Throughout the 2026 AFL Finals series, Zero Hanger will rank the game of each player based on their impact on the result.
The Semi-Final was nearly done in the blink of an eye after Brisbane booted six goals in the first seven minutes and 13 seconds of the match.
Adelaide then recouped and cut the margin to nine points in the second quarter in a spirited challenge. However, it was short lived and the Lions had effectively slaughtered their prey by halftime with a lead of 38 points.
Here is how Zero Hanger judged every player's impact.
1 - Cam Rayner - The power midfielder-forward brought his absolute A-game to this Semi-Final. Rayner's physicality and brutality in the contest was prominent from the start of the game and he and his fleet of medium-sized forwards were the catalyst behind the Lions' charge. Finished with two goals and 22 disposals.
2 - Zac Bailey - Looks like he had the weight lifted off his shoulders on Saturday night after signing his long-term contract during the week. Bailey's speed inside forward 50 was on show throughout the first quarter and kicked a pair of mesmerising and clever goals.
3 - Will Ashcroft - Brisbane's blonde prince was a class above his opposition as his rise among the best midfielders in the league continues. Finished with 30 disposals.
4 - Ryan Lester - He may not have had a statistically impressive night, but Lester was pivotal early for the Lions. He dashed the hopes of Adelaide's forwards on many occasions and in his usual unassuming manner helped Brisbane gain ascendancy.
5 - Charlie Cameron - Didn't put a foot wrong in the first half and kicked five goals to help put his side into a Preliminary Final.
6 - Jordan Dawson - The best of the Crows - as he so often is - as he led his side from the front as he has all season. Tried to provide a sluggish Adelaide outfit with run and penetration but he didn't have enough chargers to come with him.
7 - Josh Dunkley - Did a fantastic shutdown job on the red-hot Izak Rankine. The Lions' co-captain also found plenty of the football himself.
8 - Harris Andrews - Kept Adelaide's forward line relatively toothless throughout the night. Led his team with aplomb yet again in a must-win final.
9 - Kai Lohmann - A player built for the big - and importantly finals - stage. Lohmann was electric inside 50 for the Lions and his combination with Rayner, Bailey, Cameron and Conor McKenna is a scary proposition for Hawthorn and possibly beyond.
10 - Dayne Zorko - The main Brisbane antagonist was at his annoying and terrorising best early. Drew a 50m penalty while his on-field lip was also noticeable. But that can't detract from what he brought in terms of leadership, dash and drive for the home side. Kicked a beautiful running goal.
11 - Eric Hipwood - Not statistically dominant but showed a level of effort and physicality that you don't often associate with the tall forward. Was a key player in the Lions' early dominance.
12 - Hugo Hall-Kahan - Adelaide's mid-season draftee was a running force for the Crows. Can hold his head high for the effort he delivered in his second final.
13 - Darcy Wilmot - The Lions defender is just so calm and composed with ball in hand. Produced an impressive blind spoil without giving away a free kick and his defensive nous is so often on display.
14 - Sam Berry - Against a spectacular Lions midfield, Berry produced a workhorse performance for the Crows. Could have been cleaner at stages but you can't fault his effort.
15 - Levi Ashcroft - Is fast becoming a damaging asset to this Brisbane side. Produced a clean and gut-running performance.
16 - Lachlan McAndrew - The gangly ruck worked hard all night. Will hopefully continue to grow on his impressive 2026 campaign next season.
17 - Darcy Fort - The wily veteran ruck produced an impressive performance. Had six clearances and 20 hit outs.
18 - Izak Rankine - Perhaps marked harshly, but Adelaide needed much more from Rankine tonight. Still had 23 disposals but he will be disappointed he could not impact the final more than he did.
19 - Riley Thilthorpe - The star key forward was not dominant, but was still prevalent around the ground getting involved in the Crows' scoring and kicking a few himself.
20 - Jaspa Fletcher - Another young Lion who rarely makes a mistake and never lets his side down. Fletcher was clean again like many of his teammates in a dominant display.
21 - Rory Laird - The Crows veteran tried his all and found enough of the football, while also going at 86 per cent efficiency with his 21 disposals.
22 - Sam Draper - Fort's partner in crime secured the first finals win of his career. Could have faced a suspension if his dumb attempted bump on a Crow had landed late in the game.
23 - Zac Taylor - Came into the side after recovering from his hamstring injury for Isaac Cumming and provided some run for Adelaide.
24 - Lachie Neale - Had a quiet night by his standards but he didn't have to do too much with the stars around him coming to the fore. Is saving himself for his final fortnight at the club and possible third flag.
25 - Hugh McCluggage - Found some of his best form after a tough and injury interrupted season. Opponents beware of what might be coming from the Lions' third co-captain.
26 - Jarrod Berry - The tough on-baller was busy with 19 disposals for his beloved Lions.
27 - Wayne Milera - Has had a career-best season and didn't lower his colours against the Lions, but didn't raise them either.
28 - Josh Worrell - Was dominant last weekend, but struggled to have the same impact against Brisbane.
29 - Dan Curtin - Kicked the Crows' first goal of the game to give them a spark and found a fair bit of the football. Needs to take the next step in his development and become an impactful midfielder alongside Rankine and Dawson next season.
30 - Conor McKenna - Had a beautiful passage of play that led to a goal early using some of his Irish flair. Is working well in Brisbane's star-laden forward line.
31 - Max Michalanney - Had one of the hardest jobs of the match trying to keep Cameron quiet. His opponent finished with five in a tough night for the young Crow.
32 - Taylor Walker - Sad to see his career end in this fashion. Kicked a couple of goals late as a goodbye to the Adelaide faithful.
33 - James Borlase - Did a good job on Brisbane star Logan Morris to keep him to two goals, but his side did concede 144 in a final.
34 - Logan Morris - Was quiet for his usual lofty standards. Still kicked two goals.
35 - Ty Gallop - Was strong in defence with a couple of good spoils.
36 - Brayden Cook - Worked hard along the wing but didn't have the impact he would have hoped.
37 - Darcy Gardiner - Worked hard to keep Adelaide's forward line down when it mattered.
38 - Luke Nankervis - Produced some costly mistakes but also ran hard to create early.
39 - Ben Keays - Was quiet early when the game was on the line. Found bit of the footy and a couple of goals late.
40 - Callum Ah Chee - Was thrown back to try and stop the rot and worked hard.
41 - Darcy Fogarty - Tried to lift his side with back-to-back goals in the second quarter, but was otherwise unsighted.
42 - Alex Neal-Bullen - Didn't do enough for his side when it mattered in the first half.
43 - Oscar Allen - Didn't have to add much else to this scarily good Lions side. Set up two goals.
44 - Mark Keane - Played angry, but was ineffectual.
45 - Josh Rachele - Would have hoped to create much more than he did. Finished with a goal and seven disposals.
46 - Jake Soligo - Rarely sighted and didn't impact the game.
