Tag: afl grand final
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Age not a barrier for AFL grand-final veterans
The two oldest men playing on grand-final day won’t be limping to the finish line. At 35, Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield still has a fierce glint in his eye and the ability to turn a game on a dime. In Brisbane’s half-back line, Dayne Zorko remains a pivotal part of how the Lions transition from…
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Experts issue virus warning ahead of AFL Grand Final
Experts warn a measles outbreak could spread nationally after this weekend’s AFL grand final. There are currently about 20 active cases of measles in Queensland, with the largest cluster in the Cairns area of the state’s far north. There are also smaller clusters in central Queensland and the Gold Coast, with a single case confirmed…
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Fagan’s journey from gravel-ground gory to MCG glory
Brisbane approached Chris Fagan with a dual purpose. The Lions had just finished 17th in 2016, and 17th and 15th in preceding seasons. The club had played finals just once in the previous dozen years. After sacking Justin Leppitsch, the Lions’ then-chief Greg Swann hunted for a new head coach. He wanted Brisbane to be…
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Inside the race to five premierships
It seemed inconceivable, as recently as seven years ago, that the Brisbane Lions would be on the verge of becoming the most successful AFL club this century. But after a rocky, wildly unsuccessful decade following triple premiership coach Leigh Matthews’ departure in 2008, the Lions have reclaimed their reputation as a competition powerhouse. If Brisbane…
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Neale trains as Lion’s grand-final return gathers pace
The two-time Brownlow medallist hurt his calf on September 5 and was ruled out for the season by the club, who deemed it at least a four-week injury. But the midfielder and co-captain refused to accept that and, after completing a tough running session on Saturday, completed training in front of thousands of fans in…
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‘D-O-Double G’: AFL grand final act confirmed
The AFL has guaranteed this grand final pre-game will be entertaining – and different. Iconic American rapper Snoop Dogg has been confirmed to headline the pre-game show on September 27 at the MCG. He was an unlikely and undisputed star of last year’s Paris Olympics, joining TV personality Martha Stewart to provide commentary for NBC.…
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A pair of old (under) dogs giving nothing away on eve of ‘equal-dogs’ final
Unlike last year, when much was made of the Lions coach saying his team were underdogs ahead of playing Collingwood, Fagan says Saturday’s combatants cannot be split. Brisbane have recovered from a poor start, and two comeback finals wins, to earn a second-straight grand-final berth after last year’s agonising four-point loss to Collingwood. The Swans,…
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Grand final preview: Can Swans’ system beat red hot Cats?
The Cats will field the oldest team in the competition’s 126-year history against Sydney on Saturday and there is still doubt over Max Holmes’ fitness. The young wingman will be given until the last minute to prove he has overcome a minor hamstring injury. But the minor premiers are full of confidence, riding a 15-match…
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Touch Of The Fumbles: Schadenfreude
In our last missive from Fumbleland, some two weeks ago now, I insisted that the Power were a shoo-in for a Grand Final berth, and a lock for this year’s flag. Sure, my reasoning may not have been particularly analytical: broadly, 2021 sucks, so a Port premiership would be generally on brand. But in hindsight,…