FOOTBALL
AFL GRAND FINAL
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
A NUMBER of local connections played on the biggest football stage of all during Saturday’s AFL Grand Final.
Righting their wrongs from last year’s tight Grand Final loss, the Brisbane Lions shocked all football fans by emphatically defeating minor premier Sydney to raise their first premiership cup since 2003.
Yarram’s Josh Dunkley was seen in the aftermath of the trophy presentations lying on the ground making snow angles in the confetti, basking in the fact he was now a two-time premiership player (firstly with the Bulldogs in 2016 in his first year of AFL).
The lockdown midfielder was a key recruit for the Lions going back to the 2022 trade period, and has now played in four grand finals including three out of the last four years.
Dunkley finished with 21 disposals and a game-high 11 tackles on the day.
One of the headlining stories heading into the Grand Final involved Lions key forward Joe Daniher and the possibility of a retirement following the big dance.
If it’s true, Daniher can ride off into the sunset proudly, knowing he was a key part of the Lions’ two-year run. He was possibly Brisbane’s best player in the 2023 Grand Final loss to Collingwood, and booted two goals in their blowout premiership victory.
Joe’s cousin Ben currently plays for Moe in the Gippsland League. Ben is the son of the legendary and ever-inspiring Neale Daniher, who was spotted wearing a Moe Lions scarf in the MCG crowd.
In a quirky aside, Brisbane player Darcy Wilmot broke the record previously held by Wonthaggi’s Jarryd Blair for quickest player to reach 10 AFL finals.
Wilmot, who hijacked the microphone on stage in celebration after the Lions premiership, took two years and 27 days to get to the landmark. Blair took two years and 80 days to do so for Collingwood.
Bunyip’s Tom Papley kicked a goal in the first quarter for Sydney, but like many of his teammates, was rarely sighted after the opening term.
Dunkley has maintained close links to the Yarram region, where his dad and former Sydney 200 gamer Andrew lives.
Andrew was still playing first grade cricket for Yarram last season, while Josh is part of a syndicate that owns the Woodside Beach Hotel.
The Wildcats won the North Gippsland Football-Netball League senior flag this season, and this year’s Melbourne Cup Trophy will be on display at the Woodside Pub next week.
With an AFL cup now also connected, Woodside could have more premierships than population.
Postscript: Former Express editor Gregor Mactaggart was especially happy after the Grand Final, being an old Fitzroy supporter and passionate Lions fan.
