ABC News (AU)
· collected 2026-09-25 · by Cody Atkinson and Sean Lawson
The Brisbane Lions are set to play their fourth consecutive grand final on Saturday, September 30. Over the past four years, they've fielded 35 different players across these finals, with only 11 constant team members. Despite this turnover, the Lions maintain their high-scoring identity, kicking the ball more than any other team in the league since 2024 and rarely relying on handballs during matches. Coach Chris Fagan's leadership has been crucial in keeping the team competitive while integrating new players, positioning them to potentially win three consecutive premierships if they triumph this weekend.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
→
On Saturday the Brisbane Lions will march out for their fourth straight grand final appearance.
asserted
Lions → march → appearance
From the outside it's yet another chapter for the relentless, exciting machine that has taken the league by storm over the past half decade.
asserted
that → take → decade
Under the hood, though, pieces have been slowly changing.
asserted
pieces → change → hood
Like the Ship of Theseus, the Lions have slowly been transforming as they have sailed the premiership waters.
asserted
they → transform → waters
The Lions will have fielded 35 different players across their four years in the grand final by the time they run out on Saturday — almost enough for two distinct teams of 18.
asserted
they → field → 18
Just 11 players have hit the field in all four games — less than half of their 23 man side.
asserted
players → hit → side
Players come, players go.
asserted
players → come → ?
Styles change, emerge and alter as the clock ticks.
asserted
clock → change → ?
But these Lions have shifted more than most dynasties.
asserted
Lions → shift → dynasties
For example, Brisbane had just 29 players feature over their four straight grand finals at the turn of the century.
asserted
players → have → century
These Lions are turning their ship over faster, but the look is largely the same.
asserted
look → turn → ship
Of the constants remaining, perhaps the most important is the steward of the ship.
asserted
important → remain → ship
Coach Chris Fagan's distinctive style has been key to ensuring that the Lions can both retool and stay in the premiership hunt.
asserted
Lions → ensure → hunt
The 2026 Lions remain a force to beat — even if that force is different to that posed in 2023.
asserted
force → remain → 2023
If they can capture the flag on Saturday they will become the seventh VFL/AFL side to win three premierships in a row.
asserted
they → capture → row
"It's very exciting to be in the position where we could achieve something like that," Fagan said after their thrilling win over Hawthorn.
"But it's not worth thinking about that — if you know what I mean — because you (can) get caught up in thinking the wrong way."
In the path of their greatness stands the side best over the course of the year, and a new challenger to the Lions' crown.
uncertain
side → achieve → crown
This year's Lions — an increasingly homegrown side — stand on the cusp of history.
asserted
Lions → stand → history
Only a Purple Haze stands in their way.
asserted
Haze → stand → way
So if the pieces have changed, what about the Lions' identity and style of play, has it stayed the same?
asserted
it → change → play
Plenty, it turns out.
asserted
it → turn → ?
The Lions kick the ball more than any other side in the competition and have done so since 2024.
asserted
Lions → kick → 2024
The Hawks and Lions handballed the ball just 92 times a piece last weekend, only the fifth time since 2008 that both teams have taken fewer than 100 handballs in a game.
asserted
teams → handballe → game
Instead the Lions control the ball by making sure they find marking targets by foot.
asserted
find → control → foot
No team has taken more marks than the Lions.
asserted
team → take → Lions
They also defend against opposition marks exceedingly well.
asserted
They → defend → marks
Much like Roger Federer in his prime, the Lions beat the opposition by making them run while remaining in control themselves.
asserted
them → beat → control
It's somewhat reminiscent of the style of the 2013-2015 Hawthorn sides which Fagan ably served.
asserted
Fagan → serve → which
The opposition can't score when you have the ball, and you can use the advantage of control to pressure the opposition.
asserted
you → score → opposition
Helping get the ball first helps as well.
asserted
Helping → help → ball
In the last four years the Lions have ranked in the top two for clearance difference in each season.
asserted
Lions → rank → season
Brisbane boast arguably the best group of ball winning midfielders in the competition.
asserted
Brisbane → boast → competition
The Lions boast an enviable midfield group, boosted by the freeing of Lachie Neale from suspension in what may be his last game for the club.
uncertain
what → boast → club
If Neale, Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage don't beat you, Zac Bailey and the Ashcrofts will.
asserted
Bailey → beat → you
Even the likes of former number one draft pick Cam Rayner can break games open as a change of pace option.
asserted
likes → break → option
This helps to generate attack for the Lions — who aren't short on that front.
asserted
who → help → front
The Lions can score from all parts of the ground, but are especially adept when keeping the ball in their own forward half.
asserted
Lions → score → half
The Lions have long boasted a dynamic forward line but this year might be their best combination yet come finals time.
uncertain
year → boast → time
The Lions have found a group that can all do damage on their own but are also willing to sacrifice their own games for the greater good.
asserted
that → find → good
All seven core Brisbane forwards average more than a goal a game, along with Zac Bailey.
asserted
forwards → average → Bailey
Almost no other side boasts that kind of widespread firepower from such a variety of different sized players.
asserted
side → boast → players
…and 23 more, not listed.
The Aporia
