AFL
2 months ago
Grand Final: Lions bury Cats with late avalanche to claim back-to-back flags
By Emily Benammar, Lachlan Geleit
- Follow the big moments here
- Stream the AFL Grand Final live here
- Snoop Dogg performed a huge pre-game show
Brisbane are back-to-back AFL premiers after defeating Geelong 75–122 at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
After the scores were level at half-time, the Lions pulled away late in the third to take a 19-point lead into the last break.
That train kept on rolling in the last as they stormed away to bury the Cats to win by 47 points.
Chris Fagan’s side kicked 13 goals to six in the second half as they put some distance between themselves and their opposition, while Lachie Neale’s inclusion as a sub at half-time made a huge difference as Brisbane got on top on ball.
Charlie Cameron (four goals) did the damage up forward, particularly when the game was on the line late in the third term and early in the fourth, while Will Ashcroft (one goal, 32 disposals), Zac Bailey (three goals, 23 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (four goals, 26 disposals) were everywhere.
It’s Brisbane’s 13th overall premiership (eight as Fitzroy and five as Brisbane).
The Lions are the 24th team in V/AFL history to win back-to-back flags.
Check out how the action went down across the day below!
FULL TIME
Geelong 11.9 (75) def by Brisbane 18.14 (122)
A simply phenomenal second half from Brisbane secures them the 2025 AFL Grand Final by 47 points.
5:15pm McCluggage gets off the leash!
After copping a tag from Oisin Mullin early, Hugh McCluggage is loving some freedom late here in this Grand Final.
The smooth-moving midfielder has his fourth major to put himself right into Norm Smith Medal calculations.
He's also had more than 20 disposals. What an outing for so many Brisbane stars.
5:06pm It's party time now!
Goals to Zac Bailey and Kai Lohmann have pushed the lead out to 53 points.
It's now just a matter of by how much the Lions will win by.
What a second-half performance!
4:56pm Game. Set. Match.
Consecutive goals to Will Ashcroft and Hugh McCluggage have iced this for the Lions.
They lead by 39 points with 13:50 left in the last quarter.
After such an arm wrestle throughout the game, it feels like the Cats are dropping their heads.
This could get ugly!
4:52pm That might do it!
A huge defensive lapse from Zach Guthrie and Connor O'Sullivan close to Brisbane's goal and Cam Rayner makes them pay.
The Lions lead by 27 and it looks like they're heading for back-to-back flags!
4:51pm Cats get one back
Back-to-back misses from Cameron and Bailey at the other end and Mark Blicavs makes them pay from the goalsquare after being awarded a 50m penalty.
The Cats now trail by 21. It's not over yet.
4:45pm Charlie, again!
Charlie Cameron has his fourth as the Lions lead 44-69 early in the fourth term.
While they're pulling away, they're down to just three men on the bench with Brandon Starcevich ruled out.
Is this the slight opening Geelong need to break through? They'll need to get going soon if they're to come back.
4:43pm Martin into the game
Jack Martin has been subbed in for Geelong, with Rhys Stanley (tactical) taken out of the game.
THREE QUARTER TIME
Geelong 6.8 (44) trail Brisbane 9.9 (63)
The Lions take a 19-point lead into three quarter time after a powerful end to the third term.
Brisbane kicked four goals to one in the 'premiership quarter' as they begun to get on top in the middle and give their forwards deep inside 50 entries.
There's no obvious Norm Smith leader if the Lions are to prevail, but Max Holmes is clearly in front for Geelong should the Cats come back and he continues to have a big say.
It's going to be tough for Geelong from here if they don't strike early in the fourth as Jeremy Cameron looks set to return with his arm heavily strapped up.
4:35pm Take Me Home, Country Roads!
Charlie Cameron has sprung to life here late in the third term, kicking two goals to take his tally for the game to 3.0.
No other player player has kicked two.
While Lachie Neale showed he's not hampered by nailing a long running goal from near the 50m arc.
The Lions now lead 44-63. Is this the premiership push in the premiership quarter?
They could be hard to catch here in their quest for back-to-back flags.
4:20pm Cats hit the lead as Jezza goes off
Max Holmes has put the Cats up 44-43 with a beautiful set shot goal.
Holmes' goal was set up by Jeremy Cameron who tackled Jaspa Fletcher in the middle of the 'G.
But after making the tackle, Jezza fell on his right arm and the forward was clearly in serious pain, causing him to head down to the rooms.
Is this the last we see of the Coleman Medallist today?
4:14pm Bailey draws first second-half blood for Lions
Zac Bailey has finally broken through for his first goal of the game, soccering through front point blank range to give the Lions a 38-42 lead.
It feels like this could be only our third close Grand Final since 2014!
4:06pm Neale enters the game
The Lions have activated their sub with Lachie Neale injected into the game to start the second half.
Sam Marshall has been tactically subbed out of the game.
Jeremy Cameron also has a guard on his right arm after that Dangerfield collision.
