OSCAR Allen has played through his first season with Brisbane Lions managing a still-healing foot fracture.

The former West Coast skipper crossed the country over the off-season to link up with the Lions, but suffered a fracture to his navicular bone in round eight.

GRAND FINAL Full match coverage and stats

He sat out three months, and has been playing through pain ever since.

"We had a surgery to put a screw in it, and it still has a crack in it and hasn't fully healed," Allen told AFL.com.au following the Lions' three-peat premiership win over Fremantle.

"It's been getting better the longer the season's been going on, and it was absolutely worth it.

"It's been sore, but I've been able to play and go out there. Probably at times I haven't been able to perform as well as I would have liked, but it's all worth it."

Oscar Allen (left) and Lachie Neale celebrate Brisbane winning the 2026 Toyota Grand Final. Picture: AFL Photos

Allen admitted he thought Fremantle was in the box seat when the margin pushed out to 17 points, but the Lions roared home with the final four goals of the match to steal a memorable seven-point Grand Final victory.

"I thought we were in serious trouble. But no wonder the guys here have been so successful for so long, they play the moments so well late in the game," he said.

"Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey, Will Ashcroft, Logan Morris – just incredible footballers."

02:47

Watch every final-quarter goal from the exhilarating Grand Final

Enjoy all the drama from an enthralling final term that saw the Lions come from the clouds to claim a third consecutive premiership

Published on Sep 26, 2026

The other first-time premiership player, Sam Draper, also joined Brisbane as a free agent during the trade period, and paid tribute to the club's medical team, having played all 26 matches this year after recovering from a torn Achilles.

"I got overawed with emotion at the end there, the tears started flowing, a lot of work's gone into getting to this point," Draper said.

"It doesn't feel real. I got really emotional at the end there when I saw the high performance team, and just thanked them, as well as the list manager, Dom Ambrosio and (footy boss) Danny Daly just for believing in me and that I'd be back to my best.

"The last 12 months had it all, everything happens for a reason. I had the darkest moment of my life last year, and came out of that, and here I am today. It's mental.

"There were points last year where I was thinking if I would play again, and if I do, will I have the same explosiveness? A lot of work goes into Achilles rehab, it's very boring, there's so many calf raises. But I built my body back up, improved as a player again I reckon, so that's why I'm so proud."

Sam Draper (left) and Conor McKenna celebrate Brisbane winning the 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final. Picture: AFL Photos

When asked what went through his head when the "Wharfie Time" activation rang out, with the Dockers 17 points ahead, Draper had a simple response.

"'Good'. We planned for it, we thought ahead, and then when we hit that trigger, that's when we go up a notch. The boys responded well. Last week, we handled that (against Hawthorn), that was a hostile environment, and today was the same. The boys went crazy at the end there, it was so good," he said.

"Watching this group go about it, there's so much belief, and they're never-say-die. There's so much evidence now that this group can do some amazing things.

"When the game's on the line, when there's big moments to be had, Will (Ashcroft) steps up. I'm so proud of him – how old is he? I don't even know, he's so young. He's incredible."