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Final Siren: Inside the AFL - Season 1 - Episode 04: Back to Back
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00:02It's been an absorbing contest so far.
00:05It's a magic night for Queensland football.
00:09Oh yeah, hit the deck, hit the deck, hit the deck.
00:12It's the second semi-final.
00:14The winner to take on Collingwood in the prelim.
00:17Here we go, here we go.
00:18Let's go, let's go.
00:19And this is to give Gold Coast the lead again.
00:23It's a big goal for Gold Coast.
00:25On the ground!
00:28That's a good footy winner.
00:31Couldn't have started better the Suns.
00:38We're gonna do a dice now.
00:41Playing Brisbane in a semi-final with an opportunity to send them home.
00:47If we win this, this will be the greatest win of all time.
00:50Here come the big boys and they move it well here.
00:53The Gold Coast.
00:54I'm feeling it like the boys are feeling it.
00:56Taylor, Taylor!
00:58Crowd's into it.
00:59So now Miller, very high ball.
01:01There's just all these things that we've been working on all year.
01:04They are winning all the early battles, Gold Coast.
01:07We're dialled in right at that time.
01:09Side 50 again.
01:10He runs it in front of Gardner.
01:13He's gone, he's gone.
01:16Round four goal.
01:18Magnific!
01:19Right away.
01:20Right away, right away.
01:22Come on.
01:22Zorko gonna just slow it down a little here.
01:25That shows our time to go to this.
01:27We just were half a step off.
01:29Which, you know, maybe in a home and away game, you get away with.
01:32But in a final, you don't get away with that.
01:34Dunkley won and gave it to Rainer.
01:37Misses.
01:37Don't often see him make errors like that.
01:41Cam Rainer.
01:42He just didn't turn up.
01:43Through his fingers it goes.
01:50The one thing that has never been an issue that this football club is telling us.
01:53There's a reason you get the honour of wearing this jumper because you can play the game.
01:57Forget the noise.
01:58Forget the traffic around you.
02:00You've got to sit there and understand this is a game that is well and truly still winnable for us.
02:05We should be really, really excited about the opportunity that presents ourselves.
02:09Let's get it done.
02:10Let's go.
02:16All right, here we go.
02:18The Brisbane Lions looking to bounce back.
02:22Cam Rainer.
02:23He's got to have a cracking game here tonight for Brisbane's sake.
02:27Rainer absolutely superb in the middle.
02:30I think the first half I was a little bit off.
02:32I just couldn't really get involved.
02:33Drew's got to fly now.
02:34He's in trouble.
02:35Rainer just straight lined the footy.
02:38Shook him off.
02:39Drilling ball.
02:40One-on-one.
02:41Did it get over the field right there?
02:43We've got it.
02:43It's a goal.
02:45The second half was when I started to play my footies.
02:48Brisbane's guns getting to work.
02:50Having never played finals, I started to realise that the energy of last week was hard to replicate.
02:57Hands to it.
02:58No, Mark.
02:59And you're best in the running premiers.
03:01Bailey, you know the rest.
03:03They're good for a reason.
03:08And they definitely showed us, like, why they're good.
03:13Off to Rainer, who thought about giving it back.
03:17Wow.
03:17And we can't tackle Cam Rainer.
03:20He just refuses to be tackled.
03:22They're charging forward.
03:24Archie.
03:24Runs to 50.
03:26Has a look.
03:27It is right across the face.
03:29And right.
03:32Brisbane kicking away.
03:33Big brother showed little brother very clearly who stands where in the pecking room.
03:42Brisbane are still the kings of Queensland football.
03:46They are into yet another preliminary final.
03:54So not the night that Gold Coast had hoped for.
03:58Awesome moment.
04:00We've been chasing a goal for so long that you almost don't know what to feel.
04:08How can you have put so much effort into a season and had so many good moments to not make
04:17it right at the death?
04:20Sucks.
04:21Sucks.
04:26It worked so hard, you know, for what we tried to achieve and what we wanted to get out of
04:33the season.
04:34The reality is it ends today, which is fucking tough.
04:39Unfortunately, in one of our biggest days, we didn't quite play to the level that we know we can.
04:45It's good.
04:46It's going to fucking hurt.
04:47It's going to hurt for a period of time because you fucking get so close.
04:51Now you've got to go back to the start and do it all again.
04:54We're not happy with good.
04:55We've got to get to great.
04:56And so it's to be uncomfortable.
04:58Because that's what's going to spark our rise.
