For rival AFL clubs hoping the Brisbane Lions’ dominance might fade, the message is clear: the dynasty is only just beginning. After winning back‑to‑back premierships and coming within a kick of three straight, Brisbane looks set to remain the powerhouse of the competition for years to come, thanks to a fearless new generation of talent.
On paper, the Lions might appear vulnerable. They entered the season with the second‑oldest list in the league, averaging 25.4 years of age, and the second‑most experienced in games played. Yet their veterans, led by Dayne Zorko and co‑captain Lachie Neale, continue to perform at an elite level.
More importantly, the club’s grand final side featured eight players under the age of 22. At the forefront is Will Ashcroft, already a two‑time Norm Smith Medal winner. Teenagers Levi Ashcroft, Ty Gallop, and Sam Marshall all played on the biggest stage, while Logan Morris capped his breakout season with 53 goals after starting the year as a teenager.
Darcy Wilmot, Kai Lohmann, and Jaspa Fletcher have also cemented themselves as indispensable members of Chris Fagan’s best 23.
Morris’s rapid rise has been so remarkable that the sudden retirement of star forwards Joe Daniher barely registered as a setback. The 20‑year‑old, who famously made his debut just hours after a McDonald’s drive‑thru stop following a VFL game, is now a two‑time premiership player less than two years later.
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