3:57 Half-time sprint
Gold Coast's Jed Walter has taken out the AFL Grand Final half-time sprint.
The big Sun finished ahead of Collingwood's Beau McCreery in second and Richmond's Maurice Rioli Jr in third.
Aussie sprint sensation Gout Gout fired the starting pistol, while boxer and guest sprinter Harry Garside easily finished last.
HALF TIME
Geelong 5.6 (36) v Brisbane 5.6 (36)
This one is perfectly set up with the scores level at the main break.
The Lions had the better of that term, kicking 4.0 to 3.3.
Scores haven't been level at half-time of a V/AFL Grand Final since 1909.
Will Ashcroft (17 disposals) and Dayne Zorko (14 disposals) have been Brisbane's best, while Max Holmes (17 disposals) is enjoying his first decider.
This one is anyone's game.
3:33pm Friendly fire
Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron have collided in a big collision inside Geelong's forward 50.
Cameron's jaw appeared to collect Danger's back, with the forward also looking a bit worse for wear as he grabbed his forearm in the wake of the clash.
The forward didn't go off immediately, although he may be forced to undertake a concussion test during half-time.
The scores are now 36-36 after Brad Close's goal.
3:30pm Neale and Ashcroft trade long bombs
Just as it looked like momentum was swinging Brisbane's way, Shannon Neale thumped a long bomb to make it a one-point game.
But as soon as the ball headed back to the middle, the Lions broke from the centre with the youngest player on the field Levi Ashcroft nailing one from outside the arc on the run.
The scores are now 29-36, with the Lions having much of the play in the second.
3:16pm Charlie kicks a ripper
Charlie Cameron has kicked an absolute ripper at the Punt Road End to put the Lions up 22-24 early in the second term.
The small forward hit a drop punt sweetly while on the run from 40m out, up against the boundary.
He then hit a Snoop Dogg celebration! The Lions have kicked two goals to one here to begin the second term.
The neutrals will hope this stays tight.
QUARTER TIME
Geelong 2.3 (15) lead Brisbane 1.6 (12)
A tough game of footy between two sides that appear up to it.
The Lions were wasteful in front of goal, but both sides have gone inside 50 on 14 occasions.
Max Holmes, Ollie Dempsey and Gryan Miers have been Geelong's best, while Will Ashcroft has been everywhere for Brisbane.
Zac Bailey had one of the great 'almost' quarters, with 0.4 from six touches.
Game on.
2:53 Lions get going
Kai Lohmann has kicked Brisbane's first goal of the 2025 decider, 21 minutes into the first term.
The small forward suffered a nasty knee to the head earlier in the quarter, but he's back on the field now despite having a big bandage wrapped around his face.
Lohmann's goal came from a regulation set-shot 40m out after a lovely Hugh McCluggage kick inside 50.
Will this spark the side?
2:47pm Dempsey kicks the first
Ollie Dempsey has kicked the first goal of the 2025 AFL Grand Final at the 15:28 minute mark of the first quarter.
The wingman was free in the goalsqaure and booted it through from point blank range after the ball got over the top.
It was a long wait for the first major of the day after Zac Bailey missed twice, Darcy Wilmot narrowly missed a snap and Sam De Koning wasted a set shot.
The game has been a real arm-wrestle so far, with the score 8-3 when Dempsey's goal went through.
2:30pm Here. We. Go.
It's Mark Blicavs against Darcy Fort in the ruck for the first bounce of the 2025 AFL Grand Final.
After such a big build up, which side will rise to the occasion and stake an early claim as the team of the 2020s?
Follow along for all of the big moments.
2:00pm Snoop Dogg shines at the MCG
The American rapper has completed his pre-game show at the MCG!
Snoop played a raft of crowd pleasers, with AFL Nation's Gerard Whateley labelling the performance one that fans will talk about for some time!
1:30pm The final teams are IN
Geelong and Brisbane have confirmed their final 23s for the 2025 Grand Final.
Lachie Neale will start as the substitute for the Lions after recovering from his calf injury. It's the first time the Lions co-captain has started as the sub since Round 1, 2014.
The Cats have confirmed that Jack Martin will start as their substitute. Jhye Clark was Geelong's sub in both of their previous finals this campaign.
No late changes were made.
12:24pm Healy's left field selection
Gerard Healy would quickly join the Crunch Time team to give his thoughts ahead of the match which saw him offer a left field selection option for the Lions.
He believes that Brisbane should have a tag on Tom Atkins noting the impact that the Cats midfielder can have for his side.
“Here’s one from me that’s a bit left field,” he said.
“I would put Dunkley onto Atkins.
“Because Atkins has been pivotal.
"If Dangerfield wasn’t here, Atkins would be much more talked about for his performances.”
12:10pm Gaz "can't make sense of Neale call"
Garry Lyon jumped on the panel with the Crunch Time team and was asked for his take on the Neale decision.