05:05Almost.
05:06Almost.
05:08Almost.
05:11Oh, man.
05:12I wasn't ready to polish it, but it is what it is.
05:16It's got to fucking move on.
05:18So much work to get to this point.
05:20And I'm like, oh, my God.
05:21It should be over and, like, a flash up.
05:24Mmm.
05:25I'm telling you.
05:26Okay, you done.
05:27The Gold Coast Suns are capable of doing something special in season 2026.
05:36The Premiership defence rolls off for Brisbane.
05:44We played really well.
05:45And from that, it generates confidence.
05:50We need to bottle that up and bring it again next week against Collingwood.
05:57Hey, not over yet.
06:00We go again.
06:02We're playing in a preliminary final.
06:04Like, it's game on.
06:21The Q Clash, the third version for this year, was 1-1 leading into the weekend.
06:25Yeah.
06:25But the bigger brother, they flexed their muscle again and came out big winners.
06:29Gold Coast, they started well.
06:31Everything was going in for them.
06:33But finals guarantees nothing.
06:34One mistake could destroy any chance of winning the grand final.
06:38Yeah, it's good happening.
06:39Four prelims in a row.
06:41So they've been a resuming team.
06:42Seven final series in a row.
06:43All right, so I'll be Demons.
06:44So you're Richmond.
06:45No, I'm Demons too.
06:47So it's Demons v Demons.
06:49Brisbane are playing good.
06:51The chemistry is phenomenal.
06:54See you later.
06:55Good to see you.
06:57Brisbane, the pressure was fantastic.
07:00They came and they meant business.
07:02Brisbane winning more of those one-on-one contests.
07:04Their pressure's consistently high.
07:06I do think that the best teams are able to do that.
07:12I've been here before, actually.
07:13It's awesome.
07:14Yeah, I've been here.
07:15You know, in all of Brisbane, what they've been able to do the last three years.
07:18Game after game, year after year, like, just watching the footy,
07:22sort of wishing it was you.
07:23I mean, you're just jealous, I guess.
07:36We're now down to the final four in the race of the 2025 AFL Season Premiership.
07:41We are one game closer than going on and playing in a grand final.
07:44Collingwood will be sitting there thinking,
07:46OK, we're going to have to be right on on Saturday night.
07:49Got a little bit banged up on the weekend.
07:51Hurt my foot a little bit.
07:52Given my age, I was very concerned.
07:55Felt as though my body's failed me.
07:56But being able to play the game out with some painkillers
07:59was obviously a really good result.
08:03As the oldest player to play 300 games
08:05in what I would argue is one of the most taxing sports.
08:10Man, you were hitting some bullets on the weekend.
08:11Yeah, I was kicking well.
08:15Let's get this body fucking tuned.
08:19Physically, my body is in horrible shape.
08:22And I can normally, like, press it too.
08:24Yeah, check it out.
08:25Like, right there.
08:26So now, is it moving in anywhere at the moment?
08:28Well, I'm pressing in, it hurts.
08:30OK, come on now.
08:30Yep.
08:32Tune-up time!
08:34Earlier this year, I sort of just rolled my foot a little bit
08:37and we discovered an extra bone in my foot
08:39that's just got a little bit of fluid sitting in it.
08:41Feels like just that left foot and that right heel.
08:46Which seems to be getting worse.
08:49OK, we're gonna go face down.
08:50Right heel, not good.
08:54OK.
08:54Really?
08:55For eight weeks now, I haven't been able to run.
08:57Yeah.
09:01Let's get this one.
09:05Oh, man.
09:06As you get older, everyone tells you,
09:08ah, yeah, you know, that's age, that's gonna get you.
09:10And I don't really use that as an excuse.
09:12Can you do some more heel-toes?
09:14Heel-toes, just let's bring it out a bit more.
09:18You just have to deal with it.
09:20There it is.
09:21We're playing against Collingwood.
09:23Look, there's a grand final on the line.
09:25Nothing's gonna stop you from playing.
09:27All right.
09:27Pull time, recovery.
09:29Yep.
09:29And then go and smash him.
09:31Yep.
09:32For Dane Zorko,
09:33just one of the greatest players coming into the 2025 season,
09:36he still doesn't have a contract.
09:42Usually when you're 36,
09:43you don't get offered another contract.
09:46It's not beyond the realms of possibility
09:47that the Brisbane Lions get to the end of the year and say,
09:50hey, you've had a great career for us.
09:52We're gonna move on.
