AFL grand final 2024 LIVE updates: Swans draw first blood, young ...

Logan McDonald has been subbed off for the Swans. Braeden Campbell replaces him. McDonald came into the game with a dodgy ankle.

Charlie Cameron has kicked the first score of the third quarter. A behind.

Hayden McLean of the Swans, Logan McDonald of the Swans and Harris Andrews of the Lions compete for the ball.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

The second half is away. The Swans need to get busy.

This has been a crazy season of comebacks, so let’s hope the trend continues.

They have two quarters to reel back a 45-point lead.

Logan McDonald is one who needs to lift. One kick to half-time.

This Lions lead isn’t the biggest seen in at half-time in the AFL/VFL grand final but it sure ranks among the leaders.

The Swans will need to do everything right in the second half if they are to come back from here.

The Lions have one paw on the premiership cup after a complete obliteration of the Swans and seven consecutive goals in the second quarter.

The Lions’ Charlie Cameron acknowledges the crowd after kicking a goal.Credit: Getty Images

The momentum out of the midfield – led by the veteran champ Lachie Neale and his apprentice, Will Ashcroft – meant the Lions shredded an underwhelming Sydney, who have shown little of their renowned fight.

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The Lions’ pressure has been superior all over the field and in attack they are far more threatening than the Swans.

Young forward Kai Lohmann has been a livewire, as has another youngster, Logan Morris.

The domination is reflected in two numbers – the Lions have 14 marks inside 50 to Sydney’s two and Brisbane have owned the footy with 143 uncontested disposals to 76.

For the Swans to have a prayer, Isaac Heeney (smothered by Josh Dunkley to half-time), Chad Warner and Errol Gulden need to produce special efforts. They have been dismal and completely outgunned.

They will need early goals in the third quarter. To date, the shape of this game is more like the 2022 grand final than last year. Brodie Grundy has won the footy but had a negligible impact against the less capable Darcy Fort.

This is an absolute disaster for the Swans.

When I saw Joe Daniher monster Brodie Grundy in the ruck, I had a flashback to 2022, reminding me of the way Tom Hickey was manhandled by another part-timer, Tom Hawkins.

Swans fans also gathered to watch the first-half horror unfold on a giant screen at the SCG.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Nothing has gone right, none of the Swans’ stars are influencing the game, and it’s hard to imagine the Lions letting them back into the match from here.

They’ve just walked off the field after a little pep talk from their injured skipper Callum Mills. They sure need inspiration from somewhere.

Kai Lohmann: Three goals in the first half of a grand final is making him the Norm Smith favourite at the break. He is the most dangerous forward on the ground and playing like he belongs on the MCG on grand final day.

Brisbane Lions’ Kai Lohmann.Credit: Eddie Jim

Lachie Neale: The lion-hearted midfielder is not only winning first touches at centre bounces, he even took off on a two-bounce run to set up a Lions goal. He has been outstanding.

Hugh McCluggage: Started with a bang with eight touches and a goal before most had settled. A cool head.

Errol Gulden: The outside wingman has hardly been sighted and they are desperately seeking his run. Not the worst but it’s up to Gulden, Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner to give them any chance.

Errol Gulden of the Swans.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Sydney’s tall forwards: Logan McDonald, Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean look completely overwhelmed with just three marks and no goals between them. Admittedly the ball hasn’t been down there often, but they are being so dominated the Lions’ midfielders are able to run forward with impunity knowing they will rebound.

WOW. The mood is subdued to say the least in the Swans contingent of the crowd. What is it with them and grand finals?

The players got a big encouraging cheer as they ran off for their half-time break – and you’d hope that could give them a lift.

This has shades of Geelong 2022 all over again.

Neutral fans won’t be happy, either, as they wanted a close one. But the Brisbane fans are doing the heavily lifting of cheering, and doing it very well.

There’s a lot of loud, maybe a little bit tipsy, chatter going on as they wait for more great moments from Kai Lohmann in the third quarter.

Let’s hope for a much closer second half, hey?

Swans fans are very much not hoping for a repeat of 2022’s loss.Credit: Dean Sewell