BRISBANE is on the verge of yet another grand final appearance having featured in the past three deciders – and six of the eight in total – and standing in the Lions’ way is a plucky Carlton side that has shot into the finals series and is now just one win away from reaching the grand final for the second time in women’s club history.

IN A NUTSHELL

Date: Saturday, November 15
Venue: Brighton Homes Arena
Time: 7:35pm AEDST
Result: Winner goes to the grand final, loser is eliminated

SEASON DETAILS

LAST TIME THEY MET

2025 Round 3 – Brisbane 6.8 (44) def. by Carlton 9.4 (58)

Brisbane was left a little shellshocked after going down to a red-hot Carlton at Brighton Homes Arena in an early season upset. The Lions struggled to get going and trailed by 29 points at half-time, and while they kicked into gear with four goals to two in the second half, it was too little, too late. Dayna Finn (29 disposals, 10 marks, three clearances and a goal) and Erone Fitzpatrick (18 disposals, five marks, eight tackles and two goals) provided great flair, while skipper Abbie McKay (32 disposals, seven clearances) was huge. Ally Anderson (19 disposals, three marks and five clearances) tried hard for the losers.

TEAM HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS

CHANGES

Neither side has made any changes to its last wins at Ikon Park, with the Lions knocking off Melbourne two weeks back, and Carlton defeating Hawthorn last weekend.

KEY PLAYERS

The inside midfield battle between the likes of McKay and Anderson will be a fascinating one, though both sides have great depth in that area. Isabel Dawes will have a big job supporting Anderson for the Lions, while the Blues perhaps havre built even more options with Lily Goss able to do a tagging role, while Mimi Hill and Finn both great around the stoppages.

The ruck battle will be equally fascinating with Tahlia Hickie and Eleanor Hartill doing battle with one of the best one-two punches in the competition in Breann Harrington and Jess Good. Where Matthew Buck utilises Darcy Vescio will be fascinating as they are tipped to remain in defence, but have shown they can go forward and hit the scoreboard as well should the Blues be struggling. Poppy Scholz and Sophie McKay provide a spark in attack, so Jade Ellenger and Natalie Grider will likely have some big jobs.

Up the other other, Taylor Smith is a focal point inside 50, while Courtney Hodder is such a danger at ground level, if those two and Dakota Davidson are all up and about it could spell trouble for the Blues. Harriet Cordner and Madeline Hendrie have been rocks though and will need to be at their absolute best again.

PREDICTION

The match is an intriguing one. The experienced finals campaigners who have been there and done it so many times before, or the youth and enthusiasm of the new kid on the block that continues to ask the question ‘why not us?’. Carlton beat the Lions at the venue earlier in the season, but finals is a different ball game and experience counts for a lot so you have to lean in that direction. Brisbane by 12 points.