Lions Complete Grand Final Comeback for Three-Peat

The ABC live blog follows the 2026 AFL grand final between Fremantle and Brisbane at the wet MCG. The match carries major stakes: Brisbane is seeking another three-peat, while Fremantle is chasing its first premiership and playing in its first grand final since 2013. Brisbane has a full-strength side after Lachie Neale won a dramatic appeal, though he began the match on the bench and drew a mixed reception when he came on. The opening quarter was close and physical, with slippery conditions contributing to missed chances. Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron kicked the first goal, but Josh Treacy answered for Fremantle with a mark and goal in the wet. The Lions then scored through Oscar Allen and Kai Lohmann, while Fremantle replied through Murphy Reid and Isaiah Dudley. The Dockers briefly took the lead, but an unusual boundary-line decision denied them a late shot at goal for Josh Treacy. Brisbane led 3.5 (23) to 3.4 (22) at quarter time. The live updates describe a tightly contested second quarter. Fremantle moved ahead when Patrick Voss took a strong contested mark and kicked a goal. Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko appeared to be struggling with a corked thigh, while Conor McKenna later produced a goal from a narrow angle to put the Lions back into the contest. The supplied live scoreboard listed Fremantle at 5.5 (35) and Brisbane at 4.5 (29), while the latest update reports McKenna’s goal. The blog emphasizes how small the margins are, with both teams generating forward entries and the Lions holding an early clearance advantage.

The Brisbane Lions defeated Fremantle 96–89 in a dramatic AFL grand final, securing their third consecutive premiership. ABC reporter Kyle Pollard recounts nine pivotal and memorable moments from the match, from contentious umpiring and individual brilliance to a late comeback that broke Dockers hearts. Fremantle fans loudly booed former Docker Lachie Neale, who was allowed to play despite receiving a one-week suspension for striking Jack Ginnivan in the preliminary final. The Dockers also felt aggrieved when an umpire ruled that a late first-quarter pass to Josh Treacy had not travelled 15 metres, ending their chance to take a shot before the siren. Brisbane’s Conor McKenna then produced a remarkable dribbling goal, while Fremantle captain Alex Pearce left the field with an apparent Achilles injury. Hayden Young briefly strengthened Fremantle’s position with two impressive goals. Later, with the Dockers threatening to put the game beyond reach, Treacy missed a close-range shot after Lions defender Ryan Lester slightly disrupted his balance. Patrick Voss soon scored, and Fremantle’s “Wharfie Time” bells rang as the Dockers appeared to have control. But Brisbane had prepared for the bells: coach Chris Fagan had used them in a team meeting to encourage the Lions to draw energy from the sound. Charlie Cameron and Zac Bailey quickly kicked goals to close the gap. Logan Morris then took a mark in front of goal and converted, giving Brisbane the lead. The Lions held on to win, becoming just the second team in VFL/AFL history to achieve two three-peat premiership runs. The article presents the match as an extraordinary grand final shaped by controversy, costly moments and a stunning Brisbane resurgence.

Dean Bilton’s account of the 2026 AFL grand final frames Brisbane’s 96–89 victory over Fremantle as both an extraordinary display of resilience and a devastating collapse for the Dockers. The article asks readers to hold two interpretations together: Brisbane’s belief, talent and nerve produced a triumph that may rank among the modern era’s greatest, while Fremantle suffered a loss likely to haunt the club and its supporters for years. Fremantle looked at home on the grand final stage and, for much of the match, may have been the better side. Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss, Luke Jackson, Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw helped the Dockers dominate clearances, territory and the air. After Charlie Cameron put Brisbane in front in the third quarter, Hayden Young’s two goals restored Fremantle’s advantage. Late in the game, Voss kicked truly, and the Dockers appeared to have the result secured. Their supporters’ “Wharfie Time” bells seemed to signal that the long-awaited premiership was finally within reach. Instead, Brisbane surged back in a decisive final five minutes. The article recounts Cameron leading the crowd in “Country Roads,” Zac Bailey scoring from an unlikely opportunity, Logan Morris taking a crucial mark and kicking a major goal, and Will Ashcroft repeatedly driving his team forward. Ashcroft did not win the medal, but Bilton calls it his finest hour. Brisbane’s composure and self-belief turned an apparently lost match into a premiership victory and a three-peat. The reversal left Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir and supporters in tears. Bilton suggests the Dockers’ strong performance will make the defeat even harder to process: they did much right, only to lose the lead and the premiership in a brief, unforgettable burst. The article concludes that this grand final will be remembered as both the day Brisbane won the seemingly unwinnable and one of football’s most joyful—and most painful—days.

Fremantle star Shai Bolton has won the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the AFL grand final, despite the Dockers losing to the Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) at the MCG. Bolton became the first player in 21 years to receive the award while playing for the losing team. He polled 10 votes from the selection panel, ahead of Lions players Dayne Zorko and Will Ashcroft, who each received six. Bolton said the Dockers should hold their heads up and promised they would return better and stronger. His performance included 26 disposals, 686 metres gained and nine score involvements. He was surprised to hear his name announced shortly after Fremantle’s defeat, in which the Lions came from behind in the closing stages. Ashcroft was also a strong contender after a dominant final quarter. Fremantle had led by 17 points after Patrick Voss scored, but Ashcroft helped drive Brisbane’s comeback, recording 12 disposals and four clearances in the last term. The Lions then hit the front with goals from Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey and Logan Morris. Ashcroft finished with 31 disposals and nine clearances. Bolton is only the fifth player to win the Norm Smith Medal in a losing grand final side. Chris Judd was the most recent, earning the honour for West Coast in 2005 against the Sydney Swans. The other recipients were Nathan Buckley in 2002, Gary Ablett Snr in 1989 and Maurice Rioli in 1982. Fremantle midfielder Caleb Serong was another standout, finishing fourth in the voting with four votes after collecting 24 disposals and 13 clearances. Lions captain Harris Andrews also had a superb match, while Zorko recorded 28 disposals.