FINAL TEAMS

BRISBANE has confirmed star midfielder Lachie Neale will be its substitute for the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final, while Jack Martin will wear the vest for Geelong.

Neale has completed a remarkable recovery from a calf injury to take his place in his fourth Grand Final, coming into the Lions' 23 in place of injured wingman Jarrod Berry (shoulder).

Bruce Reville comes into the starting side after he was the sub in the preliminary final win over Collingwood.

It is the second time Neale has been the sub in a Grand Final having worn the vest for Fremantle in 2013.

The Cats have also made just one change to its 23 from the preliminary final, recalling veteran ruck Rhys Stanley in place of star defender Tom Stewart (concussion).

Martin being the sub means Jhye Clark will be in the starting 22 having been the sub last week.

Stanley, Clark, Jack Bowes and Oisin Mullin will start on the bench for the Cats, while Reville, Levi Ashcroft, Darcy Wilmot and Oscar McInerney are on the interchange for the Lions.

Geelong v Brisbane, MCG, 2.30pm AEST

NO LATE CHANGES

SUBSTITUES
Geelong: Jack Martin
Brisbane: Lachie Neale

SUMMARY

A pair of modern-day heavyweights face off in a Grand Final for the first time in their history while each has recent experience of stepping onto the biggest stage.

Geelong will play in a seventh decider in 19 seasons and won a flag three years ago. Reigning premier Brisbane is in its third consecutive Grand Final as it seeks to become just the fourth side this century to go back-to-back. This will be the familiar foes' fifth finals meeting in six seasons after they crossed paths in three preliminary finals including one last year, while the Cats outclassed the Lions in a qualifying final three weeks ago. 

The Cats are on an ominous eight-match winning streak after fine-tuning during a favourable run home and then proving their premiership credentials with a pair of resounding finals victories. The perennial contenders scored more than 100 points in each of those matches as their attack continues to fire, while the Cats' gut-busting midfield runners have changed the way that the side plays.

The Lions were building a strong record with four straight victories against the Cats, including two this year, until being dismantled in their qualifying final. But Brisbane has shown it can bounce back from a thumping the next time it faces the same opponent in finals wins over Gold Coast and Collingwood. The reigning premiers have history on their side with four of the five teams this century that have lost a qualifying final and then faced the same opponent in a Grand Final, have claimed victory when it matters most.

Where and when: MCG, Saturday September 27, 2.30pm AEST

WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?

Qualifying final: Geelong 16.16 (112) defeated Brisbane 11.8 (74) at the MCG

The Cats made a statement and marched into a home preliminary final as they shut down the Lions' key weapons on the way to a comprehensive victory. In an occasionally spiteful opening half, the Cats dominated the clearances and territory battle but left the door open for the Lions with some wayward kicking for goal. Not even a contentious double-goal to livewire Cam Rayner on the cusp of the main break was enough to spark the Lions as the Cats pulled away in the second half. 

Round 15: Brisbane 14.8 (92) defeated Geelong 6.15 (51) at GMHBA Stadium

The Lions broke a 22-year hoodoo and spoiled Patrick Dangerfield's milestone celebrations with their first victory on the Cats' home turf since 2003. The reigning premiers broke the game open with four goals in under six minutes in the opening term then held the Cats at arm's length to get their title defence back on track after a lean patch. Logan Morris booted five goals for the second week in a row to take command of the Lions' attack with better still to come from the young forward. 

Round 3: Brisbane 10.10 (70) defeated Geelong 9.7 (61) at the Gabba

The Lions showed they could overcome early signs of a premiership hangover as they chased down the Cats for a stirring victory in wet conditions. After trailing by more than five goals on the cusp of the main break, the Lions turned the screws to hold the Cats to only two majors in the second half and pulled off a third come-from-behind win in as many matches. Will Ashcroft (33 disposals, one goal) and Hugh McCluggage (30) helped turn the game as their clean ball-handling stood out.

THE STATS THAT MATTER

Geelong

The Cats' forward line is humming as they have booted more than 100 points in each of their past eight matches, while they finished with 13 different goalkickers the last time they faced the Lions – the equal-most in a final in Champion Data history. Jeremy Cameron set the tone with six shots at goal in the opening term of the qualifying final – the most-ever by a player in a quarter in a final – before Lions defender Darcy Gardiner limited his impact. Geelong had Brisbane on the ropes early in that game with intense pressure as it won the tackle count by 27 to the main break for the best differential in any half of a final. The Cats can hope to start the celebrations early this week after being 17-0 when leading at the last change this year.

