It’s one of the biggest grand final superstitions, as neither captain wanted to be the first to let go of the premiership cup, but one man was able to get an early win.

Brisbane co-captain Josh Dunkley got one over on Alex Pearce, with the Freo man forced to let go of the cup first.

Both captains held onto the prized trophy for an age, but after a lengthy photoshoot, Dunkley was able to have the last grasp, using all the experience from his six grand finals after faking out handing back the cup, which saw Pearce let go.

Last year, Patrick Dangerfield was the first to let go of the cup with Lachie Neale watching intently to make sure he wasn’t the first, as the Lions would go on to win by 47 points.

The year before, Dane Rampe let go first as Sydney were smashed by 60 points in a grand final demolition.

However, in 2023, Harris Andrews took his hand off the cup first as Brisbane would go down in a heartbreaking four-point loss to Collingwood.

The Brisbane co-captain said he was “haunted all off-season” by the move.

“Collingwood made a big deal about holding the cup, being the last one to get go of the cup at the grand final parade,” he said the following year.

“It was a little awkward up on the stage because we’re sort of both standing there and I’m not really sure what’s happening.”

While it’s unlikely to have a material impact on the game, superstition runs deep within many a sporting code with Oscar Allen receiving some sage advice from West Coast premiership winner Mark LeCras.

“I haven’t touched the cup, haven’t touched the medal,” Allen said.

“(LeCras) was dropped late in the year (in 2006), and then his thing was he wouldn’t touch one until he was able to hopefully win one.

So when he won in ‘18, he said, ‘Don’t touch it, mate. Wait until you get one of your own.”