Brisbane has climbed to the top of the AFL mountain for the second consecutive year, defeating Geelong by 47 points.

After a tug-of-war in the first half, the Lions piled on 13 goals to six to join the game's history as one of the latest dynasties.

The move to bring in co-captain Lachie Neale as the sub worked, with the two-time Brownlow medallist gathering 18 disposals, seven clearances and a goal in the second half of the game.

The on-ball brigade of Hugh McCluggage, Will Ashcroft and Josh Dunkley were superb, as well as Zac Bailey, Jaspa Fletcher and Harris Andrews.

The Lions, despite finishing third, played in all four weeks of September, progressing through Gold Coast and Collingwood after the loss to the Cats, only to face them again in the decider.

 2025-09-27T04:30:00Z 
Brisbane WON BY 47 POINTS
MCG
GEEL   
75
FT
122
   BL
    #AFLCatsLions
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   

Here's how it unfolded...

Brisbane are the 2025 AFL Premiers!

Will Ashcroft has won the Norm Smith Medal after collecting 32 disposals, 10 clearances, three goal assists and a goal.

4th Quarter

FULL TIME
Geelong: 11. 9. 75
Brisbane: 18. 14. 122

0:57: Shaun Mannagh chimes in with a six-pointer, dragging the margin under 50 points. Brisbane 122-75.

1:16: Dempsey kicks his fourth major for the day. Brisbane 122-69.

2:09: Dempsey finds another goal. Brisbane 122-63.

3:08: Hugh McCluggage has kicked his fourth goal. Brisbane 121-57.

3:35: Consolation prize for Geelong as Ollie Dempsey finds his way past Callum Ah Chee for a mark inside 50. Brisbane 115-57.

4:49: Cam Rayner with his third rundown tackle on Bailey Smith leads to a Hugh McCluggage goal from the boundary. Smiles all round. Brisbane 115-51.

5:54: Bailey has finally found his kicking boots. Nine shots on goal from the Lions forward, but he's found the big sticks on his past two occasions. Brisbane 109-51.

8:09: It's Lohmann's time now! Quick hands from Neale and Gallop, and the MCG has erupted. Brisbane 103-50.

8:34: Bailey finally kicks his second, and the celebrations have begun.

A patient build-up by the Lions sees the Brisbane forward kick the goal from just outside 50. He takes his tally to 2.6 for the day, but has been influential.

13:50: McCluggage joins the party!!

A second Brisbane hand has been placed on the premiership cup. Brisbane 89-50.

CROWD: 100,022 has flooded to the MCG for the 2025 AFL Grand Final.

14:57: ASHCROFT slots another!!!

Brisbane has quickly put this game beyond doubt. Neale collects a forward 50 stoppage, finds the father-son gun, who snaps it through the big sticks.

15:33: RAYNER GOAL!!

The Lions forward capitalises on a cross-goal turnover from Zach Guthrie, putting one Brisbane hand on the premiership cup. Brisbane 77-50.

16:21: A much-needed goal for Geelong. End-to-end ball movement leads to a Mark Blicavs mark inside 50, and a subsequent 50-metre penalty makes a certainty of the result. Brisbane 71-50.

INJURY WATCH: Brandon Starcevich (concussion) will not return in today's grand final.

17:30: Zac Bailey hits the post for his sixth behind of the day. The margin extends, but gives Geelong some hope, albeit minimal.

19:14: Charlie Cameron kicks his fourth goal of the game, extending the margin to 25 points.

Cam Rayner applies a bone-crunching tackle and an errant kick forward by Will Ashcroft finds Cameron directly in front.

Rhys Stanley subbed out of the game, replaced by Jack Martin. Jeremy Cameron has remained out on the ground.

Only one team has trailed at three-quarter time in an AFL grand final and won. Geelong in 2009 against St Kilda.

3rd Quarter

Three-Quarter Time
Geelong: 6. 8. 44
Brisbane: 9. 9. 63

Despite the injury carnage, the pressure applied by Brisbane has rattled Geelong, and put scoreboard pressure, kicking four goals to one.

Lachie Neale collected six disposals and kicked a crucial goal after being injected into the game at halftime.

Charlie Cameron slotted a pair of goals that helped the Lions wrestle momentum.

Brisbane leads inside 50s (47-40), possessions (260-245), clearances (34-28) and tackles (55-44).

0:51: NEALE!!! The super sub has kicked the Lions' third goal in a row.

A chaos ball forward found Dayne Zorko, who released the two-time Brownlow Medallist running inside 50.

1:35: Charlie Cameron has kicked his third goal, putting some breathing space between Brisbane and Geelong. Brisbane 57-44.

Country Road, Take me Home!!

INJURY WATCH: Footage has shown Brandon Starcevich heading down into the rooms and Jeremy Cameron not being sighted in over 10 minutes.

Jack Martin is expected to replace him.

3:49: Charlie Cameron breaks the deadlock, slotting his second for the afternoon.