Brisbane

The Lions have a flawless record (12-0) when they have won the contested possession count and pressure metric this season, but were beaten 136-120 for contested ball when they met the Cats in a qualifying final. Brisbane conceded 112 points to Geelong in that game – its second-highest score against this year – while it paid a heavy price for being outscored by 37 points in the time-on period of quarters in a 38-point defeat. The Lions are ranked No.2 for both clearance and clearance differential but conceded 50 points from stoppages the last time they faced the Cats as several obvious areas for improvement become clear.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR ...

Geelong

Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield produced one of the all-time great finals performances against the Hawks to lead his side into a Grand Final. The 35-year-old seized command of the contest with his ferocious attack on the football and finished with 31 disposals, 20 contested possessions, eight clearances, nine inside 50s and three goals. It was Dangerfield's highest-rated game since 2019 but it should be no surprise that the veteran is turning back the clock at the right time of year as he continues to be managed through the regular season to be peaking for finals. Dangerfield was critical to Geelong's Grand Final demolition of Sydney three years ago and with a similar display to that - or what he produced last week – can carry his side to within sight of a second premiership during his 10 seasons at the club.

Brisbane

Lions midfielder Hugh McCluggage will have a point to prove after being tagged out of the game by Oisin Mullin as the Cats made a statement in the qualifying final. The All-Australian was restricted to only seven disposals in the 59 minutes he was matched up on Mullin and finished with 14 touches for his lowest tally since round one in 2023. McCluggage has since responded to take control of an onball brigade missing Lachie Neale and was one of the best afield as Brisbane brushed aside Gold Coast and Collingwood to reach a third straight Grand Final. The 27-year-old has shouldered extra responsibility in the Lions' engine room this year and with an improved ability to win his own ball at stoppage or in contests will be critical to his side's hopes of going back-to-back.

PREDICTION

Geelong hardly skipped a beat during the run home in the regular season and since the stakes have risen has flicked a switch with a pair of commanding finals victories. Brisbane at its best might still be the best in the competition but after a heavy defeat to its eventual Grand Final opponents three weeks ago forced it to take the long route to the decider, a third trip to the MCG this month will just be a bridge too far in a cliffhanger. Geelong by three points.

THE LION dynasty has arrived. Take me home, two straight flags.

Brisbane has done it. Chris Fagan has etched his Lions into history as only the fourth club this century to win back-to-back premierships, with the Lions masterclass overcoming Geelong in an engrossing Grand Final on Saturday.

2025 TOYOTA AFL GRAND FINAL Full match coverage and stats
THE MOMENT Lachie's legendary goal breaks Geelong's spirit
TALKING POINTS Gun's wayward day, Danger contained
NORM SMITH MEDAL What inspired gun Lion to second Norm Smith
LIONS PLAYER RATINGS Every player rated
CATS PLAYER RATINGS Every player rated
CHRIS FAGAN Fagan's bold sub call proves a masterstroke
'COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL' How dynamic Lion got through his toughest year
'A BIT OF A MASTERSTROKE' The call that made Lions star 'bloody nervous'
'IT'S HARD EITHER WAY' Duo savour moment before tough contract calls
'BROTHERHOOD IS A BIG THING' Wounded Lion embraced after GF heartbreak
'BIG GOLDFISH MINDSET How Ted Lasso inspired gun's performance
'SOMETHING I'LL CHERISH FOREVER' Big O gets his flag redemption
'NO EXCUSES' Cats take stock after humbling loss

And this one might be better than the first.

After season-ending injuries, form setbacks and a qualifying final loss to the Cats that looked likely to spell the end of their quest for consecutive premierships, Brisbane secured its fifth flag of the AFL era - and 13th including Fitzroy's history - in dominant fashion after half-time.

The Lions kicked 13 to six goals after the main break to lock in the 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) triumph, with their gamble on picking Lachie Neale after his calf injury paying dividends as the co-captain gathered 17 disposals after being subbed into the contest in the third quarter.

Charlie Cameron turned the game Brisbane's way in that third term, with the bays of Brisbane fans singing John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads on repeat after each of his four goals just one of a highlight reel that got better and better as the game went on.

But Brisbane's victory was as even as it was sweet.

Particularly for Will Ashcroft, who incredibly became a two-time Norm Smith Medallist at the age of 21 after backing up his outstanding 2024 Grand Final with another 32 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal.

Fellow Lions superstar Hugh McCluggage, who was blanketed in the qualifying final three weeks ago, returned to the MCG with a point to prove, booting four goals from 26 disposals in a brilliant display.

Dynamo Zac Bailey could have sewn up the Norm Smith was he more accurate in front of goal (23 disposals, 3.6), captain Harris Andrews was impenetrable as was Darcy Gardiner, and Dayne Zorko and Jaspa Fletcher were both excellent.

