2025 AFL Grand Final

Geelong entered the 2025 season after a preliminary final loss to Brisbane in 2024. They finished second on the ladder with a 17–6 record, defeating Brisbane in the second qualifying final at the MCG, 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74), to qualify for the second preliminary final. There they faced Hawthorn, overcoming a strong first quarter from the Hawks before pulling away in the later stages to advance to the grand final with a score of 17.13 (115) to Hawthorn 13.7 (85). It was Geelong's first grand final since 2022, when they defeated Sydney by 81 points to claim the premiership. Brisbane entered 2025 as the reigning premiers, having defeated Sydney in the 2024 Grand Final. The Lions finished third on the ladder with a 16–6–1 record. They then faced Collingwood in a preliminary final at the MCG; despite a second-quarter surge from the Magpies, the Lions eventually won 15.10 (100) to 11.5 (71) to qualify for their third consecutive grand final. Geelong was aiming for its 11th VFL/AFL premiership and second in four years, while Brisbane was aiming for its fifth and the chance to win consecutive premierships for the first time since winning three in a row in 2001–2002–2003. The sides had never previously met in a grand final. The two teams met three times prior to the decider in 2025. Brisbane won both home-and-away encounters, winning 10.10 (70) to 9.7 (61) in round 3 at the Gabba and 14.8 (92) to 6.15 (51) in round 15 at Kardinia Park, before Geelong won the qualifying final. Geelong was a warm favourite with bookmakers with odds of $1.55 compared to Brisbane's $2.47 on the Thursday before the game. == Entertainment ==

performing during the prematch entertainment All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT +10) Snoop Dogg headlined the entertainment, reportedly for a A$2 million fee. The choice caused some controversy due to offensive and homophobic lyrics and posts from Snoop Dogg's past, criticism which was amplified by booking coming shortly after Adelaide Crows forward Izak Rankine had been suspended for using a homophobic slur on field. Australian artists, including Tash Sultana and Baker Boy, were later added to the pre-game show. During the match, the clubs were permitted to play music over the public address system as part of the celebrations after each goal. It had been an increasing trend over recent years for clubs across the league to incorporate music into their goal celebrations at home games, and 2025 was the first time this had been permitted in the grand final. == Match summary ==

The match was played in fine weather, with a maximum temperature of 19°C. Brisbane won the coin toss and kicked to the city end in the first quarter. Over the following ten minutes Brisbane had several scoring chances but managed only three behinds – including two difficult shots missed by Zac Bailey Brisbane's Kai Lohmann, head bandaged after having come off under the blood rule in the 9th minute after taking an accidental knee to the head, kicked Brisbane's first goal from a set shot in the 21st minute shortly after his return. The quarter was high on stoppages, with Brisbane leading clearances slightly 12–8. Geelong managed to quell Brisbane's typical short uncontested marking game by forcing Brisbane wide to the wings, To this point of the game, key match statistics were extremely balanced: the sides were equal on disposals (165–165), kicks (103–103) and handballs (62–62), and almost equal on clearances (Brisbane leading 20–19) and inside-50s (Geelong leading 27–26). The free kick count favoured Geelong (17–4). Brisbane was able to get its uncontested marking and ball movement through the centre square working in the second quarter, Third quarter Going into the second half, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan substituted Lachie Neale into the game, who had spent the preceding week under an injury cloud. Jeremy Cameron returned to the field, his fractured arm protected with a forearm guard, and kicked his first score, a behind, in the third minute. Geelong had the better of general play through the first part of the quarter, Overall Brisbane dominated all key statistical measures in the second half; and for the five statistics which were practically equal at half time, Brisbane finished with comfortable leads in disposals (361–319), kicks (230–199), handballs (131–120), clearances (52–37) and inside 50s (66–51). Brisbane also led tackles 76–51, and hitouts 64–46. The final free kick count was 22–17 in Geelong's favour. Norm Smith Medal won the Norm Smith Medal for the second time. The Norm Smith Medal was won by Brisbane midfielder Will Ashcroft for the second consecutive year, making him the youngest dual Norm Smith Medallist in the award's history. Ashcroft had 32 disposals, 10 clearances, 10 score involvements and a final-quarter goal, winning the medal with a score of 13 out of 15 possible votes. All other votes also went to Brisbane players. Full-back Harris Andrews was second with six votes; he helped Brisbane control territory with 18 disposals from 11 intercepts and kept Geelong forward Shannon Neale to only one goal. Midfielder-forward Zac Bailey was third with five votes; finishing with an inaccurate 3.6, he was nevertheless one of the few constant forward-line threats for either team up until three-quarter time. The remaining votes went to rebounding defenders Jaspa Fletcher (3 votes, 29 disposals, 6 intercepts) and Dayne Zorko (2 votes, 28 disposals, 716 metres gained), and midfielder Hugh McCluggage (1 vote, 26 disposals and 4 goals despite a heavy tag). Other Brisbane players ranked among the best included midfielder Lachie Neale (17 disposals and a goal after being substituted into the game at half-time); small forward Charlie Cameron (4 goals); defender Darcy Gardiner (kept Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron to 0.2); and rebounding defender Callum Ah Chee (17 disposals, 6 intercepts). Geelong's best players were wingman Ollie Dempsey (19 disposals, 4 goals); midfielders Max Holmes (33 disposals, 9 inside-50s and 907 metres gained), Tom Atkins (20 disposals, 10 clearances), and Bailey Smith (29 disposals, 4 clearances); and defender Lawson Humphries (23 disposals, 7 marks, and nullified Charlie Cameron in the first half). However, few Geelong players were able to have any influence in the decisive second half. Captain Patrick Dangerfield (tagged by Brandon Starcevich until his concussion) and forward Jeremy Cameron (defended by Darcy Gardiner), who had been dominant for Geelong in its preliminary final victory, Medal and cup presenters and Lachie Neale hoist the premiership cup with coach Chris Fagan The 2025 AFL Premiership Cup Ambassador was Jack Riewoldt, who carried the cup onto the ground before the match. The cup was presented by three-time premiership forward Jonathan Brown. The Jock McHale Medal for the premiership-winning coach was presented by 2018 premiership coach Adam Simpson. Four-time Hawthorn premiership player and dual Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge presented the Norm Smith Medal to the player judged best on ground, which was Will Ashcroft. The Ron Barassi Medal, awarded to the premiership captains, was presented by 1965 Essendon premiership captain Ken Fraser. == Teams ==

