Amid the midfielders and key-position pillars preparing to make their mark in the Grand Final, there are two eccentric livewires on either side that threaten to do the game-breaking on Saturday. With the heart of a Lion and the swagger of a cub, Kai Lohmann is spearheading Brisbane’s youth towards an elusive premiership, while, on Sydney’s side, chief antagonist Tom Papley has re-entered the fray at the perfect time. At just 21 years of age, Lohmann has roared this final series in what looms as the ultimate coming of age for the Maryborough product, while the seasoned Papley returned to the senior side from an ankle injury just in time to help drive the Swans’ finals foray.
Watch every game until the Grand Final this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today > Taken with Pick 21 in the 2021 national draft, the medium-sized forward Lohmann was touted as “an elite athlete who has a combination of speed, evasion and vertical leap”. Less than three years later, the confident, blonde-haired prodigy has helped greatly in getting his Lions into to the big dance the hard way – no less in come-from-behind wins on the road against GWS and Geelong.
His two goals and nine disposals against the Giants in their semi-final held genuine significance – with the second of his majors the first of 11 goals that took Brisbane from 44-point trailers to five-point victors. Lohmann doubled down on his high-impact .