09:57It's always the first question at a press conference is,
09:59you're 36, when are you retiring,
10:01when are you gonna hang them up?
10:03I am aware that I am at the back end of my career
10:05and I can't play forever.
10:09But I don't feel like I'm 36 years old.
10:25The game against the Gold Coast,
10:28for us to be able to try and get that hunter's mindset back
10:31was important for the team.
10:32Annie, come on.
10:35For me, personally,
10:36I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been difficult.
10:38There's been ups and downs
10:39that I'd been struggling with
10:40and not starting games well.
10:42And first half, I just couldn't really get involved.
10:44Felt like I was fading in and out of the game.
10:48That's the storyline of my career.
10:50There's times where you can play two or three really good games
10:53and you can feel like you're back to your best
10:54but then drop with a performance the following week.
10:56Yeah.
10:56It's been really tough trying to figure our way through that.
11:01I'd be lying here if I said I wasn't still thinking about the game
11:04about the last couple of days.
11:05You know, like those emotions.
11:07It can be taxing and it can take a little bit of a zap out of you.
11:10Get up!
11:11Help!
11:15Being able to come out here and just be with them
11:17and get your mind off footy and just everything really.
11:20Like, you can spend, you know, four or five hours with them
11:22without even realising to have done anything.
11:27Kevin!
11:30We all judge the best players in the game in big moments.
11:35Cam Rayner hasn't shown his best in the big moments.
11:38And so the criticisms of inconsistency become louder.
11:43Here you go, guys.
11:44I'll come and grab it after.
11:46He's under a little bit of pressure, Cam.
11:47When you have those performances that somewhat, you know,
11:50don't resemble the way you know you can play,
11:52you do have your doubts.
11:53J-Lo, did you have the sheet?
11:55But, um, I think as athletes you have to have that doubt.
11:58It drives you.
11:59It keeps that fire burning inside.
12:01And I found this out very early in my career.
12:04I was a little bit of a late bloomer.
12:06Most of the players that get drafted,
12:08you know, are 18-, 19-year-olds.
12:10Recruiters just went through six foot five, built well.
12:15I was a little bit small.
12:16That was definitely one of the reasons
12:18as to why they didn't draft me.
12:19I thought I was better than some of the players
12:21that were going around
12:22and I just needed an opportunity to prove that.
12:25And then for the next four years,
12:27just overlooked and essentially dominating
12:29in the Queensland League.
12:30That sucked.
12:31That hurt.
12:32I could really be at the top level.
12:33Like, what the hell?
12:34Come on.
12:35Are you blind?
12:37I got drafted when I was 22.
12:39Brisbane Lions took a chance on me,
12:43but being overlooked for four years,
12:44I was pissed off.
12:46There's no doubt about it.
12:47I made my debut against Collingwood in round seven.
12:51Came on as a sub at half-time.
12:53Early in my career.
12:54I was really dirty.
12:56Go and Zorko's come onto the ground, boys.
12:57He's nearly their best midfielder
12:58in about five minutes of football.
13:01I wanted to prove all these other teams wrong.
13:03Zorko.
13:08So the lookout.
13:09Stephen Main and Zorko in back play.
13:11I was like, I just don't fucking rate me.
13:12They don't rate me.
13:13These coaches don't rate me.
13:14Zorko.
13:15Another goal to Zorko.
13:26Even now I'm 14 years in I'm always looking to push the boundary and that line is close
13:32to the edge before it tips over so it's always a balancing act trying to get it right.
13:47The stage is set for a preliminary final showdown between Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions.
13:53Two teams playing for a spot in the big dance.
13:57The winner this one to play the Cats in the grand final here next Saturday.
14:01Going back to back is huge in AFL footy if you can do it.
14:04But thinking about that isn't going to get the job done.
14:08They've beaten us in the grand final.
14:11Collingwood win the grand final!
14:13They're a very good team.
14:17There is no greater challenge I think in our game than to play at the MCG in a final against
14:24Collingwood.
14:26The crowd.
14:27The hostility.
14:31The 100 finals are separated by stars.
14:33There's no doubt about that.
14:35For me it might be Cam Raider.
14:38If he's playing his best footy Cam Raider can change the momentum of a game.
14:43The challenge for Cam is to compartmentalise and put the distractions to the side.
14:50So it comes down to this.
14:52The two most recent Premiers get it underway.
14:55The game is on.
14:59Here's a chance for the Lions on the chart.
15:01Cameron with speed.
15:01Terrific handball towards Raider.