The teams were announced Thursday, 25 September. Geelong made one change to its preliminary final 23, with ruckman Rhys Stanley replacing five-time All-Australian defender Tom Stewart, who was unavailable after entering the AFL's mandatory 12-day concussion protocols following a heavy tackle in the preliminary final. Brisbane made one change to its preliminary final 23, with co-captain Lachie Neale returning from a calf injury to replace Jarrod Berry, who dislocated his shoulder in the preliminary final; Neale's injury, suffered in the qualifying final, had initially been expected to require a season-ending four-to-six-week recovery, but he made the recovery in three weeks and was named starting substitute. Coach Chris Fagan acknowledged after the match that he had been nervous about making the selection given Neale's injury cloud, noting that he would have been considered a "total idiot or total genius" depending on the outcome – coach John Longmire, for example, had drawn criticism in 2022 and 2024 for selecting injured players who were ultimately ineffective – but Neale proved to be a strong positive influence for Brisbane coming off the bench in the second half. Umpires The umpiring panel comprised four field umpires, four boundary umpires, two goal umpires and an emergency in each position. Numbers in brackets represent the number of grand finals umpired, including 2025. == Scorecard ==

Television Seven's coverage, simulcast on streaming service 7+, began at 9 am AEST with the Grand Final Brunch, hosted by Jason Richardson, followed by the Grand Final Countdown from 10:30 am with Rebecca Maddern. Pre-match coverage began from 12 pm with Bruce McAvaney and Hamish McLachlan hosting. The match was commentated by James Brayshaw, Brian Taylor, Luke Hodge, Kane Cornes, Matthew Richardson, Abbey Holmes and Mitch Cleary. The annual North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast from the Plenary Hall at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre was streamed exclusively on 7+, hosted by Nigel Carmody. Fox Footy's coverage, simulcast on Kayo Sports, began at 9 am. Fox Footy televised its own Grand Final Day coverage from the AFL Fan Festival in Yarra Park with their own talent, which once again did not include the annual Fox Footy Longest Kick due to a revitalisation project at Birrarung Marr on the banks of the Yarra River. Due to Seven's exclusive rights to the live broadcast, Fox Footy's coverage went dormant during the game, instead showing a full replay at 6 pm AEST. As part of the AFL's 2025–2031 broadcast arrangement, Fox were afforded rights to present their own graphics and commentary to all games, including the delayed broadcast of the grand final. Commentary came from Anthony Hudson, Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall and Garry Lyon from Fox Footy's studios in Southbank. Radio ==See also==