Lions rookies plot a boilover, while a champion is poised to end his slump

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Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown believes his former club’s young livewire forward line can handle the pressure of a grand final without last year’s premiership hero Joe Daniher.

Daniher’s shock retirement after his side broke a 21-year title drought set shockwaves through the AFL, leaving fellow veteran Charlie Cameron to spearhead an inexperienced group up front.

But while Cameron has been playing below his standards – his 28 goals his fewest since his 11-game 2018 campaign – rising stars Logan Morris, Kai Lohmann and Ty Gallop have risen.

Jonathan Brown believes Brisbane’s young forwards can rise to the grand final occasion.

Lohmann has suffered an injury-riddled year, limited to 17 games through ankle and calf issues.

But Morris, who became the first Lions since Brown to kick six goals at the MCG this year, has taken Daniher’s mantle. His 48 goals in the regular season put him equal seventh in the Coleman Medal race.

Gallop came into the side on the eve of finals, with his three goals in the preliminary final triumph over Collingwood as a 19-year-old thrusting him into the spotlight.

While Brown acknowledged the experience of Geelong’s defensive unit posed a problem, the loss of Tom Stewart to concussion had opened a door for the Brisbane cubs to redeem their qualifying final defeat against the same rivals.

“That’s been the challenge for the Lions with Joe Daniher retiring, probably to everyone’s surprise last year, so they now have a pretty young forward line,” Brown said.

“That’s going to be a challenge on the weekend, and how they can stand up at the end of the ball. It does help without Tom Stewart there – it’s unfortunate for Tom, but it does help as a Lions supporter, him not being there.

“But Ty and Logan have done an amazing job as a couple of youngsters. We’ve got quite a diverse forward line, all of our guys can kick multiple goals.”

Kai Lohmann has rediscovered his mojo at the right time.

Lohmann has success on the biggest stage, after his four goals in last year’s decider.

While the 22-year-old’s body kept him from hitting his straps for much of 2025, he has rediscovered his mojo – kicking goals in his past eight games, including three in the semi-final against the Suns.

And Lohmann declared his fitness would be no concern on Saturday.

“Last year was pretty perfect, the way my body was and how I was leading into the game full of energy. This year’s been a bit difficult with my body, but … I’m feeling a lot better,” Lohmann said.

“The last few weeks have been really good, I’m still dealing with a bit, but it’s been a lot better. It [the ankle] just seems to be lingering a little bit this year.

“I’ve figured out how to play through injuries and get through these tough times.”

The energy Morris and Lohmann brought to Brisbane’s premiership cause was largely credited as rejuvenating their 2024 season.

While Morris was kept to just six touches when Brisbane last faced the Cats, Lohmann believed there would be no repeat.

“I saw glimpses last year he was going to be a pretty special player,” Lohmann said.

“He can take his game to another level. We’ve got a really good young group, which is going to be exciting for Lions fans for a lot of years.”

Meanwhile, Gallop will play just his sixth AFL game in the decider, meaning four of those clashes have all been finals fixtures.

“It’s quite a good experience just to see what I’m capable of, it is being thrown in the deep end, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Gallop said.

The Sunshine Coast product has had a remarkable ascent, after being spotted playing for the Maroochydore Colts before being invited into the Lions’ academy.

Against the Magpies, his third goal proved to himself he belonged among the elite. His second, working through traffic, got Brisbane back in front after Collingwood’s rampant second quarter.

“The first two was just being in the right place at the right time, but it was good to take a good mark on the last one and put that through,” Gallop said.

“I was playing my senior footy and wasn’t too sure what was happening. Last year I was part of the Allies program and got a couple of games, and then I spoke to some role models of mine who gave me the confidence to back myself in and see where it could take me.”

Success for the Lions could hinge on Cameron bursting out of his perceived slump to inspire a Geelong boilover.

When the sides battled three weeks ago, he registered just one more touch after kicking an early goal.

But Lohmann, who praised Cameron as “one of the greatest small forwards”, sensed the champion would silence the doubters.

“He’s probably been criticised a little too much. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a really good game this weekend because he’s really close,” Lohmann said.

“We’ve got a lot of players who like to step up on big stage, and he’s the pinnacle of that.”