Lions clinch premiership with 47-point Grand Final win as Andrews taunts Smith after clash

Brisbane Lions captain Harris Andrews delivered a cheeky remark about his on-field confrontation with Bailey Smith during the Lions' Grand Final victory over Geelong at the MCG, saying he enjoyed the afternoon more than his rival. Brisbane claimed a 47-point win to seal their fifth premiership this century, a testament to the club's ongoing success in the modern era. The game’s late moments included Cam Rayner delivering a final-term hit on Smith, leaving the Geelong forward sprawling on the grass with his white headband knocked off.

Geelong had fought back at times, but Brisbane’s second-half execution proved decisive, turning a competitive afternoon into a one-sided finish. The Cats were left to contemplate the result after a season that culminated in a Grand Final defeat, while Brisbane officially became the first AFL club to five premierships this century. The Lions’ latest title capped a year in which the team navigated a demanding path to the final and delivered on the game’s biggest stage.

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan described the win as even better than last year’s drought-breaking premiership, noting the obstacles the Lions overcame to reach the grand final. After addressing thousands of supporters at Brunswick St Oval on Sunday, he insisted the triumph was earned through resilience, not luck, and that surpassing the previous title would be a difficult feat to repeat, given the challenges of back-to-back success. He added, “I reckon it feels better than last year because it’s bloody hard to do it two times in a row,” before acknowledging the broader hurdles the team overcame to reach the final.

Back on the fifth premiership claim, Andrews’ post-match reflections became a talking point. He told Channel 9's Sunday Footy Show, “It’s all part of the theatre of the game to be honest with you. Bailey’s a great competitor and I really admire the way he goes about the game.” He continued, “I don’t know if that moment got caught on camera, but I was enjoying myself out there. Probably a little bit more than Bailey was. It is what it is. We just got on with the job.”

The events around the on-field clash underscored the enduring rivalry between the two clubs and the narrative of the season: Geelong had defeated Brisbane in the qualifying final three weeks earlier, but the Lions flipped the script in the grand final to secure the victory and the club’s place among AFL powerhouses of the era.