This Saturday morning, Brisbane Lions supporter Scott Fletcher will follow a carefully timed routine to prepare for the AFL grand final, underscoring the deep role superstition plays among fans as the Lions pursue a historic fourth consecutive championship. Fletcher plans to leash his dog Louis, play Angry Anderson’s “Bound For Glory,” and walk the streets of Pascoe Vale, Melbourne—a ritual he fears abandoning could jinx his team’s chances.
Fletcher, a logistics clerk with family roots in Fitzroy, Melbourne, said he has purposely avoided the song all year to prevent bad luck, reflecting a mindset common among fervent supporters. Despite the team’s complex history—including a merger with the Brisbane Bears three decades ago and relocations—fans in Brisbane remain fervently loyal, especially after an extraordinary season that culminated in what many regard as one of the greatest finals matches ever played.
This Saturday, the Lions face Fremantle in the grand final, with anticipation and entrenched traditions intensifying among their fan base. Those close to the club often engage in superstitious practices they believe could sway fate, viewing such rituals as integral to the team’s success.
Brett Young and Madonna Cullinan of Tarragindi exemplify this devotion. Their home hosted large gatherings celebrating the Lions’ premiership wins from 2001 to 2003, complete with color-themed snacks and lively pot-banging by their children to mark each goal. The family’s routine was interrupted by the Lions’ 2004 grand final loss, which they described as deeply painful.
Two decades later, Young confronted a far graver challenge: pancreatic cancer. Diagnosed in 2022, he endured chemotherapy during much of the 2024 season while the Lions forged a remarkable postseason. After finishing fifth in the ladder, Brisbane advanced through a narrow victory over Carlton in the elimination final and staged an extraordinary comeback against Greater Western Sydney, which Cullinan recalled as inspiring hope amid Young’s battle. Their journey continued with a victory over Geelong in the preliminary final—considered one of the finest in AFL history.
Despite Young’s declining health and medical advice not to travel, a series of fortunate events allowed the family to fly to Melbourne and attend the grand final, even without tickets initially. Cullinan described this as the first of three “magic things” that aligned. Brisbane’s decisive win over Sydney marked the family’s “best weekend” together and Young’s final appearance supporting the team.
Shortly after returning home, Young was informed his cancer had advanced beyond treatment options. He passed away less than a month later, surrounded by family and friends, including former teammates who carried his coffin.
The following season, Cullinan and her son secured grand final tickets again, witnessing Brisbane’s victory over Geelong in 2024. Daughter Maddie, two months pregnant at the time, missed the trip but continues the family’s traditions, preparing to watch this year’s final wearing a “threadbare” scarf from the 2004 grand final. Meant to become a cherished heirloom, the scarf connects generations to the memory of a grandfather she never met and the enduring spirit of Lions fandom.