2024 AFL Grand Final: Sydney, Brisbane profiles ahead of epic MCG decider

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2024 AFL Grand Final: Sydney, Brisbane profiles ahead of epic MCG decider

The AFL’s final survivors are set to do battle one last time on Saturday as Sydney and Brisbane vie for a coveted premiership.

Here are the clubs’ records and each players’ profile.

SYDNEY V BRISBANE HEAD-TO-HEAD

Historical record (since 1997): 26-17

Ladder position: Swans: 1st Lions: 5th

Road to grand final: Swans: QF win over Giants, PF win over Power. Lions: EF win over Blues, SF win over Giants, PF win over Cats.

This year’s meetings: Round 1 – SYD 8.8 (56) to BRI 12.9 (81) Round 19 – BRI 11.13 (79) to SYD 11.11 (77)

Average games experience: Swans: 78.4 Lions: 78.8

Average age: Swans: 24.6 Lions: 24.9

TEAMSSWANS

Dane Rampe

Age: 34

Position: Back pocket

Games: 250

Goals: 9

Grand finals played: 1

Dane Rampe has become one of the Swan’s most essential cogs in defence, combining rebounding speed with lock-down defence.

Tom McCartin

Age: 24

Position: Fullback

Games: 131

Goals: 28

Grand finals played: 1

Tom McCartin is likely to be given the lockdown role on Eric Hipwood and spend much of his day deep in defence.

Nick Blakey

Age: 24

Position: Back pocket

Games: 127

Goals: 39

Grand finals played: 1

Nicknamed ‘lizard’, Nick Blakey is one of the Swans’ prime ball users, leading attacks from the defensive half.

Jake Lloyd

Age: 31

Position: Half-back

Games: 248

Goals: 42

Grand finals played: 1

Jake Lloyd is a ball magnet off half-back that can also run through the engine room to change looks.

Harry Cunningham

Age: 30

Position: Half-back

Games: 207

Goals: 52

Grand finals played: 0

Could have a tough day with a potential match-up with Charlie Cameron.

Lewis Melican

Age: 27

Position: Half-back

Games: 83

Goals: 2

Grand finals played: 0

Lewis Melican may be the man to go with Joe Daniher, as he can match his up-field range.

Camera IconLewis Melican. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

James Jordon

Age: 23

Position: Wing

Games: 90

Goals: 26

Grand finals played: 1

James Jordon made the move to the Swans in the off-season after winning a flag at Melbourne and offers plenty of pace.

Chad Warner (West ***********)

Age: 23

Position: Centre

Games: 84

Goals: 77

Grand finals played: 1

The West Aussie has become one of the league’s premium young midfielders and turned the ship in a crucial qualifying final win.

Oliver Florent

Age: 26

Position: Wing

Games: 167

Goals: 49

Grand finals played: 1

Ollie Florent rarely misses a game and offers value on the inside and outside of the contest.

Luke Parker

Age: 31

Position: Half-forward

Games: 292

Goals: 210

Grand finals played: 1

Luke Parker has been a stalwart for the Swans and offers a calm head under pressure that has already been invaluable in this finals. series.

Logan McDonald (West ***********)

Age: 22

Position: Half-forward

Games: 69

Goals: 93

Grand finals played: 0

Logan McDonald was the heart-break story in 2022, dropped for the grand final where the Swans were smashed by Geelong.

Errol Gulden

Age: 22

Position: Half-forward

Games: 92

Goals: 69

Grand finals played: 1

Errol Gulden has become a bonafide star for Sydney, capable of lifting his side to victory.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconErrol Gulden. Credit: Matt King/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Tom Papley

Age: 28

Position: Forward pocket

Games: 184

Goals: 293

Grand finals played:

Tom Papley had a ****** grand final day in 2022, but the lethal small forward is raring to exact revenge against the Lions.

Joel Amartey

Age: 25

Position: Full Forward

Games: 52

Goals: 73

Grand finals played: 0

A leaping forward, Joel Amartey doesn’t always produce big numbers, but he can produce in the clutch, like the winning goal in the qualifying final.

Will Hayward

Age: 25

Position: Forward pocket

Games: 162

Goals: 199

Grand finals played: 1

Will Hayward is set to kick his 200th goal on grand final day and will spend some time on the wings.

Brodie Grundy

Age: 30

Position: Ruck

Games: 219

Goals: 72

Grand finals played: 1

If Brodie Grundy gets to collect a premiership medallion on Saturday, it will be the ultimate redemption story for the ruckman at his third club.

Isaac Heeney

Age: 28

Position: Follower

Games: 200

Goals: 260

Grand finals played: 1

Isaac Heeney is the best player on a Sydney team full of stars and will need to be given attention.

James Rowbottom

Age: 24

Position: Follower

Games: 116

Goals: 34

Grand finals played: 1

James Rowbottem has a handy habit of popping up with handy goals and is a good pressure player.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconJames Rowbottom. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Matt Roberts

Age: 21

Position: Defender

Games: 29

Goals: 3

Grand finals played: 0

A young man playing his first grand final, Matt Roberts will be able to play without the scars of 2022.

Braeden Campbell

Age: 22

Position: Centre

Games: 70

Goals: 16

Grand finals played: 1

Braeden Campbell uses his left foot to great effect and can swing forward and back when needed.

Justin McInerney

Age: 24

Position: Follower

Games: 91

Goals: 37

Grand finals played: 1

Justin McInerney will start from the bench but will be in the thick of the action, going hard at the footy.

Hayden McLean

Age: 25

Position: Forward

Games: 78

Goals: 75

Grand finals played: 1

Hayden McLean was sent forward at the start of last season and has become a handy leading target for the midfield to spot up.

