It is scary to think that Brisbane will improve their list dramatically after securing a second consecutive premiership.
The Lions saluted after a 47-point win over Geelong, and have no reason to think they would be slowing down, with eight players 22 or younger.
However, the incoming Sam Draper and Oscar Allen as free agents would see Chris Fagan's start clear favourites to repeat the club's fortunes of the early 2000s, while draft prospect and Academy gun Dan Annable will boost their youthful stocks.
It is rare to see the champion side enhance its playing profile, but it's happened before.
We take a look through all the Premiership-winning sides this century, and every mechanism to introduce players to the club.
Brisbane (2001, 2002, 2003, 2024, 2025)
As mentioned, the Lions will welcome three highly talented players to their roster to assist their pursuit of a third-straight flag in 2026.
It comes as Brisbane's Academy and father-son prospects resulted in Levi Ashcroft, Sam Marshall and Ty Gallop joining the reigning premiers after 2024. All three are now premiership players.
Following the 2002 triumph, Brisbane, under Leigh Matthews, welcomed Blake Caracella via a trade with Essendon, as well as Jared Brennan (Pick 3).
Caracella played 126 games for the Bombers, including the 2000 flag, and crossed to the Lions for two years of power, featuring 34 times and lifting the cup in 2003.
Brennan came as part of the Des Headland trade to Fremantle, which also helped yield Troy Selwood.
12 months down the track, Brisbane also landed club stalwarts Jed Adcock (Pick 33) and Michael Rischitelli (Pick 61) in the 2003 draft.
2002 - Blake Caracella (Trade), Jared Brennan (Pick 3)
2003 - Jed Adcock (Pick 33), Michael Rischitelli (Pick 61)
2024 - Levi Ashcroft (Pick 5), Sam Marshall (25) and Ty Gallop (Pick 42)
2025 - Sam Draper (Free agent), Oscar Allen (Free agent), Dan Annable (Draft)
Collingwood (2010, 2023)
The Pies believed they were on the verge of a dynasty, and after claiming the 2010 premiership after multiple bouts of heartbreak, they looked to improve.
Established stars Chris Tarrant and Andrew Krakouer helped move the needle toward consecutive premierships, and for the most part, it worked. But three losses to Geelong, including the grand final, denied Collingwood the chance of more glory.
That intention was translated to 2023, when the Pies prevailed over Brisbane in a grand final epic.
They looked to bolster their small forward stocks, and paid a hefty price for Fremantle's Lachie Schultz.
2010 - Andrew Krakouer and Chris Tarrant (trade)
2023 - Lachie Schultz (trade)
Geelong (2007, 2009, 2011, 2022)
The Cats' 2022 post-season dealings scared the entire competition after they won the flag.
Geelong benefitted from a Gold Coast firesale, landing Jack Bowes and Jhye Clark (Pick 7) from little to no effort.
They also welcomed emerging talents Tanner Bruhn (GWS) and Oliver Henry (Collingwood), and looked poised to venture toward the top of the mountain.
During their successful run under Mark Thompson, the Cats hit four crucial draft selections.
Harry Taylor (Pick 17) was taken after 2007. Mitch Duncan (Pick 28) and James Podsiadly (Rookie Draft) came following 2009. And Mark Blicavs (Eookie Draft) joined Kardina Park after 2011.
All four are premiership players.
2007 - Harry Taylor (Pick 17)
2009 - Mitch Duncan (Pick 28), James Podsiadly (Rookie Draft)2011 - Mark Blicavs (Rookie Draft)
2022 - Jack Bowes, Tanner Bruhn, Oliver Henry, and Pick 7 (Jhye Clark)
Melbourne (2021)
The Demons didn't make major moves after their drought-breaking premiership in 2021 over the Western Bulldogs.
They bolstered their midfield stocks through free agency, acquiring St Kilda's Luke Dunstan, while Jacob van Rooyen (Pick 19) and Blake Howes (Pick 39) were good selections.
Judd McVee (Rookie Draft) was another standout pick.
2021 - Luke Dunstan (Free agency), Jacob van Rooyen (Pick 19), Judd McVee (Rookie Draft)
Richmond (2017, 2019, 2020)
While Richmond were winning flags, they continued to go to the draft for players to help prolong their contender status.
Noah Balta (Pick 25) and Liam Baker (Rookie Draft) were notable inclusions after the premiership in 2017.
Jack Higgins, who is now at St Kilda, and Ben Miller are also forging handy careers in the league.
2017 - Noah Balta (Pick 25), Liam Baker (Rookie Draft)
West Coast (2006, 2018)
The Eagles looked at the next generation of talent coming through the ranks following their pair of flags.
Will Schofield, taken with Pick 50, was the standout from the influx of West Coast youngsters after 2006. He became a premiership player 12 years later.
2006 - Will Schofield (Pick 50)
Western Bulldogs (2016)
The Bulldogs defied the odds to win the flag outside the top four, and looked to tall prospects to improve their list.
Collingwood's Travis Cloke was a shock trade, and only lasted 12 months at Footscray before he hung up the boots.
However, they landed Tim English (Pick 19), who has quickly become one of the premier ruckmen in the competition, and has an All-Australian blazer to show for it.
2016 - Travis Cloke (trade), Tim English (Pick 19)
Hawthorn (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015)
It seemed unfair that the Hawks were able to secure Ben McEvoy and James Frawley amid their premiership-winning years.
After the surprise flag in 2008, they brought in young talents Liam Shiels (Pick 34) and Luke Bruest (Rookie Draft). They turned out to be stars for the brown and gold.
But McEvoy's arrival, along with now-captain James Sicily, was after 2013, and proved to be a stroke of genius.
The former Saint was influential in the two flags, which also coincided when Frawley crossed from Melbourne to Hawthorn ahead of 2015.
Following the three-peat, a crafty selection of Blake Hardwick at Pick 44 also proved fruitful.
2008 - Liam Shiels (Pick 34), Luke Breust (Rookie Draft)
2013 - Ben McEvoy (trade), James Sicily (Pick 56)
2014 - James Frawley (FA)
2015 - Blake Hardwick (Pick 44)
Sydney (2005, 2012)
Sydney found crucial pieces to their 2012 flag after their success seven years earlier.
Established defender Ted Richards was acquired through a trade with Essendon, while Kieren Jack joined the Swans as a rookie.
Fast forward to 2012 and Sydney controversially landed Adelaide's Kurt Tippet, who just played in a preliminary final against Hawthorn.
Tippett joined Sydney through the pre-season draft with Pick 11 after the league blocked the trade between the Crows due to contract rules being breached.
Jake Lloyd and Dane Rampe also found their way to the New South Wales club.
2005 - Ted Richards (trade), Kieren Jack (Rookie Draft)
2012 - Kurt Tippet (PSD), Jake Lloyd (Rookie Draft), Dane Rampe (Rookie Draft)
Port Adelaide (2004)
The Power went heavy on the draft after winning their maiden AFL premiership in 2004, putting an end to the Brisbane dynasty.
Danyle Pearce was the pick of the bunch, and was ironically taken as a rookie, with six other prospects selected before him.
2004 - Danyle Pearce (Rookie Draft)
Essendon (2000)
The Bombers embraced eight young faces from the draft, including club icon Damien Pevrill, as well as Ted Richards and Jordan Bannister.
Essendon has struggled to reach the heights it achieved at the turn of the century, and hasn't won a final since 2004.