15:03Can someone tackle the top two?
15:05Oh!
15:06Get him.
15:07Get him.
15:08Another turnover.
15:10Cam Raider fumbles his Lions.
15:14Just looking at Cam Raider.
15:15We know that he plays in first.
15:17But they have to get him involved and feeling good about himself.
15:20Has not had a kick.
15:21Nick.
15:22That's 30 out.
15:23Mason Cox will fly.
15:25Runs into Zorko.
15:26Yeah, that's a free kick.
15:28Mason Cox.
15:29Drop the mark.
15:31Flap kick.
15:32It's a goal.
15:33The players get that in.
15:35Zorko and Cox.
15:36Go toe to toe.
15:38Prelim finals.
15:39They're fierce.
15:40Mason has an uncanny ability to do that after every time he kicks a goal.
15:44And I knew he was going to come at me.
15:47What are you going to do?
15:49Are you going to stand there and get bowled over?
15:51Or are you going to stand there and get bowled over?
15:51Do you get a fight?
15:52And Zorko tried to take the glasses off.
15:55Look at that.
15:56It took a bit of skin as well.
15:57He's had a go at them.
16:00And there's just a touch of blood here early.
16:02And Dane Zorko in the middle of it all.
16:06I think Zorko can be one of the biggest villains in the AFL.
16:09And hopefully he can shift the momentum a little bit and change it up.
16:13Yeah, I'd love to hear what Zork said.
16:16Another easy mark drop.
16:18Rainer to Zorko.
16:19The skill error is mounting.
16:21Got pushed as I kicked and stuffed the kick up.
16:24Blake getting rid of it.
16:25Maitek handball over the top.
16:27Jamie Elliott running to an open goal.
16:30They got a goal.
16:30Very next play.
16:34A really scratchy start.
16:36Little opportunity here.
16:38Drop kick.
16:39Is it going?
16:40Colingwood starting to awaken the crowd here.
16:44Locky Shorts for three in a row for the back five.
16:47Second quarter, they've hit three goals straight away.
16:49And I've just gone, oh my God, what the fuck?
16:53This is not good.
16:54It is now all on Collingwood's terms.
16:58It's Cam Reiner.
16:59Just the one handball now on the bench when he comes back.
17:02Got to get him into the game.
17:03They may be out anyway if they don't get a move along here.
17:09So a half left in this prelim final.
17:12Three teams left, one cup.
17:14In the first half, I felt like I essentially let my team down.
17:18Yeah, third quarter, I was just like, fuck.
17:21Well, you're not going to have another bad period like that.
17:39Yeah, I had a couple of touches to just sort of build me back up again.
17:42There is one straight kick separating them.
17:44Make it maybe more than that.
17:46That's the best thing we've ever seen.
17:48Got those goals back for our team that sort of gave
17:51and we just sort of held that margin for the rest of the game.
17:53Hitski lost it.
17:55Zorko from about 48.
17:57He's a good player.
18:00One of the way more proud of performances for the year.
18:03There it is.
18:04Broken into another grand final.
18:08No doubt they were out, but they're risen again.
18:11The back-to-back dream is still alive.
18:16It's a long away.
18:17We've got the two powerhouses of the competition
18:19that are just going to go head to head.
18:21It's going to be some sort of clash.
18:26The veteran Dane Zorko leading this magnificent Brisbane team.
18:31They know what this week is all about.
18:42Heading into the grand final, Geelong are the favourites.
18:45Not just because they've been one of the best teams this season.
18:49Because of what had happened only weeks earlier.
18:52Smith.
18:53Have a listen to this.
18:57They absolutely smashed us in the qualifying final.
19:00The Geelong Football Club march into their 14th wheeling.
19:04But you learn a lot more from your defeats than you do from your wins.
19:09We as a team don't want to stop it playing in two grand finals.
19:12We want to win more.
19:14Can we do that? That's the challenge.
19:30I find it hard to watch games after I've played.
19:41The first half I was a little bit off.
19:45Not that I was getting tagged.
19:46It was more I just wasn't really putting myself in good positions to get the ball.
19:53You know, the output that I felt like I could give to the team,
19:55I wasn't giving it.
19:56So it was obviously really hard for me.
19:59When I was younger, if I had a bad first half,
20:01I'd kind of go into half-time and go like,
20:02my game's cooked now, I haven't really done anything.
20:05So I used to just get really low on myself
20:07and it took me a little bit of time to understand
20:09that the highs and lows of AFL can be through the roof
20:11and the main thing is try to keep it as even-headed as you can.
