| 2025 AFL Grand Final | ||||||||||||||||
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 A scene inside theMelbourne Cricket Ground during the third quarter of the match. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date | 27 September 2025, 2:30 pm | |||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Melbourne Cricket Ground,Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | |||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 100,022[1] | |||||||||||||||
| Favourite | Geelong | |||||||||||||||
| Umpires | Andrew Stephens,Hayden MeyerSimon Meredith,Jacob Mollison | |||||||||||||||
| Coin toss won by | Brisbane Lions[2] | |||||||||||||||
| Kicked toward | City End[2] | |||||||||||||||
| Ceremonies | ||||||||||||||||
| Pre-match entertainment | Snoop Dogg,Baker Boy,Tash Sultana,Jessica Mauboy andMike Brady | |||||||||||||||
| National anthem | Vera Blue | |||||||||||||||
| Accolades | ||||||||||||||||
| Norm Smith Medallist | Will Ashcroft | |||||||||||||||
| Jock McHale Medallist | Chris Fagan | |||||||||||||||
| Ron Barassi Medallist | Lachie Neale,Harris Andrews | |||||||||||||||
| Broadcast in Australia | ||||||||||||||||
| Network | Seven Network[3] | |||||||||||||||
The2025 AFL Grand Final was anAustralian rules football match contested between theGeelong Football Club and theBrisbane Lions at theMelbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, 27 September 2025. It was the 130th annualgrand final of theAustralian Football League (AFL), staged to determine thepremiers of the2025 AFL season. The Brisbane Lions won by a margin of 47 points, marking the club's second consecutive premiership and fifth overall.[4][5]
Geelong entered the 2025 season after a preliminary final loss toBrisbane in2024. They finished second on the ladder with a 17–6 record, defeating Brisbane in the second qualifying final at theMCG, 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74).[6][7] There they facedHawthorn, 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).[8] It was Geelong's first grand final since2022, when they defeated Sydney by 81 points to claim the premiership.[9]
Brisbane entered 2025 as the reigning premiers, having defeated Sydney in the2024 Grand Final.[10] The Lions finished third on the ladder with a 16–6–1 record.[6] After their qualifying final loss to Geelong, they hostedGold Coast in aQClash semi-final, dominating in a 14.16 (100) to 6.11 (47) victory.[11] They then facedCollingwood 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.[12]
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 in2001–2002–2003. The sides had never previously met in a grand final.[13]
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 atthe Gabba[14] and 14.8 (92) to 6.15 (51) in round 15 atKardinia Park,[15] before Geelong won the qualifying final. Geelong was a warm favourite withbookmakers withodds of $1.55 compared to Brisbane's $2.47 on the Thursday before the game.[16]
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| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 9:35 am | AFL Grand Final curtain-raiser:AFL Futures Match |
| 12:38 pm | AFL Grand Final Sprint heats |
| 1:30 pm | AFL Grand Final motorcade |
| 1:33 pm[18] | Mike Brady performs "Up There Cazaly" |
| 1:40 pm[18] | Snoop Dogg performs |
| 2:13 pm | Teams enter the ground |
| 2:24 pm | Delivery of the premiership cup byJack Riewoldt |
| 2:25 pm | Welcome to Country—Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr. |
| 2:26 pm[18] | The Australian National Anthem performed byVera Blue |
| 2:30 pm | Game starts |
| Half-time | AFL Grand Final Sprint final |
| Post-game | Post-game presentation |
All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT +10)
Snoop Dogg headlined the entertainment, reportedly for aA$2 million fee.[19] The choice caused some controversy due to offensive and homophobic lyrics and posts from Snoop Dogg's past,[20] criticism which was amplified by booking coming shortly afterAdelaide Crows forwardIzak Rankine had been suspended for using a homophobic slur on field.[21] Australian artists, includingTash Sultana andBaker Boy, were later added to the pre-game show.[22]
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.[23]
The match was played in fine weather, with a maximum temperature of 19°C.[24] Brisbane won the coin toss and kicked to the city end in the first quarter.[25]
The match began slowly, and in the first seven minutes of play there were fifteen stoppages and one rushed behind.[26] Over the following ten minutes Brisbane had several scoring chances but managed only three behinds – including two difficult shots missed byZac Bailey[25] – while Geelong had the better of territory,[26] and eventually Geelong wingmanOllie Dempsey kicked the opening goal in the 16th minute from the goal square.[27] Brisbane'sKai 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.[27] A running coast-to-coast goal in the 24th minute byOisín Mullin was the last goal of the quarter.
