Fremantle 12.17 (89) Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96)
Tyrone man Conor McKenna prodded home a brilliant goal to help the Brisbane Lions to a third AFL Grand Final victory in a row on Saturday as they broke Fremantle's hearts with a late surge at a packed MCG in Melbourne.
The Lions were chasing their sixth Premiership and third on the trot against surprise finalists Fremantle, who were looking to end their 32-season wait for glory.
McKenna – who an All-Ireland SFC title with Tyrone in 2021 – became the second player after Tadhg Kennelly (Kerry and Sydney Swans) to win a Celtic Cross and a Premiership medal when he went all the way with the Lions in 2024. He has yet another medal for his collection.
The Lions prevailed by seven points in a thriller before a crowd of 100,023.
McKenna won the AFL Goal of the Year award for his brilliant effort against Collingwood earlier in the season.
On Saturday he produced more magic in the second quarter, insitnctively poking a super finish between the sticks.
CONOR MCKENNA HAS DONE IT AGAIN 🤯#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/zKXu7xZ3c4
— AFL (@AFL) September 26, 2026
Forwards Logan Morris and Charlie Cameron combined for six goals to help the team to victory and complete their second three-peat, emulating their 2001-03 dynasty.
The game came down to the wire, with Brisbane nailing four goals in the final four minutes to overhaul Fremantle's 17-point advantage. Morris ensured the Lions edged ahead in the final 60 seconds, kicking truly after taking a strong contested mark to give Brisbane the lead and subsequently icing the game with a snap from 40 metres.
In the first half, ladder-toppers Fremantle - contesting their first Grand Final since 2013 - were not overawed by the occasion and forced the back-to-back defending champions into over-possession and risky corridor play, although nothing separated the teams on the scoreboard with 43 apiece.
Command shifted to the Dockers during the third quarter, but a leg injury to captain Alex Pearce left a void in their back line, which the Lions capitalised on with three straight majors.
Working their way back from 10 points down at the final break, Brisbane showed their experience as they weathered the storm to earn their sixth title in the top-flight of Australian Rules football, denying Fremantle their first AFL Premiership.
Additional reporting: Reuters