The Lions forced the ball forward from the back half, leading to Cameron taking a contested mark on Jhye Clark directly in front of goal. Brisbane 51-44.

INJURY WATCH: Brandon Starcevich copped a heavy knock in a marking contest and struggled to get to his feet. He came straight to the bench.

He has a long history of concussion and head knocks.

6:54: ANOTHER behind for Zac Bailey. It's his fifth for the day. Puts Brisbane in front with that score.

10:13: Max Holmes repays Jeremy Cameron for his extraordinary chase-down chase. The Cats steal the lead after Gryan Miers finds Holmes inside 50. Geelong 44-43.

However, Cameron was seen holding his forearm and came straight to the bench.

Brisbane has been awarded four free kicks in the first six minutes of the third quarter, matching the entire first half. The momentum is in the Lions favour.

14:47: Zac Bailey finally breaks the drought, kicking his first for the match after four behinds. Lions in front.

15:30: No goals yet in the premiership quarter. Lachie Neale has been amongst the ball while Jeremy Cameron's forearm is heavily padded. Geelong 38-36.

Brisbane has injected Lachie Neale into the contest, pulling youngster Sam Marshall out of the grand final (tactical).

Gold Coast key forward Jed Walter won the halftime grand final sprint, narrowly beating Collingwood speedster and last year's winner Beau McCreery and Richmond small Maurice Rioli Jr.

2nd Quarter

Half Time
Geelong: 5. 6. 36
Brisbane: 5. 6. 36

For the first time since 1909, the scores are level at halftime in a grand final.

Jaspa Fletcher and the Ashcroft brothers have been superb for the Lions.

Lawson Humphries has been excellent for Geelong, going at 100 per cent effective from 12 disposals and a goal assist.

In terms of team stats, the two clubs, like the scoreline, can barely be split.

Disposals (165), kicks (103), and handballs (62) can't be split. Inside 50s (27-26), clearances (19-20), and turnovers (27-28) are also very similar.

The crowd is understood to be over 100,000 at the MCG.

Match-ups:

Mark Blicavs is sitting on Harris Andrews but has sacrificed his ruck role.

Mullin and O'Connor are still running with McCluggage and Rayner to relatively good effect.

2:58: Geelong's Brad Close draws the game to level pegging.

Excellent defensive pressure from Mark O'Connor on Cam Rayner to turn the ball over inside the centre square.

INJURY WATCH: Jeremy Cameron collided with Patrick Dangerfield, with the Coleman medallist having his jaw clipped.

He also hurt his shoulder and looks to be in a lot of pain.

Geelong defender Sam De Koning copped a knock from Oscar McInerney.

5:45: Levi Ashcroft is built for the big stage, responding to Neale's bomb. The younger brother steps around Jhye Clark and kicks it from 50.

He's had eight disposals and been involved in plenty of second-term plays.

6:08: Shannon Neale slots a monster from outside 50. Against the run of play, the Cats forward stands up when his team needs it most. Brisbane 30-29.

Darcy Gardiner has kept Jeremy Cameron to four disposals and no real forward 50 presence. A super effort from the Lions defender.

10:56: Hugh McCluggage gets one back on Mullin. Will Ashcroft's crafty inside 50 kick finds the Lions midfielder in a one-on-one and beats the Irishman.

The cream of the crop is rising in this one. Brisbane 30-23.

15:43: Charlie Cameron has entered the building. Brisbane ball movement on show from one end to another, but a piece of brilliance from the Lions forward from the boundary puts the Queensland club in front.

16:40: Logan Morris responds for Brisbane. A strong contested mark against Jack Henry from a quick kick from Hugh McCluggage. Cats 22-18.

18:38: Jack Bowes kicks off the scoring in the second term. A holding free-kick against Bruce Reville gifts the former Sun a six-pointer.

1st Quarter

Quarter Time
Geelong: 2. 3. 15
Brisbane: 1. 6. 12

A very hot contest to start proceedings in the 2025 decider.

Geelong had the upper hand in the early stages, but the Lions wrestled back momentum, although they were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard.

Max Holmes (11 disposals) and Will Ashcroft (nine) lead all-comers in possessions.

Match-ups:

Cam Rayner is yet to have a disposal. McCluggage has had five touches, but Mullin kicked a goal on him.

Darcy Gardiner is doing a good job on Jeremy Cameron, limiting him to two disposals and no real scoring threat, forcing him further up the ground to get into the game.

Callum Ah Chee and Ollie Dempsey have also started strongly, although the latter has hit the scoreboard.

Zac Bailey has forgotten his kicking boots. The dangerous Lion has kicked four behinds in the opening term.

4:04: Mullin has done it again. The Irish Cat has kicked a running goal, taking a bounce from the centre win, streaming inside 50 to put Geelong back in front.

That will hurt Hugh McCluggage. Geelong 14-11.

6:10: The Lions ball movement is a thing of beauty, ending with a Kai Lohmann goal.