20:14That mindset, that wasn't something that came natural for me at all.
20:18There's times where we've got to learn these lessons
20:20but you can't keep learning about for gambling.
20:29I think it's 7.42 when I just checked.
20:31I just said, mate.
20:34Switch that pot all, alright?
20:37I'm so grateful that we were able to play in another grand final.
20:40It gives me goosebumps now talking about it, thinking about it.
20:42Do they have food at the gate?
20:44We've obviously tasted the ultimate success last year.
20:48I don't want another team to feel that.
20:49I want all that to myself and my teammates to feel that.
20:53My tendencies, especially out on the field, can become quite selfish.
20:58Show me.
20:59Show me what you can do.
21:01Go!
21:02Whoa!
21:04Good job!
21:05Having children, it was really like just a lightbulb moment.
21:09Go, Zell. I've got it to you.
21:11Ready?
21:13Oh!
21:15Once I understood you're not the most important person anymore,
21:18that was something that I could then bring into my game.
21:20Are you going backwards?
21:22You've got to go backwards.
21:23Ready?
21:24Ready?
21:24Go!
21:25As a leader and to be a better person as well.
21:29Oh, look at Lewis. He's catching us.
21:31They're coming!
21:32He loves the club and the team.
21:34He really is like a brotherhood and a family for him.
21:37They come home from an eight or nine hour day together and they're messaging each other non-stop at home.
21:42I'm like, what could you possibly have to talk about to each other?
21:45You've just seen each other all day long.
21:48We didn't go into the season thinking that this would be his last.
21:51He has said, like, you know, if they'll have me, I'm going to keep going.
21:57Oh!
22:00Everyone's replaceable.
22:02Your time will come where you're no longer required at the club or forced into retirement.
22:06And that's something that, you know, it's actually hard to deal with.
22:11I want to earn my spot.
22:12I want to make sure that I can keep influencing my teammates and helping them as much as I can.
22:18For now, it's nice, but no one's not going to be forever.
22:29Numbers at champion data show the Cats are far and away the best side.
22:34He'll get O'Connor come to him again and he'll get tagged.
22:37So I think that Reyna match-up is pretty cool.
22:39Yeah, so how can you manipulate those?
22:41Going into the grand final against Geelong.
22:43I'm concerned about thinking about a way to try and break that tag.
22:48If anything, that's still in front of my mind.
22:50Cam Reyna, who's had a quiet night.
22:52That first game, I probably tried to do it a little bit by myself.
22:55Cam Reyna, we can't have you disappearing for quarters, halves.
22:59Was it staging?
23:00Yes.
23:01This was disgraceful.
23:02Reyna, mate, you're a frog.
23:03F*** you, Cam Reyna!
23:07Reyna has had historically quiet first halves.
23:14The meeting with the inconsistency stuff, that kind of got under my skin a little bit.
23:17Like the amount of times I've done games, you look at the stat sheet and you go,
23:21gee, Cam Reyna is the man that needs to get busy.
23:23You know, you start believing what people are saying from the outside
23:26and then you start doubting yourself.
23:28It's always funny.
23:29Every kid dreams of being an AFL footballer, but when you start living it,
23:33you're like, wow, this is actually a lot harder than what I thought it was going to be.
23:35One, two, up, up, across, up, across.
23:39Going high in the draft as the number one draft pick,
23:41I feel like that pressure was on me instantly.
23:43Almost held by the number one draft pick, Cam Reyna.
23:46Couldn't quite hold it.
23:48People would ask me, are you feeling pressure?
23:49And I'd be like, nah, it's all good.
23:51But internally, definitely, I was feeling pressure and I felt like
23:55every time they speak about you, it's always the number one draft pick, this, this, this.
23:58Disappointment for the number one draft pick, Cam Reyna.
24:02I remember it not had a couple of bad games in a row.
24:05Cam Reyna, important kick.
24:08He's missed it.
24:10Lack of composure for the youngster.
24:12He wants to be the match winner, but he's missed it.
24:16Cam Reyna doesn't get the job done.
24:17She can't have that at AFL level.
24:20But my cousin Reece come up to me and I remember I started crying to him
24:23and I was like, Jesus, this is a game that I've grown up loving
24:27and it's taken a real toll on me.
24:29After missing that shot, being consoled there by the coach.
24:32Just taking in the pressure and embracing that.
24:35Everyone thinks they know what it is.
