THE LION dynasty has arrived. Take me home, two straight flags.
Brisbane has done it. Chris Fagan has etched his Lions into history as only the fourth club this century to win back-to-back premierships, with the Lions masterclass overcoming Geelong in an engrossing Grand Final on Saturday.
And this one might be better than the first.
After season-ending injuries, form setbacks and a qualifying final loss to the Cats that looked likely to spell the end of their quest for consecutive premierships, Brisbane secured its fifth flag of the AFL era - and 13th including Fitzroy's history - in dominant fashion after half-time.
The Lions kicked 13 to six goals after the main break to lock in the 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) triumph, with their gamble on picking Lachie Neale after his calf injury paying dividends as the co-captain gathered 17 disposals after being subbed into the contest in the third quarter.
Charlie Cameron turned the game Brisbane's way in that third term, with the bays of Brisbane fans singing John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads on repeat after each of his four goals just one of a highlight reel that got better and better as the game went on.
But Brisbane's victory was as even as it was sweet.
Particularly for superstar midfielder Hugh McCluggage, who was blanketed in the qualifying final three weeks ago but returned to the MCG with a point to prove, booting four goals from 26 disposals in a brilliant display.
Fellow midfielder Will Ashcroft backed up his outstanding 2024 Grand Final with another 32 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal, while dynamo Zac Bailey could have sewn up the Norm Smith was he more accurate in front of goal (23 disposals, 3.6).
Captain Harris Andrews was impenetrable as was Darcy Gardiner, with Dayne Zorko and Jaspa Fletcher both excellent.
Geelong will rue a second half fadeout and a game where its best players couldn't impact. Far from their dominant showing three weeks earlier against the Lions, the Cats were cornered by Brisbane's pressure and eventually overwhelmed.
GEELONG 2.3 5.6 6.8 11.9 (75)
BRISBANE 1.6 5.6 9.9 18.14 (122)
GOALS
Geelong: Dempsey 4, Blicavs, Bowes, Close, Holmes, Mannagh, Mullin, Neale
Brisbane: Cameron 4, McCluggage 4, Bailey 3, Lohmann 2, L.Ashcroft, W.Ashcroft, Morris, Neale, Rayner
BEST
Geelong: Dempsey, Holmes, Humphries, Atkins, Smith
Brisbane: McCluggage, Andrews, Bailey, Cameron, W.Ashcroft, Gardiner
INJURIES
Geelong: Cameron (arm)
Brisbane: Starcevich (head)
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Jack Martin replaced Rhys Stanley in the fourth quarter
Brisbane: Lachie Neale replaced Sam Marshall in the third quarter
Crowd: 100,022 at the MCG