Brisbane’s premiership win extra special for Zac Bailey after family health scare

Zac Bailey may have been frustrating in front of goal on Saturday afternoon but it didn’t matter in the end. He reveals how the back-to-back flag is extra sweet after his family was rocked by a health scare.

Lauren Wood

@LaurenHeraldSun

2 min read

September 28, 2025 - 12:00PM

Lions

Don't miss out on the headlines from Lions. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Zac Bailey was as frustrated as anybody with his poor kicking early in Saturday’s premiership decider - but with a second premiership medal around his neck, it didn’t really matter.

And having mum there with him was truly the icing on the cake.

Bailey finished the day with a 3.6 record, having booted 0.4 in the first quarter as Geelong and Brisbane tussled amid early pressure.

But reminded by coach Chris Fagan’s urge to “be a goldfish” - nicked from popular TV program Ted Lasso - Bailey was able to shrug off his inaccuracy and deliver a 23 disposal, five clearance and five tackle showing that earned him five votes in the Norm Smith medal calculations.

“I thought I was in for a little bit of a day there when I kicked four points,” he said.

Zac Bailey was inaccurate bit it didn’t matter in the end. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“It was a little bit frustrating, but lucky for me I was able to kick a few goals which sort of settled. It was a little bit frustrating but who cares - we won the grand final.

“I was a little bit disappointed with my year this year so I really wanted to set myself for a big year this year, and I was glad I was able to do that.”

Bailey, 26, said the adversity that the team had faced in 2025 - including injuries and a difficult draw - had made this year’s premiership even sweeter than the last.

It hasn’t been without his own moments of distress.

The All-Australian rushed home to Adelaide in July after his beloved mother, Sally, suffered a stroke.

“It was a little bit scary at first - I didn’t really know the extent of what she went through,” Bailey told this masthead.

Bailey’s premiership win was extra sweet after his mum Sally’s (L) health scare. Picture: David Caird

“But I got there to Adelaide and got to see her and she was doing much better than I thought she was going to do, which made me feel a lot better.

“I’m glad she’s pretty much made a full recovery and is going well.

“It’s awesome (having her here today). She’s made so many sacrifices for me growing up, and I’ll be forever in her debt.

“She had that little bit of a scare, but she’s on the mend and she’s doing really well.”

Every dirty pair of footy socks and day on oranges duty was worth it for Sally, who was front and square in the celebrations in the Brisbane rooms, warning “she may cry”.

“It’s really surreal, especially seeing as it’s the third time we’ve been in, but the first was really sad. It’s really quite unbelievable,” Sally said.

Fans at the 'G react to the Lions winning the flag

“In some ways, watching your kids play football is absolutely normal.

“Leanne Hipwood (mother of Eric) once told me that it’s exactly the same, you just don’t have to wash the guernseys and you don’t have to cut any oranges.

“So it’s a lot the same - surrounded by sweaty boys, waiting for them to come out of the changeroom, but it’s just as exciting when they win.

“You’d do it again, wouldn’t you? It’s worth it every day.”