AFL Grand Final player rankings: Every Fremantle and Brisbane player rated 1-46

The Brisbane Lions have come from the clouds to complete the second threepeat in their storied existence, disposing of Fremantle by seven points in front of 100,023 lucky fans.

The Lions booted the final four majors of the contest to coronate themselves champions for the third time in as many years.

There were heroes and villains everywhere.

As we have all September, Zero Hanger has ranked every player on the ground from 1 through to 46. Here is how each combatant's impact was adjudged:

1. Dayne Zorko (Brisbane) - At 37 years of age, Dayne Zorko just turned in what will be his most enduring and defining performance. This conductor looked to drive the pill forward at all costs, was as brilliant as he was brave by foot, and was, until the final term, the most prolific player on the ground, racking up 28 disposals (23 kicks) and the second-most metres on the ground (660). Only made more impressive by a hamstring injury sustained early in the contest!
2. Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) - Ashcroft started nicely, extracting the pill in the phone box, using his lightning hands to give it to the users throughout the early stages.

   But.

   It was like the prince that was promised needed the stakes to be at their highest to truly wake up. The incredible father-son had a hand in everything for the the Lions late, extracting clearances and setting up teammates when their cause appeared dead in the water.

3. Charlie Cameron (Brisbane) - One of a handful of Lions' September specialists, Charlie was again elite today. CameronPerfect small forward play for the first of the contest. A little check on McVee, read the crumb off the contest, and a beautiful snap. Exploited McVee beautifully, and had him on an island. Moved up the ground to get his hands on it more, to great effect.
4. Josh Dunkley (Brisbane) - In conditions that appeared to suit him, Dunkley had very little impact on proceedings, until his double smother in defensive 50, before claiming Dudley in a tackle that saw him awarded a free. Another massive defensive act on Judd McVee led to the first goal of the last. A genuine captain's knock.
5. Logan Morris (Brisbane) - Was gifted his first shot courtesy of a very soft free, and missed it. The blossoming star had very little impact on the contest, in an “almost” day, until it truly mattered. The streets will remember Morris' day for the two goals he mustered in the last. Some future, this kid.

   

6. Hayden Young (Fremantle) - Looked a cut above his colleagues in the first with his use and ability to find it. Looked to have his impact quelled in the second, with McCluggage for company.In the third, though, Young stood up, slotting a massive goal crossing 50 on his non-preferred, after the Lions stormed back to the lead after Pearce went down. 10 touches and two goals in the premiership quarter.
7. Caleb Serong (Fremantle) - Touched it plenty early, and won the clearance that gave Treacy his first look, and Fremantle their first goal. Serong was going to do whatever it took for his side to salute, the nuggety champion, and looked gutted at full time.
8. Harris Andrews (Brisbane) - Unflinchingly team first. Laid heavy bumps, blocks and shepherds on Fremantle's big boys down back, but did not touch it until 8 minutes were gone in the second. Does not need heaps of touches to impact, this generational defensive general.
9. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane) - A link in the chain plenty of times early, as well as finishing some chains of his own. One of the more selfless displays of his career, and the Lions appeared more dangerous for it. Got on the end of one in the square when his side desperately needed it.
10. Ryan Lester (Brisbane) - Had some lovely moments between the arcs, further afield than is his custom. Had his 'Heath Shaw' moment in affecting Treacy's miss in the last, to keep his side in it, and for almost that alone, he finds himself in the top 10. What a story!
11. Luke Jackson (Fremantle) - His side were +14 in clearances, and his 47 hitouts were a major reason why. Eight score involvements - equal-second most on the ground - told the story of his impact. Draper had him quelled aerially for much of the contest, before his soaring screamer in the last.
12. Shai Bolton (Fremantle) - A shock Norm Smith Medallist, Bolton threatened to really break it open in the first. Flew at everything, drew frees, took on the tackler. A stylish footballer, no doubt, but a surprising nod, to say the least.

    

