They were too good. They were just way too good.
Brisbane has won its first AFL premiership since 2003 after dismantling Sydney in a destructive performance at the MCG. They've also become just the second side under the current final eight system to come from outside the top four and lift up the cup.
The Swans started strongest with the opening two goals in the 9.6 (60) to 18.12 (120) result, but from there, it was all Brisbane.
Chris Fagan -- who has coached the Lions to six straight finals series' -- had his team playing champagne footy not too dissimilar to what was seen during two terrific comebacks earlier in the finals.
The Lions had to come back from 44 points down in their semifinal win against the Giants, before reining in a 25-point deficit against Geelong last week.
But the circumstances were different as the Lions made amends for last year's heartbreak.
Led by Lachie Neale and Will Ashcroft, Brisbane was utterly dominant in the middle of the ground, while goal sneak Kai Lohmann booted three first-half goals (and four for the afternoon) to ignite the crowd and spark Brisbane's early flurry, proving too much for the Swans to handle.
Lohman's forward 50 craft was the story of the first half, his third major coming in a second-quarter avalanche that saw the Lions boot six unanswered goals and race to a 46-point lead.
Callum Ah Chee also capped off a brilliant finals campaign of his own, kicking four goals.
The Lions showed less intent to throw caution to the wind in the third term with the game all but sewn up, but they still had control of the game and ensured there would be no history-making comeback from the Swans.
Brisbane had more than just one hand on the cup with their 73-point three-quarter time lead, the side savouring a stress-free final term which capped off a terrific campaign that, although was slow to get out of the gates, definitely warranted a Grand Final triumph.
For Sydney, it was an experience they've had all too recently, being put to the sword in similar style to that capitulation they experienced against the Cats in 2022, where they were defeated by 81 points. Junk time goals this year meant the margin this time was 60.
Their key talls were a non-factor, too, Logan McDonald nursing an ankle injury into the game and subbed out in the third quarter with no impact, while Joel Amartey was held to just three kicks, his first also coming in the premiership quarter.
John Longmire and the Swans have now lost their past four Grand Finals, last winning in 2012.