24:37And as an 18-year-old, I thought I knew what it was,
24:39but it can be difficult and it can be hard.
24:48Collingwood, right, like, the game.
24:50You really had to turn it around for a second there.
24:53That wasn't, that wasn't easy.
24:55That wasn't an easy time, was it?
24:58Oh, dearie me.
24:59I think this is the most childish thing that I have seen.
25:02Probably in my time in football, I just thought it was ridiculous.
25:05He went for his eyes.
25:06Yeah, there's his way not to get from it.
25:08He went for his eyes.
25:08It should be a big fine.
25:09And when I say big, I mean a really big fine.
25:12I knew something had happened because you called me from the change room.
25:16The more media outlets, the more social channels.
25:19You know, you get shit plastered, you know, by fans
25:23or then media outlets plastered shit everywhere on you.
25:25I was like, shut it down.
25:26You are going to get fucking annihilated here.
25:29Instagram's everything.
25:30Shut everything.
25:30Shut down.
25:31It's like, why? What do you mean?
25:32Like, is it that bad?
25:33You had like over 600 messages.
25:35And I read the first few and I was like,
25:37that's probably not good for me.
25:38All right, we're out.
25:39You were in distress when you got home as well.
25:41If everything was just put on me, great.
25:45Like, no worries.
25:46People think that we're all fair game.
25:48Yeah, that's right.
25:48Yeah, yeah, yeah.
25:49You were associated with him.
25:50You were a bad person as well.
25:51Yeah, and like, it's our family.
25:52Yeah.
25:53Like, I know they get so hyped up
25:55and that's what we love about our fans in the game,
25:56but things that fly your way are just...
25:59Yeah, it's borderline really inappropriate and pretty toxic
26:02and at the end of the day when we all have families
26:04and we're just trying to live just as much as you guys are.
26:08And I get booed by a lot of people, but...
26:11What do you do?
26:12You don't take it to heart.
26:13No, that's it, not anymore.
26:14Nah, they're booing you because they like you.
26:16That's how I see it.
26:17Is it?
26:17Is that how you change your mind?
26:19Well, Cam gets booed now and I have to tell him,
26:20nah, they love you, mate.
26:21They want you on your team.
26:23After the Geelong game, the qualifying final,
26:25Cam copped a lot of stick from the press,
26:29a lot of stick from the Geelong fans.
26:36And in Cam's case, the weight of expectation
26:38to be, you know, club changing.
26:40You know, it's a lot.
26:41So I just sent him a nice little message
26:43to sort of just remind him how much that he means to us.
26:47Oh, no.
26:47Good to see you, mate.
26:48Good to see you.
26:49Fuck.
26:50Cam is so important to the Lions.
26:55Have you been here before?
26:56Yeah, I think I have.
26:57I reckon I came here early days.
26:59Ready to go.
27:02So seriously, how did you pull up?
27:06Nah, it was all right.
27:07Not too bad.
27:08You know, it's more the shit of like,
27:12you just want to get back out there again next week and fix it up.
27:14Yeah.
27:15People only see what he does on the field, right,
27:17but I get the opportunity of spending a hell of a lot of time with him
27:20and he is just the most incredible human being.
27:23They can be tough, you know what it's like.
27:24And we know what you're like all the time,
27:26so whatever the trolls want to say about you,
27:28don't let it worry you.
27:29No, thank you very much.
27:30I appreciate that.
27:31Nah, you're all right.
27:32I couldn't give two shits as to what the media's saying,
27:36as to what the fans are saying.
27:37You know, maybe we don't fill them with the expectation of,
27:40you know, you're going to lift the club up.
27:41As I said, it's good to have people like you around
27:43where you can actually talk to,
27:44because you've been through shit like that before as well.
27:46Yeah, a couple of times.
27:48It's just a bit full on.
27:49Like, honestly, the support network of the club, your friends,
27:53and making sure, like, you only listen to what they...
27:59The people that really matter actually.
28:00Yeah.
28:01Yeah, that's all that matters.
28:02Yeah, correct.
28:03Just need him to just sort of understand that getting back to the basics
28:06where you don't need to be a superstar,
28:08you just need to get your role done,
28:09help the team in whatever way you needed to,
28:11at any given time.
28:12As long as we don't get caught up into that,
28:14as a team point of view and as individuals,
28:18like, it'll just bring us down.
28:19Keep it in house.
28:19Keep our bubble.
28:20We live in this bubble until our season comes to an end,
28:23and hopefully that season comes to an end
28:24with another dingle-dangle around our necks
28:25in the Premiership Cup.
