Three days of straight partying came to an abrupt end for one Brisbane Lions star at Mad Monday celebrations, but it might not have been the booze that was his undoing.
The two-time AFL premiers partied like rock stars from the moment they left the stage at the MCG with their premiership medals to their private Mad Monday function at a rooftop bar in Brisbane.
However, the festivities ended early for young star Kai Lohmann, who exited the venue shirtless and appeared to be sick in a garden with the sun still riding high in the sky.
He was then assisted into an Uber by teammate Eric Hipwood to presumably take him home, his Mad Monday done and dusted.
However, there were extenuating circumstances for Lohmann.
The 22-year-old copped an accidental knee to the head from teammate Logan Morris in the first quarter of the grand final in an incident that left him bleeding profusely from the ear.
Eric Hipwood (left) is pictured helping his teammate Kai Lohmann out at their Mad Monday celebrations in Brisbane
Lohmann had to leave the celebrations early after appearing to be sick
Lohmann copped a bad knock to the head in the grand final, which may have impacted him at Mad Monday
He later admitted that he lost hearing in that ear for the duration of the match.
‘I’ve got a thick head, I was all right. Good shiner, and this was another one (points to just outside his ear), I had to get stitches in me ear,’ he said after the game.
‘Couldn’t hear for a quarter, I had heaps of blood in there. It was a little weird (not to be able to hear), but you can’t really hear anything anyway, when there’s 100,000 fans out there.
‘I was just trying to listen out for the boys through my right ear.’
Lohmann returned to the field to be one of the Lions’ best, including booting two crucial goals.
The latest knock caps off a disrupted year of injuries, before he came home strongly to play a key role in the Lions premiership.
‘I think this means more. To do it back to back. Being hunted all year,’ he said.
‘I’ve been injured pretty much all year. I’ve had some hard times this year. It means a lot more. I feel like I’ve worked so much harder for it.
Lohmann was left bleeding after copping friendly fire from a teammate in the first quarter of Saturday’s win over Geelong
He later admitted that he lost hearing in his left ear for the rest of the AFL grand final
‘It’s been a pretty hard year with injuries every week. I haven’t really had many injuries and played through injuries.
‘It means a lot. I’m just grateful to get this opportunity again and win it again.’
The Brisbane Lions roster looked worse for wear but triumphant as they rolled into their Mad Monday celebrations after what has been described as an all-weekend blowout.
The Lions secured back-to-back AFL premierships on Saturday, capturing their fifth title overall and becoming the most successful club of the 21st century.
They thrashed Geelong by 47 points at the MCG, powered by a best-on-ground performance from Will Ashcroft, who claimed his second consecutive Norm Smith Medal.
And from the siren on Saturday at the MCG to the rooftop bar in Brisbane on Monday, the Lions players have barely stopped celebrating.
The players rocked up to a rooftop bar for their Mad Monday celebrations after two days of straight partying, some looking worse for wear, others ready to go all over again.
They kept their costumes under wraps for the waiting media, concealed in bags to put on at their private function.
Hugh McCluggage had a blinder in the grand final and appeared ready for a blinder at Mad Monday as well, with the premiership trophy in tow
Lachie Neale was hitting the tins before he even got into the Mad Monday venue in Brisbane
Dark sunglasses were a common theme for the Lions players, who concealed their costumes in bags as they made their way into the venue
Oscar McInerney arrived ready to party like an NRL player with fresh kit bought from a merchandise store
Emerging tall Darcy Wilmot gave a hint to his costume, carrying a pink Cowboy hat outside of his concealed outfit. He was also nursing a cast on his left arm, the price of victory.
Hugh McCluggage had the honours of carrying the premiership trophy into the party, hiding his eyes behind dark sunglasses.
Big Oscar McInerney, who missed last year’s grand final through injury, arrived carrying freshly purchased NRL gear, possibly Newcastle Knights merch.
Captain Lachie Neale, who busted the game open in the second half after there were fears he would miss the decider with a busted calf, threw a couple of curve balls about his costume.
He walked into the venue carrying a straw hat, colourful attire and a cheeky can of rum.
However, he also shared an image to Instagram dressed as a Teletubby from the strange but popular children’s show from the 1990s.
‘Back to back’ he posted in an image showing an unidentified player wearing a dress and holding a beer along with defender Darcy Gardiner in a costume that looked like it was from reality television show Survivor.
The partying began at the MCG, where the players lingered for some time, sharing embraces with loved ones and their first of many beers.
Brandon Starcevich celebrates with supporters at the MCG just after the Lions claimed their back-to-back premierships on Saturday
Lachie Neale posted this image to his Instagram on Monday, but it is unclear whether he actually dressed as a Teletubby
Cam Rayner shared pictures of his dogs Ani and Obi wearing his premiership medal in the wee hours of the morning
Then it was into the full party mode, with Will Ashcroft sharing an image of beers on the team bus captioned ‘my dawgs #back2back’.
Charlie Cameron shared footage from the official after party on Saturday night, riding the shoulders of an unknown person and replicating his goal celebration dance to the tune of the Black Eyed Peas.
Sunday brought a scaled-back public celebration: the team gathered at Fitzroy for a fan day before flying home to Queensland.
But Sunday night was far from quiet, with veteran Dayne Zorko revealing some players were still sending videos at 5am.
One player guilty of throwing around cheeky images was Cam Rayner, who shared pics of his two dogs Ani and Obi – yes they were named after Star Wars – wearing his premiership medal.
It capped off a best-on-ground weekend of celebrations for Rayner, with Zorko crowning the Lions star for his efforts.
‘Cam Rayner has probably been best on ground, I don’t know how he’s still going he was sending me videos at 5am, he got home at 6am the day before,’ Zorko said.
‘He’s had a fair dinkum go. We will have some more drinks today [Monday] and then our B&F [best and fairest] on Thursday.’
The celebrations started at the MCG, continued on the team bus and didn’t stop for the back-to-back premiers
Jaspa Fletcher shows off his premiership medal at the after party in Melbourne on Saturday
Charlie Cameron kicked four goals in the grand final and celebrated just as hard. He’s pictured on somebody’s shoulders while hitting the dance floor
Last year, coach Chris Fagan was guilty of going a bit too hard at the post-premiership celebrations. He said he learned his lesson this time around.
‘I watched a few highlights when I got back from the function,’ he said of his celebrations. ‘It was 4am last year, it was 11pm last night.
‘Had one beer and feel fresh today. There’s a fair few functions coming up.
‘The thing I enjoyed the most was when Oscar McInerney and Darcy Gardiner got their medals. That was special. They carried the cup off the ground as well.’