13. Isaiah Dudley (Fremantle) - Made up for an earlier miss with a great finish in the first quarter. Got himself involved between the arcs too, and appeared the biggest beneficiary of Noah Answerth missing. Another special finish in the third had him firmly in Norm Smith conversations. Just one touch in the last, however.
14. Patrick Voss (Fremantle) - Uber threatening without converting in the early stanzas, but put that behind him to become the first player on the ground to score multiple goals. A big tackle in the last, and what looked like being the sealer, to boot.
15. Jordan Clark (Fremantle) - Saved the day early in the last, whilst under siege. One of the more solid small defenders in the game, as evidenced by his recent All-Australian selection. He repelled and repelled and repelled when the Lions came with such vigour in the final five minutes, but he could not do it all himself.
16. Murphy Reid (Fremantle) - The youngster found himself in some handy spots - and the Sherrin kept finding him early. Would want his running shot from inside 50 over again - in too many minds and butchered it, but immediately made amends from the ensuing throw in. 21 and 1 and equal-fifth for clearances, at just 20 years of age.
17. Josh Treacy (Fremantle) - Absolutely flushed his side's first in the wet, and had commanding contested marks aplenty. Had a bad miss to start the second half, and an absolute howler with six minutes to go but still, his contested marks and link-up play made this a statement performance after a quiet September.
18. Heath Chapman (Fremantle) - Picked up where he left off on prelim weekend. Important defensive acts with some intercept marks, spoils on the goal line, and settling moments. His star only rose this September.
19. Lachie Neale (Brisbane) - Overused the pill by hand, and was relentlessly booed every time it was in his vicinity. The champion was still very clean though - very rarely fumbled, when those around him did. Got himself very, very busy in the last, notching seven of his 20 touches.
20. Jaspa Fletcher (Brisbane) - Had moments of composure when called upon, did the father-son.
21. Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle) - Only his off-sider in Serong had more clearances in the first half. His tackling pressure and willingness to do the dirty work leapt off the tape.
22. Zac Bailey (Brisbane) - Had to work into it, but what a major in the last, to truly kickstart the intoxicating comeback!
23. Jye Amiss (Fremantle) - The three-headed monster had more impact than they had all September. Amiss beat Gardiner one-out, multiple times, to stamp his impact on this one.
24. Sam Draper (Brisbane) - Flushed a goal to bring scores back level when Freo looked most threatening. Was competitive in the air to quell Jackson's strengths in that phase. Another unbelievable story, overcoming an Achilles injury to salute.
25. Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane) - Uncharacteristically cute with his ball use, and was found out for it, in the first half. Could not repeat his set shot heroics from a week ago in the last.
26. Matthew Johnson (Fremantle) - Played his role as fourth of fifth fiddle around the pill with aplomb. Missed the chance to make it a three-goal game.
27. Oscar Allen (Brisbane) - Loving running goal in the first, courtesy of Lohmann's hands. Got his side back within a goal with his third term set shot. After being the subject of criticism for his move, his has the cup that silences all of it.
28. Darcy Wilmot (Brisbane) -  20 touches at 85 per cent efficiency, two score involvements - just a reliable commodity down back, and still only 22. What a weapon.
29. Michael Frederick (Fremantle) - Superb job in diffusing a two-on-one deep inside defensive 50 when it was in the balance. "Freddy" clutched up for his side to put it beyond a goal with seven and change to go.
30. Judd McVee (Fremantle) - Settled into this one, courtesy of the ball finding him or his opponent in Cameron, frequently. A MASSIVE smother on Lohmann's set shot in the last had you feel like it was the Dockers' day, but it was not to be.
31. Conor McKenna (Brisbane) - Uncharacteristic miss in the first, but just kept doing the mercurial things he's been doing at the home of football in the last eight weeks. Did not need to lift his eyes to poke through his first from a tight angle. What a story!
32. Jarrod Berry (Brisbane) - A very busy start, and a workmanlike performance, as is his custom.
33. Sam Switkowski (Fremantle) - Brave and team-first, always, in his final game.
34. Cam Rayner (Brisbane) - Did not impose himself the way he'd have liked, but stood tall in the last - five touches, two of them score involvements, in the fairytale final term.
35. Darcy Gardiner (Brisbane) - Under siege courtesy of the imposing Fremantle talls. Signature gritty smother in the last when his number was called, with his short memory a feature of this one.
36. Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane) - 19 and 1, but unsighted in the last.
37. Corey Wagner (Fremantle) - Safe and steady in the first two frames. Involved in scores, stuck his tackles.
38. Alex Pearce (Fremantle) - Had been strong before injury cruelly ended his day in the third term.
39. Karl Worner (Fremantle) - Had some moments in scoring chains, and equally, some moments of ball poor use.
40. Luke Ryan (Fremantle) - Disastrous moment in the first quarter, trying to exit defensive 50. Looked typically disinterested, but had moments of strength, aerially.
41. Ty Gallop (Brisbane) - Had his hands full on a rotating cast on talls.
42. Eric Hipwood (Brisbane) - Had one of the poorer first halves on the ground, as he often can. Missed his shots, dropped his marks.
43. Neil Erasmus (Fremantle) - 11 touches, three score involvements, four tackles. Solid but will be haunted by a lack of involvement.
44. Darcy Fort (Brisbane) - Eight touches at 50 per cent efficiency, 16 hitouts, one tackle. Gallant as the back-up ruckman, without having too much influence.
45. Oscar McDonald (Fremantle) - Had some important wins after skipper Pearce was removed from the contest through injury, but was jittery with ball in hand.
46. Mason Cox (Fremantle) - A September stinker. The big American offered very little, and his discipline was poor. Just two touches.