Geelong will rue a second half fadeout and a game where its best players couldn't impact. Far from their dominant showing three weeks earlier against the Lions, the Cats were cornered by Brisbane's pressure and eventually overwhelmed.

The final margin belied the first half of this flag decider.

It took 15 minutes of back and forth in the first quarter before Cats wingman Ollie Dempsey streamed forward – as per – and booted the opening goal of the game from the goal square.

The Lions' inaccuracy was an issue, but Kai Lohmann, with head bandaged after an early errant knee from teammate Logan Morris, converted a clever pass from McCluggage, who broke free from Oisin Mullin's tight tag for a moment.

The surprise early on in this contest was the few changes either coach had made in key match-ups since their qualifying final battle. Mullin was back at McCluggage's side and Mark O'Connor was shutting out Cam Rayner again, while Gardiner was given the duties on Jeremy Cameron.

Mullin had the early edge over McCluggage when he kicked a running goal late in the quarter to give the Cats a three-point lead at the first change.

McCluggage got one back as part of a three-goal run for the Lions to kick off the second term, which included a dazzling shot from the boundary line for Cameron, complete with a Snoop Dogg-inspired celebration.

And yet the Cats struck back – Shannon Neale won a free kick and bombed long, while Brad Close chipped in from a set shot. The Ashcroft brothers were doing their bit, with Will gathering 17 disposals to half-time and Levi kicking a crucial goal after stepping Jhye Clark on the mark.

And yet still, nothing separated the two challengers. If it felt close in every way, it's because it was.

Scores were level at half-time for the first time in a Grand Final since 1909. At the same time, both sides had recorded 165 disposals to half-time, both teams had 103 kicks and both had 62 handballs. Inside-50s were 27 to the Cats and 26 to the Lions. Clearances were 19 to Geelong and 20 to the Lions.

If it wasn't for the AFL's decision to abolish the replay for a drawn Grand Final back in 2016, Andrew Dillon might have spent his half-time break considering who could be next week's pre-game entertainment.

The only counter was the 17-4 free kick line in Geelong's favour, with the Lions reckless at times with their tackles but the lopsided count was a quirk.

Two significant things happened at half-time. Brisbane made its tactical sub, pulling Sam Marshall out of the game and bringing in two-time Brownlow medallist Neale, while in the opposite rooms Jeremy Cameron's arm, which had been crunched by skipper Patrick Dangerfield in a contest before half-time, came out with a thick armguard over the forearm.

To that point, neither Cameron nor Dangerfield had had any influence on the game, a stark contrast to last week's preliminary final. Cameron's biggest moment came midway through the third term, as he chased down Fletcher on a long run on the wing.

Cameron used his left arm to land a tackle on Fletcher, which resulted in a turnover and a goal for Max Holmes. Cameron, though, crashed to the ground and landed on his arm, and soon left the field in agony.

Where the passage of play could have lifted the Cats, it only jolted Brisbane. Bailey got more involved, Lohmann was energised at ground level and Brisbane's Cameron booted two in a row to fire up a front half that was proving too dangerous and agile for Geelong's backline.

Then Neale, with fresher legs, bombed a goal from outside 50 to land a massive blow on the Cats before the final change. We heard the mighty roar.

Brandon Starcevich left the field in the third quarter with a head knock, but Brisbane had found the momentum.

And after that, it was party time. Cameron booted his fourth, then Rayner slammed home a goal, Ashcroft got his turn and McCluggage snapped from the boundary line to seal the win and backed it up with another long-range finish.

But this Brisbane side isn't near finished. With eight players aged 22 or under, the Lions are just revving up.

GEELONG       2.3     5.6     6.8     11.9 (75)
BRISBANE      1.6     5.6     9.9     18.14 (122)

GOALS
Geelong: Dempsey 4, Blicavs, Bowes, Close, Holmes, Mannagh, Mullin, Neale
Brisbane: Cameron 4, McCluggage 4, Bailey 3, Lohmann 2, L.Ashcroft, W.Ashcroft, Morris, Neale, Rayner

BEST
Geelong: Dempsey, Holmes, Humphries, Atkins, Smith
Brisbane: McCluggage, W. Ashcroft, Andrews, Bailey, Cameron, Gardiner

INJURIES
Geelong: Cameron (arm)
Brisbane: Starcevich (head)

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Jack Martin replaced Rhys Stanley in the fourth quarter
Brisbane: Lachie Neale replaced Sam Marshall in the third quarter

Crowd: 100,022 at the MCG