At quarter time Geelong 2.3 (15) led Brisbane 1.6 (12) by three points.[28] The quarter was high on stoppages, with Brisbane leading clearances slightly 12–8.[29] Geelong managed to quell Brisbane's typical short uncontested marking game by forcing Brisbane wide to the wings,[26] and both teams' tall defenses were keeping the opposing marking forwards quiet. Brisbane midfielder-forward Zac Bailey scored four behinds for the quarter, and Geelong midfielderMax Holmes had the most disposals of any player with 11.[25]
Geelong'sJack Bowes kicked the first goal of the second quarter in the second minute from a free kick, and a behind toTyson Stengle two minutes later extended Geelong's lead to what was ultimately its game-high ten points.[27] Brisbane then kicked the next three goals:Logan Morris in the 6th minute after winning a contested mark at full forward;[25]Charlie Cameron with a tight crumbing snap shot from the boundary line in the 7th minute, andHugh McCluggage from a set shot in the forward pocket in the 14th minute.[27] A 55-metre goal from a free kick by Geelong key forwardShannon Neale reduced the margin to one point,[25] before Brisbane'sLevi Ashcroft kicked a long 50-metre goal from a set shot after the subsequent centre bounce.[27] A set shot goal fromBrad Close levelled the scores in the 26th minute, and the two sides entered half time level at 5.6 (36) each.[30][31]
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).[32] The free kick count favoured Geelong (17–4).[30] Brisbane was able to get its uncontested marking and ball movement through the centre square working in the second quarter,[26] and was felt to have had the better of general play.[29][25][27] Brisbane midfielderWill Ashcroft led all players for disposals to half-time, with 17 including four clearances.[27]
Geelong forwardJeremy Cameron fractured his arm after getting it caught in an awkward collision with captainPatrick Dangerfield in the 22nd minute of the quarter.[1][27][33]
Going into the second half, Brisbane coachChris Fagan substitutedLachie 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,[25] but Brisbane kicked the first goal in the 7th minute, Zac Bailey getting on the end of a rebound chain after a Geelong turnover in the centre of the ground.[27]
In a key moment in the 12th minute, Jeremy Cameron chased down Brisbane'sJaspa Fletcher in a long run down the wing, catching him with a strong one-armed tackle with his uninjured arm; the effort prevented an uncontested Brisbane inside-50, effected a turnover which finished with a 50-metre set shot goal toMax Holmes to give Geelong the lead, but saw Cameron leave the field for the rest of the quarter for more treatment on his injured arm.[30] Brisbane also suffered a key injury in the 20th minute, withBrandon Starcevich leaving the ground with concussion in the 20th minute after a head knock in a contested marking contest;[25] he did not return to the game.[34][27]
With 23 minutes elapsed, the margin was still only one point in favour of Brisbane. Then over the next ten minutes, Brisbane kicked three quick goals: Cameron scoring his second and third goals in the 24th and 28th minutes, and Neale kicking a goal on the run from outside the 50-metre arc in the 30th minute, opening a game high 19-point lead.[34][27]
Brisbane led by that margin at three quarter time, Brisbane 9.9 (63) leading Geelong 6.8 (44). Brisbane began to take control of clearances in the third quarter, with Will Ashcroft and Hugh McCluggage both very influential in that aspect of the game.[29] During the break, Geelong substituted struggling ruckmanRhys Stanley out of the game for small forwardJack Martin, while Jeremy Cameron returned with even heavier strapping on his fractured arm.[34][27]
Brisbane opened the final quarter quickly and strongly, winning a holding the ball free kick at the opening bounce which ended with a set shot to Charlie Cameron, who kicked his fourth goal.[25] Brisbane missed two more shots at goal in the next five minutes, and a coast-to-coast rebound ended with a mark, fifty-metre penalty and goal from the goal-line to Geelong'sMark Blicavs, narrowing the margin to 21 points in the 6th minute.[27]
Brisbane answered immediately with three goals in the next five minutes. The first, in the eighth minute, was kicked by Cam Rayner, after skill errors by Geelong defendersZach Guthrie andConnor O'Sullivan resulted in a turnover in their defensive goal square. Goals followed by Will Ashcroft (10th minute) and Hugh McCluggage (12th minute), extending the margin to 39 points halfway through the quarter.[25][27] Further Brisbane goals followed to Bailey (19th minute), Lohmann (21st minute), Bailey again (25th minute) and McCluggage again (26th minute). By this stage, since Charlie Cameron's goals late in the third quarter goal, Brisbane had added 11.4 (70) to Geelong's 1.1 (7) in just over a quarter of playing time, turning what had been a one-point lead in a low-scoring game into a dominant 64-point advantage; Brisbane had a 21–7 advantage in inside-50s over that time, a significant increase in marks inside forward 50, and a dominance in contested possessions.[27]