28:26And if we do this and we keep this bubble tight...
28:29Yeah.
28:29I'm telling you now, we'll win it.
28:31That's literally all I'm focused on now,
28:32is just getting back out of there.
28:34I'll just keep checking in with you, mate.
28:35Alright?
28:35Thanks, brother. I appreciate it.
28:38I guess it was something personally that I had to work through
28:40and learn how to deal with myself.
28:42Like, I always bring it back to, you know,
28:44I'm doing something that I grew up dreaming of,
28:48and there's millions of people out there
28:50that would die to be in the position that I'm in.
28:52So just that switching mindset to be able to turn it to,
28:55alright, then this is my chance to turn it around.
29:11Grand final.
29:14Are you feeling more nervous about it?
29:17Uh...
29:18I more just want to get to the game.
29:21I want to get through my warm-up before the game.
29:24Once I get through that, I'll just...
29:26I'll probably cramp because I'm that wound up about it.
29:30Look, I'm struggling to eat this week.
29:32That's how it worked up I am.
29:36And once it gets done, well, fucking...
29:40weight off our shoulders, let's just fucking go for it.
29:42Yeah.
29:42Go hammer.
29:44Yeah, I don't know.
29:46Played you wrong.
29:48You just know they'll be ready for us.
29:51You just know they'll be ready for us.
29:53You still need a lot to go right.
29:56So we need to win.
30:01Let's go!
30:04Get off!
30:06Get off!
30:07The siren hasn't even sounded yet,
30:09but celebrations are already in full swing.
30:12At the annual Grand Final Parade.
30:17Brisbane's Pride will go on the line tomorrow
30:19as the Lions chase back-to-back AFL Premierships.
30:28I'm enjoying these moments a lot more.
30:32for the kids to be out there just soaking it all up.
30:37Just, yeah, somewhat almost emotional.
30:39Yeah.
30:58The AFL Grand Final now, just hours from the first bounce.
31:02The Cats and Lions are ready for their big moment.
31:10For more than a hundred years, what happens on Grand Final day just stops the country.
31:16And it was very much history in the making today.
31:20You feel it everywhere.
31:22It's our Super Bowl.
31:26It's our Champions League.
31:28Now Michael Locke, look at this boy go.
31:30This is where legends are born.
31:32Oh, yes, oh my God, you beauty!
31:35The moment cometh the champion.
31:37For clubs, it's about legacy.
31:39He's the proudest man in the land tonight.
31:42But for the players, like, that's about fulfilling a lifelong dream.
31:48And sometimes in a single moment.
31:50It's the man for all the characters.
31:54That's what I'm talking about!
31:56So that's super challenging to be able to carry that through your performance on the big stage.
32:15Going into the game, do you all have to be favourites?
32:19I think the Cats are 10-15% better.
32:22That's system and game plan and consistency.
32:26If you go back over the last 18 years, 14 of those, they have finished in the top four.
32:31The final series came full circle.
32:33Brisbane Lions and Geelong in that first qualifying final.
32:37The Lions were embarrassed.
32:45This is Goliath.
32:51Their last memory of us is what we dished up in the qualifying final.
32:55The improvement from the last time we played them has got to come from our hunger to win the footy.
32:59We've been bloody good at that the last couple of weeks, but we weren't the last time.
33:03All right, three in a row, let's get the job done.
33:06Cam Reina are a proven big game player.
33:09And they're going to need all of them to fire today.
33:15Five, four, three, two, one.
33:26The Brisbane Lions looking for back-to-back premierships here.
33:32Good teams play finals consistently.
33:36Great teams might win a flag.
33:40Immortal teams win back-to-back.
33:48It has all come down to this.
33:51The best of the best.
33:56And we are underway. Perfect bounce.
34:01Sorkin just trying to hack it out of the area.
34:03A little nervous early.
34:06Where's Cam?
34:11He's a magnet that the opposition own in on.
34:13So they would have a plan specifically for Cam Reina.
34:22Bayley inside 50.
34:24Right now!
34:26Couldn't hang on!
34:31Some cats with a bit of momentum.
34:38Straighten up!
34:40And go back!
34:43How shaky have Brisbane started.
34:45They're under the pump.
34:47Frustrating start for Cam Reina.
34:49Two threes against.
34:50Hasn't touched the footy yet.
34:53But just the frustration of this match-up.
34:55It's history repeating.
34:56Keep going for it, Cam.