Robbie Fox

Age: 31

Position: Half back

Games: 104

Goals: 14

Grand finals played: 1

Robbie Fox is a rebounding half back with strong running ability that can also spend time forward.

LIONS

Dayne Zorko

Age: 35

Position: Back pocket

Games: 276

Goals: 233

Grand finals played: 1

Dayne Zorko has defied his age in this finals campaign and will provide a vital rebound game for the Lions.

Harris Andrews

Age: 27

Position: Fullback

Games: 211

Goals: 11

Grand finals played: 1

Harris Andrews is an intercept machine but will also likely spend time locking down Oscar McDonald.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconHarris Andrews. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Conor McKenna

Age: 28

Position: Back pocket

Games: 122

Goals: 27

Grand finals played: 1

The Irishman provides an abundance of pace from the Lions that can help apply pressure and rebound.

Darcy Wilmot

Age: 20

Position: Half-back

Games: 55

Goals: 6

Grand finals played: 1

Darcy Wilmot made his debut during the 2022 finals campaign and is no stranger to September action.

Jack Payne

Age: 24

Position: Half-back

Games: 67

Goals: 2

Grand finals played: 0

Jack Payne remarkably overcame an MCL concern to play in the preliminary final and is the lockdown defender that allows Harris Andrews to intercept.

Ryan Lester

Age: 32

Position: Half-back

Games: 206

Goals: 47

Grand finals played: 1

Ryan Lester is one of the Lions’ most experienced heads and co-ordinates well from defence.

Jaspa Fletcher

Age: 20

Position: Wing

Games: 40

Goals: 13

Grand finals played: 1

The son of a **** who played for St Kilda, Geelong, Brisbane and Fremantle, Jaspa Fletcher is into a second grand final in his first two seasons and has shown he has talent to *****.

Will Ashcroft

Age: 20

Position: Centre

Games: 30

Goals: 10

Grand finals played: 0

Will Ashcroft missed out on last year’s finals campaign after rupturing his ACL but is quickly becoming one of the club’s most important midfielders.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconWill Ashcroft. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Hugh McCluggage

Age: 26

Position: Wing

Games: 181

Goals: 115

Grand finals played: 1

Hugh McCluggage has found form at the right time and offers the Lions another dimension when he’s *******.

Cam Rayner

Age: 24

Position: Half-forward

Games: 139

Goals: 134

Grand finals played: 1

Cam Raynor was at his best in the preliminary final, lifting the Lions to another second-half comeback and will be hoping for more of the same.

Joe Daniher

Age: 30

Position: Half-forward

Games: 203

Goals: 393

Grand finals played: 1

Joe Daniher is much-maligned by the fans but is one of the few forwards that actually gets better under pressure, and he proved it by covering the ruck in the preliminary final as well as two late clutch goals.

Jarrod Berry

Age: 26

Position: Half-forward

Games: 159

Goals: 63

Grand finals played: 1

Jarrod Berry provides an important link between ******* and defence with good pace and decent ball delivery.

Charlie Cameron (West ***********)

Age: 30

Position: Forward pocket

Games: 228

Goals: 403

Grand finals played: 1

It has not been fan-favourite Charlie Cameron’s best season but the small forward is always dangerous and almost always due a bag of goals.

Eric Hipwood

Age: 27

Position: Full forward

Games: 176

Goals: 261

Grand finals played: 1

Eric Hipwood is a good foil for Joe Daniher, but he will be hoping to increase his impact up forward on grand final day.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconEric Hipwood. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Zac Bailey

Age: 24

Position: Forward pocket

Games: 139

Goals: 143

Grand finals played: 1

Zac bailey can rotate between the midfield and forward line and loves goals on the run.

Darcy Fort

Age: 30

Position: Ruck

Games: 35

Goals: 17

Grand finals played: 0

Darcy Fort has been given a dream call-up after No.1 ruck Oscar McInerney dislocated his shoulder in the preliminary final.

Josh Dunkley

Age: 27

Position: Follower

Games: 166

Goals: 73

Grand finals played: 1

Another player at his second club, Josh Dunkley is a running machine on the outside and can be hard-nosed on the inside.

Lachie Neale

Age: 31

Position: Follower

Games: 271

Goals: 128

Grand finals played: 2

The dual Brownlow medallist is desperate for a flag after a losing grand final with Fremantle and Brisbane, plus a premiership would cement is place among the Lions’ greats.

Kai Lohmann

Age: 21

Position: Forward

Games: 34

Goals: 33

Grand finals played: 0

Kai Lohmann came alive in 2024, kicking 32 goals, including a few vital ones, in the last quarter of the preliminary final.

Logan Morris

Age: 19

Position: Forward

Games: 18

Goals: 22

Grand finals played: 0

Logan Morris has had a debut season to remember and provides a strong pair of hands in the forward line.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconLogan Morris. Credit: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Brandon Starcevich (West ***********)

Age: 25

Position: Half-back

Games: 117

Goals: 7

Grand finals played: 1

Brandon Starcevich has become an important defender for the Lions with a unique blend of courage, high marking and pin-point ball use.

Callum Ah Chee (West ***********)

Age: 26

Position: Forward

Games: 142

Goals: 71

Grand finals played: 1

The West *********** has come of age in this finals series at his second club and will be hoping to emulate what Collingwood’s Bobby Hill did against them last year to win a Norm Smith.

Noah Answerth

Age: 25

Position: Back pocket

Games: 70

Goals: 2

Grand finals played: 0

Set for his first grand final, Noah Answerth will have his hands full with the Swans’ small forwards.

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