Geelong kicked four late goals – three toOllie Dempsey (29th minute, 32nd minute and 34th minute) and one toShaun Mannagh (35th minute) – broken up by McCluggage's fourth goal (30th minute) to bring the final margin down to 47 points. Kicking nine goals to five in the final quarter, Brisbane 18.14 (122) defeated Geelong 11.9 (75).[27][25][31][35]
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.[36]
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TheNorm Smith Medal was won by Brisbane midfielderWill 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.[37]
All other votes also went to Brisbane players. Full-backHarris Andrews was second with six votes; he helped Brisbane control territory with 18 disposals from 11 intercepts and kept Geelong forwardShannon Neale to only one goal. Midfielder-forwardZac 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 defendersJaspa Fletcher (3 votes, 29 disposals, 6 intercepts) andDayne Zorko (2 votes, 28 disposals, 716 metres gained), and midfielderHugh McCluggage (1 vote, 26 disposals and 4 goals despite a heavy tag).[38][39]
| 2025 Norm Smith Medal Voting Panel[40][41] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Voting Panellist | 3 Votes | 2 Votes | 1 Vote |
| Andrew McLeod (Chair, Former winner) | Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) | Zac Bailey (Brisbane) | Harris Andrews (Brisbane) |
| Luke Hodge (Channel 7) | Jaspa Fletcher (Brisbane) | Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) | Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane) |
| Kate McCarthy (Triple M) | Harris Andrews (Brisbane) | Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) | Zac Bailey (Brisbane) |
| Jack Riewoldt (Fox Footy) | Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) | Harris Andrews (Brisbane) | Zac Bailey (Brisbane) |
| Adam Simpson (SEN) | Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) | Dayne Zorko (Brisbane) | Zac Bailey (Brisbane) |
| Player | Team | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Ashcroft | Brisbane | 3, 2, 2, 3, 3 | 13 |
| Harris Andrews | Brisbane | 3, 2, 1 | 6 |
| Zac Bailey | Brisbane | 2, 1, 1, 1 | 5 |
| Jaspa Fletcher | Brisbane | 3 | 3 |
| Dayne Zorko | Brisbane | 2 | 2 |
| Hugh McCluggage | Brisbane | 1 | 1 |
Other Brisbane players ranked among the best included midfielderLachie Neale (17 disposals and a goal after being substituted into the game at half-time); small forwardCharlie Cameron (4 goals); defenderDarcy Gardiner (keptColeman MedallistJeremy Cameron to 0.2); and rebounding defenderCallum Ah Chee (17 disposals, 6 intercepts).[42]
Geelong's best players were wingmanOllie Dempsey (19 disposals, 4 goals); midfieldersMax Holmes (33 disposals, 9 inside-50s and 907 metres gained),Tom Atkins (20 disposals, 10 clearances), andBailey Smith (29 disposals, 4 clearances); and defenderLawson 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. CaptainPatrick Dangerfield (tagged byBrandon Starcevich until his concussion) and forward Jeremy Cameron (defended by Darcy Gardiner), who had been dominant for Geelong in its preliminary final victory,[32] were both ineffective for Geelong.[43][44]
The 2025 AFL Premiership Cup Ambassador wasJack Riewoldt, who carried the cup onto the ground before the match.[45] The cup was presented by three-time premiership forwardJonathan Brown.[46]
TheJock McHale Medal for the premiership-winning coach was presented by 2018 premiership coachAdam Simpson.[45] Four-timeHawthorn premiership player and dual Norm Smith MedallistLuke Hodge presented theNorm Smith Medal to the player judged best on ground, which was Will Ashcroft.[45] TheRon Barassi Medal, awarded to the premiership captains, was presented by1965Essendon premiership captainKen Fraser.[45]
The teams were announced Thursday, 25 September. Geelong made one change to its preliminary final 23, with ruckmanRhys Stanley replacing five-time All-Australian defenderTom Stewart,[47] who was unavailable after entering the AFL's mandatory 12-day concussion protocols following a heavy tackle in the preliminary final.[48]
Brisbane made one change to its preliminary final 23, with co-captainLachie Neale returning from a calf injury to replaceJarrod Berry, who dislocated his shoulder in the preliminary final;[49][50] 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.[51] CoachChris 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 –Sydney coachJohn Longmire, for example, had drawn criticism in2022 and2024 for selecting injured players who were ultimately ineffective[52] – but Neale proved to be a strong positive influence for Brisbane coming off the bench in the second half.[53]
      Geelong |    Brisbane |
The umpiring panel comprised four field umpires, four boundary umpires, two goal umpires and an emergency in each position.
