‘Genius’ star’s masterclass; polarising star who swung Grand Final — Lions Player Ratings

A young star dubbed “a champion in our midst” has paved the way to a second consecutive Brisbane premiership, winning his second Norm Smith Medal in as many years.

And the side’s superstar sub was immense after being injected into the contest, including booting a stirring goal in the Lions’ breakaway third term.

Foxfooty.com.au rates every Brisbane player out of 10 from the 2025 AFL Grand Final against Geelong.

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1. KAI LOHMANN

Sporting another fresh trim, Lohmann was buzzing around early on the game’s biggest day of the year. Lohmann copped a knee from Logan Morris in some brutal friendly fire, but he kicked the Lions’ first goal of the game. He momentarily looked bothered by his ankle issue that he’s had to navigate all season long, but he soldiered through and continued to threaten in the forward half, finishing with two majors for the day. 7

3. JASPA FLETCHER

Lined up on Shaun Mannagh at the outset. Fletcher was always going to be a big factor in the Lions’ ability to intercept and slingshot, and he was attentive early, getting his hands on the footy. He always looked tidy in possession coming out of the back half and was rarely caught on the back foot defensively. The father-son gun was just so, so clean and was able to get involved in attacking chains from the back half. He had 29 disposals, eight score involvements, eight marks and six intercepts, and would have been in best-on-ground considerations. 9

4. CALLUM AH CHEE

Got a first crack at Geelong speedster Ollie Dempsey early and had a few chances in attack, though Dempsey got out the back for a goal the other way in the first quarter. Was reliable all day, however, as the Lions have come to expect. 7

5. JOSH DUNKLEY

Lined up on Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield at the first centre bounce, but he looked to be going with speedster Max Holmes from about quarter-time onwards. Garry Lyon said on the Fox Footy match broadcast: “Holmes lit up the joint early in the second quarter … but ‘The Cooler’ has wondered over and said ‘that’s enough’.” He goes under the radar at times, but Dunkley was integral with his tackling and bodywork at the contest, always managing to get his hands free despite being tackled. 7

6. HUGH MCCLUGGAGE

Speedster Oisin Mullin went to McCluggage at the very start. Hugh delivered a beautiful goal assist to Kai Lohmann in the first term to get himself going, but was otherwise decently well-held early by the Irishman, who kicked a goal of his own in the first term. Second direct goal assist with a well-lofted inside-50 entry that landed in Logan Morris’ arms. ‘McDamage’ then got on the scoresheet, going forward to mark and goal in the second. By the end of the day, he’d well and truly overcome Mullin, snapping a wonderful cherry-on-top goal in the fourth quarter. Incredibly, McCluggage finished his afternoon with four (!) majors with 10 score involvements and 26 disposals to also put his name in Norm Smith Medal contention. 9

8. WILL ASHCROFT

Got involved early with his hands and was the busiest Brisbane ball-getter in the first with nine disposals. Led all Brisbane ball-getters at half-time with 17 disposals, continuing to assert his influence as his team got on top of the Cats. Ashcroft dobbed a brilliant snapping goal in the fourth quarter to put the result beyond doubt. Caller Anthony Hudson said on Fox Footy: “That is unreal! A champion in our midst.” Lyon added: “He’s a genius, this kid. He and Nick Daicos are going to rip this competition to shreds for a long time.” Ashcroft finished with a team-high 32 disposals, 10 score involvements, 10 clearances and a goal. 9

9. LACHIE NEALE

Started as the tactical substitute for the first time in 11 years. People forget, Neale also started a grand final as the substitute back in 2013 for Fremantle. The dual Brownlow medallist was injected into the contest at half-time, replacing youngster Sam Marshall. And when the superstar came on, he didn’t look out of place — typically industrious at contest — before kicking an absolutely massive goal from range right before three-quarter-time. He had six possessions and three score involvements in the third term. Jason Dunstall said after Neale’s goal: “You wondered about that calf? He sprints to the 50 and bombs away – what a finish. That is a massive moment for the Brisbane Lions.” For a man who came on halfway through the match, his impact was absolutely immense when the game was there to be won in the premiership quarter. 8

10. LEVI ASHCROFT

Kicked a massive goal in the second term from range after getting around the man on the mark. After watching his brother win the silverware last year, Levi took his chance to join Will on the dais — on the same day he became the first player to play 27 games in his rookie season. Levi made his disposals count. He’ll be a great player in the years to come. 7

