Ty Gallop: Brisbane's finals hero, and the quintessential Lion

Jake Beddard

Ty Gallop: Brisbane's finals hero, and the quintessential Lion image

Most had never heard of the name 'Ty Gallop' entering Saturday night, and even fewer would have known it coming into September. But the unknown 19-year-old is now responsible for the sleepless week that awaits Collingwood captain Darcy Moore, while also helping lift Brisbane to their third consecutive Grand Final.

12 months ago Gallop wasn't even AFL-listed when Brisbane ended a 21-year premiership drought. Now the academy recruit has the chance to help his side go back-to-back, against the team that initially bid on him at pick 42 in last year's draft.

So unknown is Gallop that his official player profile on Brisbane's club website doesn't even have a biography for him. But, he does have a special spot on the stat sheet, after being the highest rated player on the ground in Saturday night's preliminary final against Collingwood.

In just his fifth game at AFL level, Gallop booted three crucial goals for the Lions (a team-high), while also bringing down a game-high three contested marks, and quelling the impact of Darcy Moore, who was arguably the Pies' best player a fortnight ago. 

MORE: AFL Preliminary Final Brisbane player ratings: Collingwood can't go with Hugh McLuggage

In the fourth quarter alone, he had a goal and three marks.

Heading into the biggest game of his life, Gallop had just one goal to his name in four encounters. But in last week's semi-final against Gold Coast, he finally started to look settled at the level, kicking his first ever goal, and taking seven marks. 

His performance on Saturday was a revelation for Chris Fagan, who has been desperately looking to deliver Logan Morris with some support up forward, especially after Eric Hipwood's season-ending injury a few weeks ago.

"We look like we got another player in Ty Gallop, that's pretty exciting. Five games in and he's going to play in a Grand Final," Fagan gushed post-game on Fox Footy.

Despite the imminent arrival of Oscar Allen in free agency, Gallop and Morris might just be the future of the Lions' forward line moving forward.

But Gallop's arrival on the biggest stage is as surprising as his selection was in the qualifying final against Geelong was two weeks ago. Prior to week one of September he had just two games under his belt for zero goals. Fagan took a gamble including him against the Cats, and even more so by holding him in the side over veteran Sam Day, with both players goalless in the defeat to Geelong. 

But the decision has paid dividends, and could play a big role in Fagan becoming a two-time premiership coach.

Gallop is just the latest of a number of Lions that have emerged almost from nowhere over the club's journey to become a big part of their success. Can he help them go back-to-back?

Jake Beddard

Jake Beddard is a contributing Wires Writer at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia.