Brisbane's new AFL three-peat heroes have gone "beyond" the legendary triple-premiership winning team from the early 2000s, says Lions' great Jonathan Brown.
And after a stunning win over Fremantle, Brown believes this group can do what his team couldn't by delivering the first "four-peat" of the modern era.
Prevailing 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) in front of 100,023 fans at the MCG, the Lions joined Hawthorn (2013-15) and the legendary Brisbane team of 2001-03 as the only sides to win three premierships in a row this century.
"It's so good. It's unbelievable. This is beyond what we did," Brown told AAP.
"The way they've done it, the long way home every time. Just such a resilient group.
"Obviously made up of resilient individuals, of course, but I think what this team will be known for apart from their great talent is their resilience and overcoming adversity.
"As fans, we've had the greatest ride of all-time."
Despite winning three flags in as many years, Brisbane haven't hosted a preliminary final in that time, winning the 2024 premiership from fifth and 2025 and 2026 after losing home qualifying finals.
The Lions rose from the canvas to hunt down a 17-point deficit in the final moments on Saturday and Brown compared them to a prizefighter.
"You've got to make sure this group gets the 10 count. If you only get them to nine, they're gonna get up off that canvas and they're gonna beat you," Brown said.
"You're not gonna win on the scorecards."
Co-captain Harris Andrews said the current players had felt the pressure of trying to emulate the Lions of the early 2000s.
"One of my absolute highlights of the last three years has been seeing the way the ex-senior players like Browny, Blacky (Simon Black), Vossy (Michael Voss) have embraced us," Andrews said.
"They genuinely want us to do well and I feel that and I appreciate that and it drives us."
Brown's Lions came desperately close to a four-peat, only achieved by Jock McHale's Collingwood between 1927 and 1930, but were beaten in the 2004 decider by Port Adelaide.
Asked whether the current Lions could go one better, Brown said: "Absolutely.
"At the end of our four (grand finals) we were buggered. This group's played the last four, but they're not going anywhere ... they're in much better shape than we were after we lost in 2004.
Fellow Lions champion Chris Johnson added: "They've got youth on their side.
"When we went for our fourth, we were pretty spent, Browny, weren't we?"
Johnson was adamant the Lions, whose success came after losing the 2023 decider to Collingwood, could deliver.
"Why not? Let's go for four in a row. Let's do it again," Johnson said.
Inspirational coach Chris Fagan, 65, appears likely to retire on the high note of a third straight premiership.
Brown hopes his mind can be changed.
"Hopefully, the thought of a four-peat is too powerful," he said.
"He's already immortal in my eyes and the footy club's eyes. What's the next step up from immortal, if he did that?
"But you know what - if he wants to walk away into the sunset, we'll carry him off into the sunset.
"He's been an unbelievable figure in our club, a giant."
