10 under-the-radar storylines to follow in the 2024 AFL Grand Final

The 2024 AFL Grand Final is almost here and it can be dissected from infinite angles.

From the storied history of both teams, their VFL legacy as Fitzroy and South Melbourne respectively and the relocation experiments to their successes across the AFL era.

Here are 10 storylines to keep an eye on this Saturday that may fly somewhat under the radar:

The Brodie Grundy sliding doors

This is the least under-the-radar of them, but it remains wild that Brodie Grundy was ousted from Collingwood for salary cap reasons, wound up at Melbourne – who picked Josh Schache as an unused substitute over him in a Semi Final – and now finds himself as potentially the premiership ruckman at the Swans.

It remains one of the wilder sliding doors moments in recent AFL history – are the Swans here if not for the exact sequence of events that led to Grundy playing for three clubs in three seasons?

Is this Luke Parker’s swansong?

It is heavily rumoured that Luke Parker will be departing Sydney for North Melbourne in the trade period, with the Roos public in their desire to lure him and the veteran Swan seemingly open to a move to extend his career.

Parker started the season on the outer at the Swans, before a suspension saw him ruled out for another chunk of the season. He has played a role for Sydney as a deep forward, but after 293 games and captaining the club, could this be his final moments in the red and white?

The kids are alright

Experience isn’t everything and both teams have relied heavily on their youth to get to this point.

The Lions will bring Logan Morris, Jaspa Fletcher, Will Ashcroft, Darcy Wilmot and Kai Lohmann into this decider – all are 21 or under.

The Swans meanwhile have a huge reliance on players 23 and under, including Errol Gulden, Chad Warner, Logan McDonald, Braeden Campbell and Matt Roberts, while James Rowbottom just turned 24.

Home grown Swans

From Sydney’s Preliminary Final side, only Grundy and James Jordon have come from other teams. Is the trade period overrated? Is this simply the power of the Swans Academy? Bit of both?

At the very least, it speaks to some incredible list management, particularly when only Dane Rampe at 34 and Parker at 31 look like they’re approaching the end of their careers.

Brisbane meanwhile have Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley, Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron, Callum Ah Chee and Connor McKenna as those they’ve brought in from other clubs – and potentially Darcy Fort.

A pretty important group of players. We’re looking at two very different list philosophies.

Lachie Neale’s potential resume

Lachie Neale is building one of the great resumes of the era. He’s already a two-time Brownlow Medallist, Leigh Matthews Trophy winner, AFLCA Player of the Year, four-time All-Australian, five-time best and fairest winner and three-time Ross Glendinning Medallist.

If he adds premiership captain to that list, it’ll be hard to top for modern day midfielders.

Josh Dunkley’s double draft day revenge?

Josh Dunkley entered the 2015 National Draft father-son eligible to Sydney. The Western Bulldogs bid on him at pick 25 and the Swans opted not to match it, the first time a father-son bid was not matched under the new rules.

He would quickly get his revenge as a Bulldog, playing in the 2016 Grand Final win against Sydney.

Fast forward to 2024 and he has the chance to deny the Swans yet again in another Grand Final.

There can’t be many unmatched father-sons out there who have won a flag against the team that ignored them? Let alone someone who has done it twice.

The fallout from missing out

We see this every year. Players miss out on selection in the Grand Final and ultimately look elsewhere.

Taylor Adams, funnily enough, could fall into this category two years in a row.

At the Swans, could someone like Peter Ladhams or Angus Sheldrick look for greater opportunities?

Brisbane meanwhile has Deven Robertson perennially linked with a move back to Western Australia.

The Lions don’t have many candidates given they’re dealing with quite a few season-ending injuries. It’s hard to imagine their emergencies for the Prelim in Harry Sharp and Darragh Joyce making a move.

The Lions from outside the top 4?

We have seen teams make the Grand Final from outside the top four, but not win it in the Western Bulldogs (2021) and GWS (2019), but only the Dogs (2016) have actually gone all the way in the 21st century.

Adelaide in 1998 won the premiership from fifth, laying the blueprint for the Lions.

The resume of the coaches

John Longmire won his first Grand Final as a coach back in 2012, but has since lost in 2014, 2016 and 2022.

Will there be any fallout if he loses a fourth straight? Potentially if it is a blowout after how 2022 played out.

Chris Fagan meanwhile will not want to join a list of coaches to lose back-to-back Grand Finals. In the AFL era, Geelong (1994-1995), Collingwood (2002-2003) and St Kilda (2009-2010) have done this.

Fagan would become the first coach to not have played the game at the highest level to win a premiership – something that will make his legacy immortal.

Grand Final blowouts

Six of the last nine Grand Finals have been decided by 45+ points.

2023, 2018 and 2016 have been classics, while 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2015 and 2014 were all blowouts.

Given this is a clash between the last two runners up, it’s hard to imagine either wilting away – particularly given the come-from-behind victories we’ve already seen in September.