Neale leads Lions back from 17 points down to win grand final
Lachie Neale starred as Brisbane clawed back a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Fremantle in the 2026 AFL grand final.
The Brisbane Lions trailed by 17 points deep in the fourth quarter on Saturday, but a four-minute blitz changed everything. Lachie Neale entered the arena at the nine-minute mark, joining Will Ashcroft, Josh Dunkley and Sam Draper in what Neale called "go time".
Neale won the first clearance as the Lions began their charge. The comeback gave Brisbane its third straight premiership.
Neale had entered the day under the cloud of a controversial suspension for punching Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan, but an appeals board overturned it just in time, allowing him to play his fifth grand final.
- 17 points
- Fremantle's lead when Neale sat on bench
- 9-minute mark
- Minute Neale entered fourth quarter
- 5
- Neale's grand finals played
- Jack Ginnivan, Hawthorn
- Opponent punched by Neale
Why it mattersThe comeback is one of the greatest moments in AFL history, and Neale proved he still has the hunger to win when it matters most.
AustraliaBrisbane Lions fans will remember this grand final for decades, the most dramatic finish most have ever seen in Australian football.
Corroborated bytheage.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 33 min ago
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