TYRONE’S CONOR MCKENNA has become the first Irish player to win multiple AFL Premierships after Saturday’s Grand Final success with the Brisbane Lions.
McKenna scored a goal as Brisbane Lions won a third successive Grand Final, staging a 96-89 comeback victory over Fremantle Dockers.
The Lions were staring down the barrel when they trailed by 17 points deep in the final quarter, before they kicked the last four goals to prevail.
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Key forward Logan Morris kicked the final two, and the Lions erupted in euphoria at the final siren.
“So proud of the boys. We hung in there,” Morris said.
“It was one of the most fun games I’ve been part of.”
Based in rugby heartland, Brisbane cemented their status as the competition’s powerhouse by appearing in their fourth straight grand final, a feat not achieved by any other team in the last decade.
It was heartbreak for Fremantle, hailing from the port city in Western Australia, who had endured a mostly torturous existence since entering the competition in 1995.
The Dockers’ only previous grand final appearance ended in bitter disappointment in 2013 when they lost to Hawthorn by 15 points.
A dynamic game similar to Ireland’s Gaelic football, Australian rules is the country’s most popular spectator sport.
The veteran Brisbane side entered as favourites, aiming to match the Lions’ legendary team of 2001-03 who won three successive titles.
But Fremantle had come of age this year, finishing the home and away season on top of the ladder.
Both teams relish playing an aggressive style, but scoring opportunities were difficult early on in the slippery conditions.
Fremantle’s superior leg speed threatened to open the game up, but Brisbane’s experience came to the fore in big moments.
Irishman Conor McKenna slotted a superb goal deep in the right pocket in the second quarter to inspire the Lions, but the champions could not pull away.
For the second straight grand final, scores were deadlocked at half-time, but the inspired Dockers kicked on to build a lead.
They appeared set to claim their maiden title when Patrick Voss stretched the lead to 17 points, before Morris helped to wrest the match from their grasp.
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AFL Grand Final glory for Tyrone's McKenna as Brisbane stage comeback win
Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96)
Fremantle Dockers 12.17 (89)
TYRONE’S CONOR MCKENNA has become the first Irish player to win multiple AFL Premierships after Saturday’s Grand Final success with the Brisbane Lions.
McKenna scored a goal as Brisbane Lions won a third successive Grand Final, staging a 96-89 comeback victory over Fremantle Dockers.
The Lions were staring down the barrel when they trailed by 17 points deep in the final quarter, before they kicked the last four goals to prevail.
Key forward Logan Morris kicked the final two, and the Lions erupted in euphoria at the final siren.
“So proud of the boys. We hung in there,” Morris said.
“It was one of the most fun games I’ve been part of.”
Based in rugby heartland, Brisbane cemented their status as the competition’s powerhouse by appearing in their fourth straight grand final, a feat not achieved by any other team in the last decade.
It was heartbreak for Fremantle, hailing from the port city in Western Australia, who had endured a mostly torturous existence since entering the competition in 1995.
The Dockers’ only previous grand final appearance ended in bitter disappointment in 2013 when they lost to Hawthorn by 15 points.
A dynamic game similar to Ireland’s Gaelic football, Australian rules is the country’s most popular spectator sport.
The veteran Brisbane side entered as favourites, aiming to match the Lions’ legendary team of 2001-03 who won three successive titles.
But Fremantle had come of age this year, finishing the home and away season on top of the ladder.
Both teams relish playing an aggressive style, but scoring opportunities were difficult early on in the slippery conditions.
Fremantle’s superior leg speed threatened to open the game up, but Brisbane’s experience came to the fore in big moments.
Irishman Conor McKenna slotted a superb goal deep in the right pocket in the second quarter to inspire the Lions, but the champions could not pull away.
For the second straight grand final, scores were deadlocked at half-time, but the inspired Dockers kicked on to build a lead.
They appeared set to claim their maiden title when Patrick Voss stretched the lead to 17 points, before Morris helped to wrest the match from their grasp.
Additional reporting by – © AFP 2026
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