Lions’ young core inspires grand final hat-trick – and they just gained another member

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For all the superstars who litter the Brisbane Lions’ ranks, at the heart of their charge to last year’s premiership was their quintet of emerging sensations.

Will Ashcroft, Kai Lohmann, Logan Morris, Jaspa Fletcher and Darcy Wilmot triggered a season turnaround in 2024 to break a 21-year title drought. Levi Ashcroft then joined them this year as a star on the rise.

By Saturday’s preliminary final clash with Collingwood, the sextet had become a seven-man band.

The Lions’ Ty Gallop celebrates a goal during the preliminary final between Collingwood and the Lions at the MCG.

Ty Gallop was fresh off kicking his maiden AFL goal against the Suns when his vice-captain, Josh Dunkley, hinted that the 19-year-old was on the brink of a breakout performance.

In the biggest game of his career, Gallop did just that, his three goals paving the way for a 15.10 (100) to 11.5 (71) triumph of the Magpies to book Brisbane’s third-straight grand final berth.

His first goal came when he swooped on a loose ball; his second was a composed angled snap. His third, which sent the Brisbane faithful into hysterics, followed a brilliant contested mark.

This was only the youngster’s fifth AFL-level appearance, but he embodied confidence as an aerial target alongside fellow forward Logan Morris, and he took the game on when he had chances to strike.

Now Gallop is one game away from being a premiership winner, with fellow teenager Sam Marshall ominously close to joining that contingent of emerging talents for the next decade.

“They all had an impact – Ty Gallop in his fifth game … I think he’s got a bright future, so we’re pretty lucky to have him and Logan Morris in our team,” Lions coach Chris Fagan said.

“Levi Ashcroft has been terrific for us all year. I thought Sam Marshall was quite good on the wing – once he gets his confidence and knows he belongs at this level, he’s going to be a terrific player.

“Our club’s in a pretty healthy situation, we shouldn’t take it for granted. With so many young players playing, the future’s bright, but we have to turn our focus to a narrow focus, which is the grand final next week.”

No Neale? No worries

Brisbane’s inspirational co-captain, Lachie Neale, has been making a desperate bid to return from what was feared to be a season-ending calf injury in time for the grand final.

But should he fail, the Lions are generously stocked, with Hugh McCluggage, Will Ashcroft, Zac Bailey and Josh Dunkley again proving the club could contend for another flag without their two-time Brownlow Medal winner.

McCluggage was sublime, finishing with a match-high 37 disposals and 10 clearances to accompany one goal.

Lachie Neale celebrates in the Lions’ sheds.

Ashcroft’s reputation as a big-game player grew as he kicked two goals, one from an angle around the 50-metre line, and another freakish soccer-kick from 35 metres out to go with nine score involvements.

Bailey was no slouch either, snagging a pair of goals, 21 disposals and seven clearances.

Dunkley, fresh off a finals record of 18 tackles against the Suns, topped the tackle count with 10, while kicking the Lions’ opening goal.

Fagan will sleep easily knowing that if Neale fails in his comeback, they have the strike power to redeem their qualifying final humbling by the Cats.

“Crisis creates opportunity,” Fagan said.

“He [Neale] had a really good training session this morning, so it’s looking more positive than negative. I didn’t think he’d be a chance to play, but I think he is a chance to play.

“If it’s too risky, it won’t happen.”

How Lions overcame implosion

As Geelong coach Chris Scott watched on, everything was pointing to a dominant Lions win early.

They weathered a five-minute storm to take a 21-point lead at the first quarter, with the Magpies’ loss of Scott Pendlebury hindering their transition.

But in the second term, Collingwood rallied emphatically.

While Morris, Dunkley, Gallop and Bailey all struck goals in the opening quarter, with Brisbane’s backline conceding just seven points from 13 inside 50s, all the Magpies needed was a sniff.

Brisbane’s composure went up in smoke after Jamie Elliott’s first of four goals off an error – back-to-back 50-metre penalties and a pair of free kicks all directly leading to goals through Tim Membrey, Lachie Schultz and Dan Houston to secure a 13-point lead going into the major break.

Jamie Elliott threatened to turn the tide.

But once Brisbane began to win the clearance, they went on a tear. They claimed the first six centre clearances of the third quarter, with three resulting goals, to reclaim the lead.

They would eventually kick seven goals to two, before consolidating in the final stretch.

Whenever Collingwood did get an opportunity to narrow the gap, they were met by Harris Andrews at the back, whose 13 marks kept his rivals at bay.

“Their clearance work in that third quarter was just dominant. We were trying all different things, and they were just too dominant – six goals from it,” Magpies coach Craig McRae said.

“We had great momentum going into half-time, and we let it slip against really good opposition. It’s such a territory game in finals, and we just didn’t get it, and then we kept losing it.

“They’ve made three grand finals in a row, they’re really well coached, and they’ve got a few out, which just shows their depth and belief in their system.”