Lightning can strike twice. In a good way, when it comes to Brisbane’s teams winning premierships. And when your team wins, so does your city.
What a week it has been for Brisbane.
It all started on the last Saturday in September at the MCG, when the Brisbane Lions became back-to-back premiers. Will Ashcroft, a 21-year-old Queenslander became a back-to-back Norm Smith Medallist. Chris Fagan, the AFL Coaches’ Association coach of the year, led an entire city to adopt Ted Lasso’s “Believe” mantra. Being there to experience a roaring MCG on Grand final day is special, but when your team is involved, you are invested. The day is a rollercoaster of nerves, hope, excitement, and anticipation. There is pride in the club and in all those people who have worked so hard to get the club to this moment in time. Arriving in Melbourne, the signs of a Lions’ win are everywhere. When the Uber from Melbourne airport picks you up playing John Denver’s “Take me home, Country roads”. Then the way Lachie Neale held onto the Cup at the parade.
Harris Andrews’ brother has flown in as a surprise. It’s a relief to get to the G and take your seat amongst 100,000 others. “Up there Cazaly”, the siren, the first bounce, we are underway. Maroon, blue and gold. The intensity. The free kick count. The goals and behinds. The subbing and stats. All even at half time. The heart is a concern at this point, and I don’t have heart issues. Fagan makes the greatest tactical substitution in the history of grand finals and by the end of the third quarter, the premiership quarter, the Lions are on top. The crowd is wild and chanting LI-ONS. The siren signals another premiership, and we celebrate. As deputy chair of the club, I love this moment, witnessing our people- our staff, our players, our coaches, the families of our players and our own families, along with fans, celebrate. The joy and awe and delight is everywhere and it is contagious.
Sunday, we return home to a city celebrating one premiership and throwing its collective support behind the magnificent Broncos who are in the midst of one of the most memorable finals campaigns in NRL history. Suncorp literally rocks to its foundations. No one has “Mondayitis” in Brisbane. It will be a fantastic week. Another highlight this week was to attend the launch of local Brisbane writer, Trent Dalton’s new book, “Gravity Never Let Me Go” and see Trent speak of his love of Brisbane and the Broncos, Brisbane throwing its arms around him growing up and him throwing his arms around the Broncos as an unapologetic fan from way back. Just when we thought it couldn’t get much more exciting it does. The city is a sea of maroon, workplaces decorated, jerseys on. Brisbane Strong. With school holidays, kids are playing in parks and there are balls of all codes flying, along with the quips and try and goal celebrations mimicking those they have seen on the weekend. I’ve spotted kids wearing mixed Lions and Broncos team kit.
King Wally is on the plane with the Broncos faithful singing “let’s go Broncos.” The afternoon starts with an electrifying NRLW Grand Final, featuring tough, highly skilled female athletes on both sides, which ends with a Broncos win. The legendary Ali Brigginshaw and Tamika Upton lift the trophy. And then it all ends with a ripping NRL grand final and another Broncos win, featuring a dominant performance for the ages by the young whiz and Churchill medal winner, Reece Walsh. There are brutal knocks, knock ons and white-knuckle moments in this intense match. There are game changing injuries on both sides and there is spirit. Our friends at the game are messaging and calling. They are in tears. The potency and passion of the Brisbane fans is on full display at a packed Sydney stadium and throughout Brisbane at the spiritual home of Caxton St, and at bars, homes and pubs across the state. The former Olympic Stadium in Sydney looks like a Broncos home game.
Brisbane, the 2032 host city, is the number one sports city. A city of champions. A city of supporters. A city of pride. When your team wins the premiership, your city does too. These teams are ambassadors for our values, our spirit and pride, which are all wrapped in maroon. Whether a Lions or Broncos jersey, they say Brisbane. One city winning national titles of different major sports is very rare. Brisbane shares this rarefied air with cities such as Tampa Bay (Lightning and Bucaneers in 2021), LA (Lakers and Dodgers in 2020) and Las Vegas (Knights and Aces in 2023). The benefits aren’t just feeling happy as a city- they are also economic, with our national brand being elevated through the spillover image of health, excellence, and cohesion translating to investment, awareness, consumer spending and migration. For the teams, there is the golden opportunity to continue to build community outcomes through this raised visibility, for our causes, community sports and our kids.
Brisbane is a city built on courage, energy, and ambition. This was certainly a week for the ages. Folklore.
About the Author
Professor Sarah Kelly, renowned for her global academic, leadership and governance expertise across education and sports management, drives forward-thinking initiatives to the world stage. A distinguished ‘prac-academic’, commercial lawyer and champion for inclusivity, Sarah leads with innovation and insight. For exclusive updates on the latest in sport, management, leadership, education, innovation, and research, subscribe at DrSarahKelly.com.au