They did so by posting a character-filled nine-point win over Collingwood in the AFL Grand Final and becoming just the sixth team since 1960 to win back-to-back Premierships.
Time has since taught us that the Lions would become the greatest side of the modern era 12 months later with an historic Three-Peat, but the 2002 triumph stands alone as a significant milestone in the Club’s history.
Weather and injuries conspired against the Lions after they headed into the match as raging hot favourites against an up-and-coming Magpies outfit.
The all-conquering Lions would have much preferred a dry, fast track, and could have done without losing Beau McDonald (shoulder) and Martin Pike (groin) by the 17-minute mark of the second term.
Yet when the final siren sounded, these factors probably made it that little bit more satisfying. They’d proven that not only were the Lions a brilliant free-flowing side, a five-star outfit when the going is good, but they were capable of mixing it with the best in an old-fashioned scrap, even when they were two players down.
To this day, many Lions fans recall having a greater sense of relief after the final siren sounded at the 2002 Grand Final - as opposed to the overwhelming ecstasy experienced 12 months earlier.
It was largely due to the tight and low-scoring contest, in which both sides traded goals for most of the afternoon. In fact, the margin never reached double figures throughout the entire match - with the final nine-point result being the greatest lead of the game.
So it was no surprise to see supporters from both sides with their hearts in their mouths as the clock ticked over 20 minutes in the final term with the Lions leading by just three points.
It wasn’t until Jason Akermanis sealed the win with a famous left-foot snap over his right shoulder that fans could begin realising the dream of winning consecutive AFL titles.
2002 AFL GRAND FINAL SCOREBOARD
Brisbane Lions 0.4 4.12 8.14 10.15 (75)
Collingwood 1.4 4.4 8.10 9.12 (66)
GOALS - Lions: Lynch 4, Voss, Black, Hart, Akermanis, Brown, McRae. Magpies: Roccas 4, Fraser 3, Buckley, Lockyer.
BEST - Lions: Voss, Lappin, Keating, Hart, Lynch, Power, Ashcroft, Black. Magpies: Buckley (Norm Smith Medal), Rocca, Clement, Burns, Wakelin, Lonie, Prestigiacomo, Johnson.
TOP STATS - Lions: Lappin 28, Voss 26, Black 22, Hary 19, C Scott 18, Akermanis 15, Ashcroft 14, Brown 14, Notting 14, Johnson 13, B Scott 13, Headland 13, Power 13. Magpies: Buckley 33, Lonie 21, Clement 18, O’Bree 18, Burns 17, Freeborn 17, McKee 16, Johnson 14, Betheras 14, Licuria 14, Fraser 13.
Read the full match report from the 2002 AFL Grand Final
