AFL

Lions hero on his grand final-saving defensive efforts

By Oliver Caffrey

Sep 27, 2026

Cam Rayner and Ryan Lester — Cam Rayner (left) and Ryan Lester enjoy the spoils of victory at the Brunswick Oval fan event. -AAP Image

Confessing to some mistakes early in the AFL grand final, Ryan Lester was responsible for arguably the most desperate defensive act in Brisbane Lions history.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

With Fremantle nine points ahead, Josh Treacy was charging into an open goal to give the Dockers a three-goal buffer with less than seven minutes remaining.

But Lester, the king of one-year contracts, was able to affect Treacy's kick enough from only metres out that the Dockers forward could only manage a behind.

It had shades of Heath Shaw's famous smother on Nick Riewoldt in the 2010 grand final replay, miraculously stopping what seemed to be a certain goal.

"I honestly don't really remember it too much," Lester told AAP.

"As a defender, you're just trying to be desperate and stop whatever you can, or disrupt the opposition as much as you can.

"I was able to push him or tackle him enough to make him miss.

"I sort of assumed it had gone through, and then because our cheer squad was down that end, I heard them cheering, and so then I was like, 'Oh, maybe it hasn't'."

Even after Lester's lunge, Fremantle were able to kick another goal, through Patrick Voss, to go 17 points up with four minutes left.

But through a stunning turnaround in centre clearance, the Lions slammed through three goals in as many minutes to hit the front.

Fremantle won the next ball out of the middle, Shai Bolton bombing it inside 50.

Lester won a one-on-one contest with Jye Amiss, then pressured the Dockers forward seconds later in the pocket, before kicking the ball out of defensive 50.

Fremantle never got another look at reclaiming the lead, with Brisbane pulling off the greatest heist in AFL grand final history.

"I made some mistakes early in the game, but finals and grand finals are all about moments," Lester said.

"I thought I had a couple of good moments late in the game that helped us."

After waiting nine seasons to play his first AFL final, Lester is one of the great stories of persistence in this Lions dynasty.

"In 2022, I played three games, I was 30 years old," Lester said.

"How many careers from that point in time end up with four grand finals and three premierships.

"It's incredibly unique, and I'm very lucky that it's happened to me.

"For our group now to be up there with the Brisbane Lions of the early 2000s, Hawthorn in the 2010s, and Richmond (premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020) - it's crazy."