IF YOU blinked, you'd have missed the moment Josh Dunkley prides himself on.

Shai Bolton, Dunkley's direct opponent in Saturday's Grand Final, was running around the back of a pack in an effort to blast through a shot from 50m on the run. Then bang, in came an alert Dunkley with a huge smother to block his path.

It ricocheted to Sam Switkowski, who put Caleb Serong into space. Another chance for Fremantle to score. Then bang, in slid Dunkley again. Another huge smother and another goal-saving effort.

It might have been early, but Dunkley's double smother set the tone for Brisbane's afternoon. He finished with 21 disposals, 14 contested possessions and 12 tackles in a brave bash-and-crash performance.

Yes, his opponent in Bolton won the Norm Smith Medal. But it was Dunkley who finished the game as one of the contest's most influential performers. And it was that moment that provided the Lions with an all-important boost when they needed it.

"I just didn't want Shai to get a goal," Dunkley laughed in the rooms afterwards.

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"Credit to him. I thought one of our boys could have got it, too. I was a little bit surprised [Bolton won the Norm Smith], but close Grand Finals ... I don't know, did he kick any goals? Anyway. That's alright.

"I just feel like those moments are really important. They're something I've done ever since I was a young kid. Being able to put a smother on and get the boys going, it builds some energy into half time. You set the example for the rest of the group, hopefully.

"I've got a couple of bumps on my head. But I'll do anything for the team. Anything. If that helps us win Grand Finals, then I'm more than happy to put my head over the ball every single week."

Saturday was Dunkley's fourth Grand Final in four years since arriving at Brisbane. It was also his third premiership in Lions colours. But this one, undoubtedly, was the most memorable.

Having fallen 17 points behind with just a tick over four minutes remaining, the Lions kicked the game's final four goals to surge ahead and complete a remarkable comeback to secure the three-peat.

"It's incredible," Dunkley said.

"Words can't describe how good it is. It's insane. You don't want anyone else to have this feeling. It's what we do. We keep rocking up and playing our best at the right time of year. This group, it can do anything. It's just crazy.

"The belief in what we do and our system and each other, you can't really explain it. We just went all-out. The game was there to be won, it was on the line. We were nearly down and out. But we just said to each other, let's go at it."

It added a fourth premiership to Dunkley's collection, having also been part of the Western Bulldogs' 2016 flag. It was also his sixth Grand Final, having been a member of losing efforts at the Dogs in 2021 and the Lions in 2023.

"We had our Bulldogs reunion this year, so it's a while ago," Dunkley said.

"I'm very grateful to the Western Bulldogs, who took me in the draft, brought me up to be the person and player that I am. Then, moving to Brisbane four years ago, I'm just so grateful. I'm grateful to both footy clubs and what they've made me into and the lessons they've given me along the journey. It's incredible."

But this was Dunkley's first premiership as a club captain. Having been elevated to co-captaincy duties alongside Harris Andrews and Hugh McCluggage on the eve of the campaign, it made the 2026 win extra special.

And some might say Dunkley didn't just set the tone for Brisbane's Grand Final win with his smothers on Saturday, but with his brave efforts at Friday's pre-match parade as well.

McCluggage was unwilling to test himself in the annual 'Who Will Let Go Of The Cup First?' battle with Fremantle's Alex Pearce, so Dunkley set himself for the task and won the honour with flying colours.

Told to eventually leave the stage by an AFL staffer after both he and Pearce held on for so long, Dunkley revealed the lengths he was willing to go to in order to ensure the Lions had an early win.

"Hugh was meant to do it and he didn't want a bar of it," Dunkley laughed. "So, I got handed those duties. But I would've walked out with that cup, when the lady asked us to leave. I wasn't letting go."