The Brisbane Lions have laid the platform for another AFL dynasty after securing back-to-back premierships with a crushing 47-point win over Geelong in the grand final.
Will Ashcroft (32 disposals) and Charlie Cameron (four goals) starred when it mattered most in the Lions' 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) victory in front of 100,022 fans on Saturday at the MCG.
Father-son product Ashcroft was awarded the Norm Smith Medal as best afield in the season decider for the second straight year.
Co-captain Harris Andrews and Dayne Zorko were brilliant in defence, as Brisbane rubber-stamped themselves as the most successful club this century with a fifth flag.
Geelong and Hawthorn have four each.
The Lions' latest success could be the making of another dominant team under Chris Fagan, similar to the Leigh Matthews-led premiership juggernaut of 2001-03.
Fagan took over in 2017 when Brisbane were at their lowest ebb and has since steered the club to seven straight finals series, three consecutive season deciders and two flags.
"We've done it the hard way," Fagan said.
"Ever so gradually we've worked our way to the top, and the last few years have been pretty special."
The 64-year-old admitted he thought the ultimate success might have been beyond the Lions after they lost the qualifying final to Geelong three weeks ago.
"It was a comprehensive beating that we received, but it seemed to wake us up," Fagan said.
"We responded really well, and probably the last three weeks we've played the best footy we have all year.
"I was even a little bit worried today that we might've run our race coming into this game, but it wasn't the case.
"They're just an amazing group that keep on keeping on."
Nothing split the two best sides in the competition in the first half, with scores locked at the main break for the first time in a grand final since 1909.
Brisbane gun Lachie Neale started as the sub on his early return from a calf injury and was activated for the second half, tallying 17 disposals, seven clearances and one goal.
The two-time Brownlow Medal winner slotted one of three crucial majors late in the third quarter - Cameron kicked the others - as the Lions seized control of a tight contest in the space of six minutes.
Geelong held the lead 18 minutes into the third term, but Brisbane kicked eight of the next nine goals to run away with the flag.
Fagan agonised over a decision on whether Neale would play - and for how long - but was vindicated in the end.
"I was lying in bed last night thinking, 'I'm either going to look like a total idiot or a total genius'," the coach said.
"If we had've lost and he'd only played a half we'd probably be bemoaning the fact that we went about it in that way.
"It felt right to do it at halftime. I was pretty grateful that we were equal (on the scoreboard), and I thought he'd come on and bring great energy in the second half, which is exactly what he did."
Hugh McCluggage (25 touches, four goals), Jaspa Fletcher (29 touches) and Zac Bailey (23) were also influential for the Lions.
Bailey had 1.6 to his name at one stage, but finished with three majors.
The Lions played most of the second half a man down after Brandon Starcevich suffered concussion, with Sam Marshall having already made way for Neale.
Geelong speedster Max Holmes (33 disposals) and Ollie Dempsey (four goals) fought all day for the losing side.
Coleman Medal winner Jeremy Cameron was held goalless by Darcy Gardiner and struggled with a suspected broken right forearm, after he was hurt under friendly fire from Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield before halftime.
It was Geelong's second loss from four grand finals under 15-year coach Chris Scott, and a third in seven deciders this century.
"It's difficult for us right at the moment, but in the fullness of time when you sit back and think about the quality of team that beat us in this grand final, it might ease the pain a little bit," Scott said.
"There were a lot of things known and unknown that were really challenging for us this year.
"To be perfectly frank, there were times where it just seemed unlikely that we would be able to overcome those obstacles to give ourselves a chance today."
