- Superstitious fans now insist Brisbane Lions will win the flag
- Follow Lachie Neale winning mind games against Dane Rampe
- Some fans believe that whoever holds the trophy the longest will win the grand final.
If superstitions are any guide, Brisbane Lions fans can start celebrating – their team is set to win the AFL grand final on Saturday at the MCG.
It follows captain Lachie Neale making sure he keeps his hand on the premiership trophy a little longer than his opposite number Dane Rampe during the grand final parade in Melbourne on Friday.
Not that the Swans defender was worried, declaring that he doesn’t believe in old wives’ tales.
But some football fans are convinced that whoever has the silverware last will be the one to lift it this weekend.
Almost 12 months ago, Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews lifted the trophy with Collingwood rival Darcy Moore, and the Magpies captain ensured he won the mental battle.
After Collingwood won last year’s epic decider by four points, the moment shook Andrews.
“To be honest, it’s haunted me all offseason,” he said in March.
‘Collingwood made a big deal of holding the cup, being the last to drop it in the grand final parade. “It was a little awkward being on stage because we were both standing there and I’m not really sure what’s going on.”
If superstitions are any guide, the Brisbane Lions are set to win the AFL Grand Final on Saturday at the MCG (pictured opposite captains Lachie Neale (left) and Dane Rampe)
It follows Lachie Neale ensuring he keeps his hand on the premiership trophy a little longer than his opposite number Dane Rampe (pictured during Friday’s Grand Final parade).
Swans fans made their voices heard at the 2024 AFL Grand Final Parade in Melbourne on Friday (pictured)
Perhaps that was why Andrews didn’t hesitate to let his partner Neale take on the role this time.
Meanwhile, Lions coach Chris Fagan is claiming “equal dogs” status ahead of the AFL grand final, saying his team and Sydney are 50-50 for the premiership.
This comes despite the Swans finishing the regular season as minor premiers, while the Lions were fifth.
“I think we’re the same…we both came into the game with high hopes,” Fagan said.
“There are two really in-form teams making it to the grand final. “I see it as a real 50-50 battle.”
Rampe, who will captain the Bloods after Callum Mills was ruled out with a hamstring injury on Wednesday, has played in three previous grand finals in which he lost.
He doesn’t even contemplate a similar result on Saturday.
“What I’ve learned through the losses I’ve had is that no one really cares about your story,” Rampe said.
‘It would be fantastic for us to come back and win after (the loss at Geelong) in 2022.
It would (also) be great for Brisbane to come back and make amends for last year.
But they don’t care about our history and we don’t care about theirs. “That’s the way it is: we have to go out and make it happen ourselves.”