Jaspa Fletcher vividly recalls the hush which emanated across the Gabba when his close friend, Will Ashcroft, fell to the turf in agony, his visions of a debut premiership decimated.
His fellow Lions’ father-son draftee had announced himself as one of the AFL’s most enticing midfield prospects, before a ruptured ACL ended his campaign.
He would not return until two months before this year’s finals, and Fletcher battled Collingwood in last year’s grand final defeat without him.
Will Ashcroft, Jaspa Fletcher and Charlie Cameron celebrate for the Lions.Credit: Getty
But the 20-year-old sensed those hardships would be Ashcroft’s making.
Predictably, he was mesmerising when he returned to the field.
As Ashcroft braces for a decisive clash with Sydney’s Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden, Fletcher declared him the game-breaker missing from Brisbane’s heartbreak at the same hurdle.
“I actually remember the day, I was obviously playing, and I was pretty sad to see it happen and to see who it was,” Fletcher recalls.
“But I know how motivated and determined he is, and if he puts his mind to anything he can do anything.
“Speaking to him, he had to build it up over a couple of games, and once he’s hit this finals series being the freshest of a lot of people he was going to be unreal.
“He’s going to be huge and is built for the big stage.”
Carnage behind the making of Brisbane’s Fearless Five
While memories of last year’s four-point defeat to the Magpies still burn, there is something different about 2024.
Fletcher and Ashcroft form part of the Lions’ fearless five – all in the fledgling stages of their careers, who bring an air of confidence and swagger despite their tender years.
Darcy Wilmot joined Fletcher on that same fateful day in Melbourne.
Kai Lohmann was cruelled of a shot at the flag through injury (shoulder), while Logan Morris had yet to make his debut.
Fletcher warned this would not be their last grand final visit, as they plotted a club dynasty.
Jaspa Fletcher will play in his second grand final, just two years into his career.Credit: Getty
“We probably had a lot of moments where we could’ve been better [last year]. Loges, Kai and Will, we’ve seen how good they are, so to have them out there this year on grand final day is going to be pretty handy,” Fletcher says.
“This club has a great culture, that’s the first thing I noticed when I trained in the summer of 2022.
“There are a lot of young kids, and we enjoy playing together, so hopefully we can all stick together and do some pretty special things.”
The fledgling quintet represents the Lions’ future; a cohort head of football Danny Daly believes long-term success can be built around.
But it is a collective ascent which, if not for a series of devastating setbacks, may never have eventuated.
Keidean Coleman, Tom Doedee, Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Gardiner all endured season-ending knee injuries, opening the door for the rookie class.
While Daly admits the circumstances were crushing, it reshaped their future planning under coach Chris Fagan.
“I think so, and Fages has been very loyal to his playing group,” Daly says, when asked if they had the makings of one-club players.
“At some point you’ve got to give these young guys an opportunity to play, and see how they go at AFL level.
“We shouldn’t be afraid to put these kids in from time to time, regardless of injuries or not, and just to see how they go.
“But you also find out a little bit more about them, and I think that’s probably the blueprint for us moving forward.”
The buddy system
But the five were never going to make a statement without preparation. So, as Daly explains, Brisbane’s buddy system was introduced.
Every senior member was required to take their younger teammates under their wing.
They attended their reserve-grade contests, poured through video footage, and ensured they were confident they belonged in the AFL.
Charlie Cameron of the Lions celebrates kicking a goal with Kai Lohmann of the Lions.Credit: via Getty Images
In turn, they have stood up when needed.
Fletcher’s semi-final goal against the Giants overturned a quiet elimination final against Carlton, and transformed the 44-point comeback from a hope to inevitability under Lachie Neale’s tutelage.
“He’s been absolutely massive. He gets around me especially, and he’s someone I can definitely lean on when I’ve had a tough one,” Fletcher says.
“A lot of teams put a lot of work on him, so to ask him how he copes with that and what he does to get himself back on the front foot is only advice that’s going to help me as well.”
Lohmann and Morris, meanwhile, attached themselves to the hips of Charlie Cameron and Joe Daniher, while Wilmot moulded himself into one of the most underrated backfield ball movers, reaping the rewards of Dayne Zorko’s move to halfback.
Lasso’s law
Now, their greatest test awaits.
Mistakes will come, but the emerging brigade has been quick to respond from their misgivings, drawing on a famed Ted Lasso philosophy: be a goldfish.
Lohmann has been the Lions’ finest exponent of this law, casting aside a pair of shots at goal with the game on the line to produce defining moments against Greater Western Sydney and Geelong.
It is a mentality which inspired a resurgence from their early season failings.
Winning just two of their opening seven games, the youngsters needed to keep faith. Fagan’s message was simple: have a short memory.
Only three sides have a more inferior shot accuracy (46.8 per cent), yet Brisbane refuse to stop firing – making more attempts on goal than any outfit (28.5).
Saturday’s clash with the Swans will reveal how resilient this group had become since Collingwood left them shattered.
“It really teaches a lesson to yourself in how tough and resilient you are, and what works to get yourself out of the downs and how to keep yourself level-headed when you’re up in the highs,” Fletcher says.
“He kept it pretty simple – just back yourself and be a goldfish. You’re in this team because you’re good enough, so go out there and back yourself and trust what you do.”
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