| Position | Emergency | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 12Andrew Stephens (1) | 14Hayden Meyer (2) | 21Simon Meredith (10) | 32Jacob Mollison (2) | 2Nick Foot | |
| Boundary | Michael Barlow (4) | Daniel Field-Read (2) | Matthew Konetschka (7) | Damien Main (1) | Ian Burrows | |
| Goal | Matthew Dervan (4) | Adam Wojcik (6) | Sam Walsh |
Numbers in brackets represent the number of grand finals umpired, including 2025.
| Grand Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 27 September (2:30 pm) | Geelong | def. by | Brisbane Lions | Melbourne Cricket Ground (crowd: 100,022) | Report |
| 2.3 (15) 5.6 (36) 6.8 (44) 11.9 (75) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.6 (12) 5.6 (36) 9.9 (63) 18.14 (122) | Umpires:Stephens,Meyer,Meredith,Mollison Norm Smith Medal:Will Ashcroft Television broadcast:Seven Network National anthem:Vera Blue | ||
| Dempsey 4,Blicavs,Bowes,Close,Holmes,Mannagh,Mullin,S. Neale | Goals | C. Cameron 4,McCluggage 4,Bailey 3,Lohmann 2,L. Ashcroft,W. Ashcroft,Morris,L. Neale,C Rayner | |||
| Dempsey,Holmes,Humphries,Atkins,Smith | Best | McCluggage,W. Ashcroft,Andrews,Bailey,C. Cameron,Gardiner | |||
| J. Cameron (arm) | Injuries | Starcevich (head) | |||
Seven's coverage, simulcast on streaming service7+, began at 9 amAEST with the Grand Final Brunch, hosted byJason Richardson, followed by the Grand Final Countdown from 10:30 am withRebecca Maddern. Pre-match coverage began from 12 pm withBruce McAvaney andHamish McLachlan hosting. The match was commentated byJames Brayshaw,Brian Taylor,Luke Hodge,Kane Cornes,Matthew Richardson,Abbey Holmes and Mitch Cleary.[55] The annualNorth Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast from the Plenary Hall atMelbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre was streamed exclusively on 7+, hosted by Nigel Carmody.
Fox Footy's coverage, simulcast onKayo Sports, began at 9 am. Fox Footy televised its own Grand Final Day coverage from the AFL Fan Festival inYarra Park with their own talent, which once again did not include the annualFox Footy Longest Kick due to a revitalisation project atBirrarung 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 fromAnthony Hudson,Dwayne Russell,Jason Dunstall andGarry Lyon from Fox Footy's studios inSouthbank.[56]
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| Station | Region | Callers | Special Comments | Boundary Rider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple M[57] | National | Mark Howard,Nathan Brown | Isaac Smith,Kate McCarthy, Ash Chua (statistician) | Michael Roberts |
| ABC Sport[58][59] | National | Corbin Middlemas, Clint Wheeldon | Mick Malthouse,Cameron Ling,Brett Deledio,Ray Chamberlain (rules/umpiring) | Kelli Underwood |
| AFL Nation | National | Matt Hill,Stephen Quartermain | Dermott Brereton,Brad Johnson | N/A |
| NIRS | National | Barry Denner, Eugene Warrior | Chris Egan,Robbie AhMat | Kaitlyn Ashmore |
| 3AW[i] | Melbourne,VIC | Tim Lane, Matt Granland | Matthew Lloyd,Jimmy Bartel | Jacqui Reed |
| SEN | Melbourne,VIC | Gerard Whateley,Andy Maher | Gerard Healy,Adam Simpson | Sam Edmund |
| K Rock[60] | Geelong,VIC | Tom King, Ben Casanelia | Mark Neeld | Jason Doherty |
| 6PR | Perth,WA | Adam Papalia,Mark Readings,Karl Langdon | Brad Hardie | Mark Foreman |
