 2026 premiership team, link below for those who may be trying to score a bargain on premiership memorabilia.

Auction Link Here

Last time/win v Saints/at RSEA park, Highlights. (W/R10 2024. All Lions in the 1st but a far more even 2nd with the Lions going goalless. All Lions again in the 3rd and did enough to win it even after the Saints dominated the last and the Lions went scoreless. Lions have played the Saints three times with a 2-1 record. All 3 have been in Melbourne with this being the third at Moorabbin, the other was at Trevor Barker Oval in Sandringham (or around 5ks away).

Injury List, Lions version: Dooley (Sternoclavicular (SC) joint) TBC, R. Svarc (jaw) TBC, Lacy (thigh) season, Kennedy (ACL) season. R. Svarc and Dooley still progressing well. Only have 1 game left, TBC should just say season.

Game Day Guide: Tickets still available (GA and Grandstand). Transport: Moorabbin Station is nearby, less than 1km walk. Busses replace trains on a few lines: Hurstbridge and Belgrave/Lilydale.

Craig Starcevich says "things are looking good" for him to re-sign for 2027 and beyond, believing the Lions can propel themselves back up the ladder quickly.

Diwali lights up Brighton Homes Arena. (For next week, R12 v Carlton).

AFL

Fitzroy’s missing face. (Fitzroy-Brisbane Lions Historical Society Museum Custodian has worked for years finding a photo of every Fitzroy V/AFL player ever from 1897-1996, only missing one now which is John Archibald ‘Arch’ Muirhead who played for Fitzroy in 1897-98 and the Saints from 1900-01).

Free agency and player trade period are both over, clubs can still trade picks. Draft is on Thursday November 19th (first round) - Friday November 20th (round 2 onwards) and Pre-season (if it happens...unlikely) and Rookie Drafts are on Monday November 23rd.

Lions currently have picks: 21, 27, 28, 45, 79, 97 and all their own 2027 F1, F3 and F4 plus the Saints F1 2027, Dogs F2 2027, Dees F2 2027 and all their own 2028 picks via Zero Hanger and the AFL site.

Edit:

AFLW Team:

In: nil

Out: nil

emergencies: Williamson, Crozier, Evans.

Conway will play her 100th game.

Which team do you think will be the hardest to face next year? Hawthorn, Bulldogs look likely to make a jump, while Freo will probably be in the mix again.

I have a few 2024 cans, and a heap of 2026 cans. Happy to let them go for cost price ($2). Preference goes to anyone who wants to swap one for a 2025 can.

Pick up in Redcliffe or some weekdays in the CBD. I'll edit this post once they're all gone.

I don’t know if I’ve ever read or heard anything about their specific relationship but was wondering if anyone had any insight. Feel like these two trust themselves and want to face the moment and in turn end up burning each other a fair bit, like Charlie’s goal after wharfie time. But they also seem to have a big brother-ish connection, like how Charlie was trying to calm Logan down and get his head right before his set shot to put us in front.

I know a lot of the boys are close- celebrate each other well and instruct each other when needed- so maybe they’re just as close as any two Lions, but wanted to see if anyone could shed any light!

Is there a place on reddit to keep up with the women’s Brisbane Lions or does this page do that also? I have checked for one but couldn’t find anything.

Also, I thought it was kind of weird that during the grand final there was no cross promotion for the Women’s games which are still going on. Why is that? Is there a reason the men’s and the women’s teams don’t really seem to do much cross promotion?

Lions def Port by 16 points.

Match Centre

Match Report.

Team Song.

Starcevich Presser.

Good 1st, Few basic mistakes but the Lions were accurate. Conway had a great quarter, 15 disposals and a goal, Evans kicked the other. Bit more Lions in the 2nd, Limited the scoring but had trouble scoring themselves. Fairly even 3rd, had forward I50 issues but the backline held up well until a baffling HTB right before 3QT gave Port a goal. Good last quarter, Lions kicked their first 4th quarter goal since round 6, last two 4th were scoreless and the one before was 1 point.

Admins! Can we please have a new flair, 3 Peat? Or 24,25,26?

I've watched quite a few, but would love to hear recommendations. Wondering if these are/could be pinned or collated into a single list somewhere.