Lohmann lapped up Aker’s advice before AFL grand final

October 4, 2024 BY
AFL Grand Final Star Kai Lohmann

Stroking the mane: Lion Kai Lohmann celebrates scoring a goal during the AFL grand final. Photo: JOEL CARRETT/AAP IMAGE

YOU’RE a flashy Brisbane Lions forward who practises goal celebrations in the mirror, and it’s a day out from your AFL grand final debut.

There’s no better bloke to have in your ear than Jason Akermanis.

At the Brisbane captains’ run on Friday at the MCG, the three-time Lions premiership showman met former St Patrick’s College Ballarat student Kai Lohmann for the first time.

A day later the 21-year-old was the firestarter for Brisbane, kicking two first-quarter goals and four for the game as they mauled Sydney by 60 points.

“Because it was his first grand final, I really felt like Kai was just like ‘tell me anything, give me something to take in and use’,” Akermanis told AAP post-match.

“We just talked about what’s going on in the stadium with the winds and stuff and he came out and dominated. He had three before halftime and if he kicked another couple more he’d be a Norm Smith medallist.”

Kai Lohmann, Josh Dunkley, Dayne Zorko and Harris Andrews of the Lions hold up the AFL 2024 premiership trophy during the Brisbane Lions Fan Day at Brunswick Street Oval in Melbourne on Sunday. Photo: JAMES ROSS/AAP IMAGE

 

Amid the celebrations in the Lions rooms, Lohmann also remembered someone much closer to home.

This time last year, nursing a broken collarbone from playing in the VFL, the Victorian native rejected offers to come home and signed a two-year deal with the Lions.

“Mum will be happy with this one. We had some hard conversations last year – very special,” he said of Brooke.

He lived for 12 months with key forward Eric Hipwood, who said it was “interesting” and revealed Lohmann practices his goal celebrations.

Within minutes of their premiership triumph, Lohmann and fellow young gun Darcy Wilmot were dreaming of what might come next.

“Hopefully four or five more (premierships). It might be a bit of a stretch, but you never know,” he said.