The Brisbane Lions celebrated their recent premiership victory with exuberance, reflecting on the thrilling moments of the grand final and the arduous journeys many players undertook leading up to their triumph. Typically held at The Pullman Hotel, the festivities are anything but typical. There, players were all too happy to recall their triumph and injury coping strategies post record-breaking affair.
One key cog in the Lions’ success was Lachie Neale, who opened up this week on the remarkable recovery journey that saved his season. That means he committed a few hours each day over the course of weeks to his rehab. At the time though, he was in a hyperbaric chamber trying to follicularly regrow. Despite his efforts, Neale expressed uncertainty about being available for the upcoming Thursday match, saying, “A little bit dusty this morning, but pretty happy still.”
Kai Lohmann post-match condition was “pretty dusty” — though that didn’t stop him from being one of the highlights of the post-match celebrations. Alongside him, Darcy Wilmot and Josh Dunkley shone, embracing the making of history that created the heady atmosphere that followed the win.
While some players enjoyed the party, others like Cam Rayner were spotted in full kit early Sunday morning, embracing the celebratory spirit. The mood was joyous as Lions players Harris Andrews and Charlie Cameron wowed guests by taking turns on the DJ decks.
The day after the grand final, Oscar McInerney was still in a shin guard. From the sound of it, he almost had a tough time making it to Thursday. “It’s been a crazy 36 hours. The boys have now made it so that if I can keep the shin pad on till Thursday, they’ve got something to prove,” he said. “She’s already getting itchy. Unfortch, Thur is out for me. But we’ll stay the course.”
Not even a two-time premiership coach could shake Coach Chris Fagan from his cool. Drawing off his late-night experience from last year. This time around, he says, he is more confident about controlling his time.
Players rushed to communicate their excitement. They celebrated not only their personal accomplishment, but the shared happiness of their win. One player mentioned, “The thing I enjoyed the most was when Oscar McInerney and Darcy Gardiner got their medals. That was special. They carried the cup off the ground as well.”