34:57It'll come.
35:00He's on!
35:02Cam Reina has a shot!
35:04It's raining big moments!
35:06Oh!
35:06Andy!
35:09In a grand final.
35:10Haven't had scores level at half-time since 1909.
35:15We've been keeping a very close eye on the O'Connor-Reina battle.
35:19The tag is working because Cam Reina is the only player on the ground yet to touch the footing.
35:24He's got to do something.
35:25He cannot have those mental demons.
35:27He's got to get involved.
35:28Low scoring first half.
35:30You have no idea who's going to win this game.
35:34The one they need is Reina.
35:37It's underway here in the second half.
35:41That's Smith.
35:42There we go!
35:43Reina, brilliant!
35:45Rips the headband off.
35:47Bailey Smith.
35:51Blitz-Arms is getting to climb it out of tackle by Reina.
35:55Reina looks like he's in a mood.
35:57Advantage paid!
36:01That equals their biggest lead of the match.
36:05They're starting to feel at Brisbane.
36:07So are their fans.
36:09Zorka finds Will Ashcroft.
36:11And now Reina.
36:12Reina kicks the goal!
36:15That's so ready!
36:16In Brisbane!
36:22Had to gamble!
36:23Gave it straight to Reina!
36:25To Ashcroft!
36:27That is unreal!
36:30The silver half would not be any better.
36:34As Ashcroft's goal side.
36:36Go inside again.
36:37And McCluggage!
36:39McCluggage ramps it home!
36:42But they are hunting it down.
36:50Extraordinary second half has been put on here by the Brisbane Lions.
36:54A remarkable effort.
36:56And will be rewarded at the end of the day.
37:06The Brisbane Lions win back-to-back AFL Premierships.
37:12I just love the last quarter of Cam Reina.
37:15He did it with his defensive action.
37:18What about the leadership from the oldest man on the ground, Dane Zorka?
37:24What a performance this has been from the Brisbane Lions.
37:27Your soul, Becker.
37:28And the wrong one.
37:29Oh, here we go, Andy.
37:32Cam, well done, Cam.
37:35Oh, mate, unbelievable.
37:36I reckon that one was better than the last one.
37:37That's for you, Brucey!
37:39There you go.
37:41Nothing better. Thank you, Dane.
37:42Lodge got a kiss.
37:44It was unbelievable, like, honestly.
37:49I'm happy to keep proving everyone wrong. I love it.
37:52Oh, I really gave them a chance. It is amazing.
37:57I've got to make sure I do everything in my power to be a really big part of, hopefully, the
38:00success going forward as well.
38:01Yeah, it's my back and up in there, Brad.
38:04All of this team, their supporters, I like you so much, guys. These are the best.
38:10If won two Premierships, you're starting to put yourself in sort of rear air when it comes to AFL.
38:16Dane Zorka!
38:24I think I enjoy football a lot more now than what I did when I was younger.
38:27Cam Rayner!
38:29The hard work and the sacrifices you make, that's what makes all the rest of it so sweet.
38:34How you doing?
38:35I want to be just like you, man.
38:37I want to be just like you, man.
38:38I want to be like you.
38:39The winner of the Norm Smith medal for a second time is Will Ascroft.
38:54Chris Fagan could not have coped any better today.
38:59How good was that?
39:11My sister came out to the ground.
39:18Being able to share that moment with her and then jumping in the crowd and you've got your best friends
39:22and your family.
39:25All the way through the final series, there was a tag of like being the villain and I was like,
39:28I don't really care what anyone else thinks about me.
39:30The people that I care about, that's all that matters to me.
39:37It's kind of hard for me to say if I've lived up to the hype.
39:39I don't know, I guess it's for other people to decide, not for me.
39:48Back to back premierships, you start putting your team up in lights as one of the greatest sides in AFL
39:55history.
40:00I'm just so proud. I'm so proud.
40:11Dane Zorko, the 36 year old, isn't done yet after signing a one year contract extension that will hand him
40:17a shot at an even higher honour.
40:19I don't know if it's a dynasty until you win three, but I certainly want more of these moments and
40:23I'm going to be striving and doing everything I possibly can to get them.
40:26You just always wonder if you can still do it. I don't know.
40:30Because it's like I'm 36, there's no way a 36 year old should be doing this, right?
40:35Yeah, should never write off a champion.
40:59Literally, the
41:00I'm...
41:01Yeah, should never she be looking at shit too much as a botanical button?
41:17I'm sorry.
41:18You
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