"I can’t make sense of it," he said. "My issue would be if they get an injury in the first five minutes and they don’t come back on.
"Lachie goes on with great intent and purpose but does the calf and then they’re two down.
"If they did it the other way and Lachie starts but is then no good, he comes off and they get the sub in so they still have a full 22.
"If they get through til halfway through the third quarter, then he’s a nice weapon to activate. Lachie might be in all sorts of trouble but make it to the line.
"It all adds to the intrigue of the afternoon."
11:47am Lions coy on Neale role change:
Brisbane Lions' General Manager of Football Danny Daly joined the Crunch Time team this morning, so of course the first question was about Lachie Neale.
As reported by SEN's Sam Edmund, will Lachie be the starting sub? How much has the Neale noise impacted the team?
“It’s one of those ones where game day Fages decides what he wants to do when he gets to the ground so we will know more then,” Daly said.
“It hasn’t been an added layer of difficulty. Lachie has gone about his business in the background. Lachie basically said to us he would go away and do everything he could, he has done that.
“We haven’t checked in every day or made a big focus; it’s all been in the background. It’s ramped up in the last week and made some more noise in the media. He is a professional on the field but what he has done off field has been extraordinary.
“We put our trust in his decision, we know he wouldn’t do it if he wasn’t right. He played through injuries in the finals series last year as well, we have great belief in him.”
The team also asked about Jarrod Berry and the heart-breaking decision to rule him out of today’s clash.
The 27-year-old dislocated his shoulder in the prelim against Collingwood with club and player deeming the risk too high
“When we got to Thursday morning, we chatted to him and Fages,” Daly continued. “We concluded it was not worth the risk and the chances of him doing it again are extremely high.
“Jarrod basically made the call that we couldn’t take the risk. He is fantastic how he’s gone about it. He’s gone through a lot of heartbreak the young man.”
TOP NEWS Selection news from our man Sam Edmund
He's played just 96 minutes of football in the last 56 days.
"Strong word now that Lachie Neale is the starting sub for Brisbane today," says Edmund.
"Is it a concession from the Lions he’s unlikely to get through an entire Grand Final?"
"Huge call, regardless. Two-time Brownlow medallist and two-time Grand Final starting sub."
It's 12 years since Neale started as sub for Fremantle in the 2013 Grand Final.
Bruce Reville is into the 22.
The Brisbane Lions star has been selected in the 23 for the season decider against Geelong at the MCG on Saturday despite injuring his calf just a few weeks ago.
Neale praised the Lions medical staff for helping him return to full fitness after he thought his season was over following the Qualifying Final loss to the Cats.
“A lot of help from the medical staff and a great plan,” Neale told SEN’s Fireball.
“I think I looked like a bit of a goose on Instagram when I put up a post saying I was done for the year. I might have to take that one down.
“It was probably a week after I was able to do a little bit more function-wise than what was expected. From there it progressed pretty quickly.”
11:40am Norm Smith voting panel:
Andrew McLeod, Hawks legend Luke Hodge, AFLW great Kate McCarthy, Richmond great Jack Riewoldt, and West Coast premiership winning coach Adam Simpson.
11:15am Baz arrives almost four hours early
Vision from the MCG shows Bailey Smith arrived almost four hours before the bounce!
Chris Scott is known to let players go about their preparations in their own way - which is why Jeremy Cameron slept at his home last night as opposed to the team hotel.
So why is Smith there so early?
Mitch Duncan says don't panic - it's normal.
"It’s normal for Baz," he told Channel 7. "He will sit for 40 mins an go about his routine.
"He does this all the time. He’s had an impact on a lot of players and staff at the club.
"I'm excited to see him do his thing today."
11am No green room for Snoop
Maybe he doesn't like being too close to the action in the build up - needs his own space?
The American rapper has set himself up with a huge campervan behind a wall of fencing at the MCG as he awaits his moment to entertain the 100k strong crowd.
10am TIPS FROM OUR TALENT
Garry Lyon
Premiers: Geelong
Margin: 14 points
Norm Smith: Max Holmes (GEE)
First goal: Shaun Mannagh (GEE)
Tim Watson
Premiers: Geelong
Norm Smith: Bailey Smith (GEE)
First goal: Logan Morris (BRI)
Gerard Whateley
Premiers: Geelong
Margin: 16 points
Norm Smith: Patrick Dangerfield (GEE)
First goal: Kai Lohmann (BRI)
9:10 Dillon represents
The annual North Melbourne breakfast is underway and, as per tradition, when the guests on the main table enter the room, they come in to a song of choice.
I'm reliably inform that the AFL boss entered to Drop It Like It’s Hot by his best pal and footy lover Snoop Dogg.
She's looking glorious
8:45am The gates are open!
Thousands of fans have sprinted into the MCG after the gates opened in a bid to snap up their spot still six hours out from the bounce.
But it's what you do right? For the love of footy.