He kicked four in last year's decider, and dressed as a mummy (head tape), he puts Brisbane back in front.

9:11: Ollie Dempsey with the first goal in the 2025 AFL Grand Final. The Cats pounce on a turnover inside forward 50. Geelong 8-3.

9:55: Still no goals.

14:33: Lions forward cops a heavy knock to the head, causing a blood rule to be enforced. Hot start. One behind for each club.

17:30: Mark O'Connor has gone to Cam Rayner. Oisin Mullin has gone to Hugh McCluggage. The Cats have one behind their to name. No score for Brisbane.

Brisbane's Josh Dunkley has gone straight to Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield.

Chris Fagan has also sent Darcy Gardiner to Jeremy Cameron.

20:00 (mins remaining): We're underway at the MCG...

Pre-Game:

2:28pm - Brisbane won the coin toss and will kick to the City End.

1:30pm - Grand Final entertainment

Opening Act - Baker Boy, Emma Donovan and Kee'ahn

1:37pm - Mike Brady

1:43pm - Snoop Dogg

Full Grand Final Day schedule here.

1:30pm - Geelong, Brisbane make sub calls

Jack Martin and Lachie Neale have been named as tactical subs.

12:00pm - Future Stars Game

Carlton Father-Son prospect Cody Walker showed his class in the annual U17s Futures match played as a curtain-raiser to the AFL Grand Final on the MCG.

The match featured 46 of the country's most talented U17s footballers.

All representatives will be eligible for selection in the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft.

The teams were named in honour of recently retired AFL greats Travis Boak and Sam Docherty, with Team Boak winning 14.5 (89) to 11.10 (76).

Team Boak: Noah Williams, Tanner Armstrong, Wil Malady, Marlon Neocleous, Garrison Kenh, Archie Hill, Angus White

Team Docherty: Cody Walker, Jordan Knapp, Kodah Edwards, Gabe Patterson, Jack Gordon, Heath Mellody

Full report here.

10:30am - We're four hours out from the opening bounce, with the MCG crowd beginning to roll through the gates. The players are expected to arrive at the ground close to midday, and the pre-game entertainment will commence from 1:30pm.

9:30am - U17s Future Stars game set to get underway! The annual Grand Final Day clash at the MCG will commence from 9:35am, with the best prospects for next year's draft set to go head-to-head. Among the players to feature are Carlton father-son talent Cody Walker, potential Pick 1 selection Dougie Cochrane and exciting Sandringham forward Arki Butler.

Famous AFL names selected in Vic Metro and Vic Country summer squads
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - June 8: Cody Walker of Vic Country takes possession of the ball during the AFL 2024 Under 16 Boys Championships match between Vic Metro and Vic Country at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on June 08, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos)

8:42am - The BOM's weather forecast for the day: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower during the evening. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning westerly in the early afternoon then decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h in the evening.

8:05am - All eyes are on Lions co-captain Lachie Neale and his fitness, with today set to prove whether Brisbane's risk will pay off. The two-time Brownlow Medal winner is now expected to start the decider as the sub.

According to 7 News' Mitch Cleary, the Lions will name Neale as the sub, meaning Bruce Reville will start in the Grand Final.

Finals teams will be confirmed at 1:30pm, with the Cats likely to call on young midfielder Jhye Clark for the sub role once more.

7:20am - It's finally Grand Final Day! We're just hours from the opening bounce, with plenty to preview in the build-up!

The Cats look set to enter the contest as the favoured side, having defeated the Lions to the tune of 38 points earlier this month before a convincing preliminary final victory over Hawthorn last week.

The loss to Geelong forced the Lions to take the long route to this weekend, claiming wins over Gold Coast and Collingwood across weeks two and three of the series.

Team Selection

Geelong

Ins: Rhys Stanley
Outs: Tom Stewart (concussion)

FB: C.O'Sullivan, S.De Koning, J.Henry
HB: M.O'Connor, Z.Guthrie, L.Humphries
C: G.Miers, M.Holmes, O.Dempsey
HF: B.Close, S.Mannagh, T.Stengle
FF: S.Neale, J.Cameron, P.Dangerfield
FO: R.Stanley, B.Smith, T.Atkins
IC: J.Bowes, O.Mullin, M.Blicavs, J.Martin, J.Clark

EMG: M.Knevitt, J.Bews, O.Henry

Brisbane

Ins: Lachie Neale
Outs: Jarrod Berry (shoulder)

FB: D.Zorko, D.Gardiner, R.Lester
HB: D.Wilmot, H.Andrews, B.Starcevich
C: H.McCluggage, L.Neale, L.Ashcroft
HF: C.Cameron, T.Gallop, Z.Bailey
FF: C.Rayner, L.Morris, C.Ah Chee
FO: D.Fort, J.Dunkley, W.Ashcroft
IC: K.Lohmann, J.Fletcher, S.Marshall, B.Reville, O.McInerney

EMG: S.Day, J.Tunstill, D.Joyce

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