13. LOGAN MORRIS

Jack Henry went to the emerging gun forward at the outset. He was quiet in the opening term but nailed the Lions’ first goal of the second quarter with a sweet set shot. AFL Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall said: “He’s got some serious forward craft.” Helped the Lions bring the ball to ground in attacking 50. 7

15. DAYNE ZORKO

Came into the game as a massive catalyst for Brisbane’s half-back counterpunch. He always shaped as a huge key to victory, given the Lions’ ability to move the ball and the Cats’ leakiness defending it. Zorko had seven possessions in the opening stanza, and after a poor first half last Saturday in the preliminary final, he was Brisbane’s second-leading ball-getter in the first half today with 14 touches and a team-high 336 metres gained. He continued to have a big impact with his boot into the second half, with Lyon saying: “He is becoming a huge issue for Chris Scott and what they do off half-back.” Lyon later added: “Take a bow, Dayne Zorko. He has changed the momentum of this game. He started in the second quarter; he’s picked up from where he left off. Dayne Zorko is heading into Norm Smith territory right now … His impact on this game has been profound.” Once again, he was absolutely brilliant by foot. 8

16. CAM RAYNER

Didn’t touch the footy in the opening quarter, drawing Geelong shutdown specialist Mark O’Connor, and managed just two touches in the second with four free kicks against in the first half. The bullocking forward-midfield hybrid only needs a few moments to tear a game apart, and he kicked a crucial goal in the last quarter to stem Geelong’s momentum and ensure another flag was on its way to Springfield. He also laid multiple important crunching tackles when he spent time in the guts. 6

20. SAM MARSHALL

After four disposals in the first half, the Lions pulled the Lachie Neale trigger, subbing the Victorian out tactically at half-time. 3

22. TY GALLOP

Got involved in the early stages of the game but quietened down, but as we’ve come to learn about the emerging key tall, he’s a competitor. 6

23. CHARLIE CAMERON

Was always going to have to be a factor in the forward half for the Lions to be alive in the contest, and he kicked the goal of the game from a tough angle in the second term. Kicked his second goal late in the third term after marking strongly right in front of goal. Got on the end of his third goal late in the third term to give Brisbane a then-game-high 13-point lead. And then he kicked the first goal of the final term to take his tally to four for the day, racing to the ball with a hunger his opponent didn’t have. He would’ve been in Norm Smith Medal contention had he slotted his snap for a fifth. 8

27. DARCY GARDINER

Gardiner had success going with Jeremy Cameron in the qualifying final, and he went with him again on Saturday. He was incredibly bankable all day in defence, completely quelling Jeremy Cameron. 8

31. HARRIS ANDREWS

Andrews took Shannon Neale to start. The question was always going to be whether the Cats put a negator on him, and Andrews was picking off just about everything in the second term. Led all at half-time with four intercept possessions and continued his stellar interrupting play into the second half, and he deservedly earned Norm Smith Medal votes. 8

32. DARCY FORT

Did his job in the ruck and when he had to give himself in a contest, he did, without doing anything overly special. 7

33. ZAC BAILEY

Lined up next to Bailey Smith at the start of the game. Bailey was electric early and consistently threatened, but he didn’t take his early chances, kicking four (!) behinds in the first quarter. He became the first player this century to kick four or more behinds in a quarter in a final. Roved the ball brilliantly and began to explode in the second, breaking away from stoppage and getting involved in attacking chains. Had an equal-game-high five score involvements at half-time. And early in the third, he won the race to a loose ball in the goalsquare and finally dobbed his elusive goal. He ended up with 3.6 for the day — a barely-believable scoreline — to be in the best-on-ground mix. 9

35. RYAN LESTER

Typically trusty with ball in hand coming out of defence, particularly while under heavy Geelong forward-half pressure Of course, he wasn’t a major ball-winner, not that he needed to be. 6

37. BRANDON STARCEVICH

Handled Patrick Dangerfield when the champion rolled forward before devastatingly going down with concussion in the third quarter after a head knock in a contest, leaving the Lions down a rotation in the last quarter. 6

38. BRUCE REVILLE

Gave away a marking infringement free kick that led to the first goal of the second quarter. Gave away a second free kick leading to a shot at goal for the quarter. Lifted as the game went on. 6

44. DARCY WILMOT

Started getting involved in the Lions’ rebound play in the second quarter, notching 12 disposals, two score involvements and two intercepts by half-time. Continued in the second half as Brisbane surged. 7

46. OSCAR MCINERNEY

‘Big O’, deservedly getting his chance on the biggest stage, was having a crack forward of the ball but didn’t have a massive impact — not that he had to, finally getting his deserved premiership medallion. 6