NOT EVERY good rivalry gets a trilogy, but for the third consecutive season, North Melbourne and Brisbane face off in the AFL Women’s Grand Final. The two sides have split the results in the pair of deciders, with the Lions getting up in Season 8 and the Roos saluting last season. Given the ongoing trend of the losing grand finalist being successful the next season, it points to an upset result, but North has not lost since that Season 8 defeat.

IN A NUTSHELL

Date: Saturday, November 29
Venue: Ikon Park
Time: 7:45pm AEDT

SEASON DETAILS

LAST TIME THEY MET

2025 Round 5 – Brisbane 5.6 (36) def. by North Melbourne 10.5 (65)

North Melbourne surged clear at Brighton Homes Arena after a tight opening term, booting seven goals to two over the next couple of terms to secure the 29-point win. Blaithin Bogue kicked three goals for the victors, while Ash Riddell (34 disposals, five tackles and four clearances), Mia King (32 disposals, 10 tackles and eight clearanceS) and Jasmine Garner (25 disposals, four marks, nine tackles, five clearances and a goal) all went haywire. Ally Anderson (25 disposals, four marks, nine tackles seven clearances and a goal) tried hard in defeat.

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS

TEAMS

CHANGES

Neither side has made a change to the lineup, with North Melbourne opting to leave out King who has been recovering from injury. She is named as an emergency alongside Tessa Boyd and Amy Gavin Mangan. The Lions three emergencies are Poppy Boltz, Evie Long and Sophie Peters.

KEY PLAYERS

Fresh off a league best and fairest this week, it is hard to look past Riddell who has racked up 35.3 disposals, 3.1 marks, 4.1 tackles, 5.1 clearances and 5.2 inside 50s per game. She will team up well with partner in crime Garner with the pair the keys to the midfield in the absence of King. No doubt Isabel Dawes and Anderson will need to be at their best to try and wrestle momentum around the ball. Both sides are terrific on the inside, but North Melbourne has the edge ahead of the rest of the competition once on the outside.

Bogue’s remarkable first season has her as the most dangerous forward on the ground, averaging almost two goals per game and she caught fire last time the teams faced off. She will have Tahlia Randall there for support, with Natalie Grider, Breanna Koenen and Shannon Campbell all having key roles to restrict the Roos’ scoring. The Dees did it well for three quarters last week, but North just finds a way to grind and if the Lions do not get bang for their buck up the other end, then the dam wall eventually breaks.

The pressure will be red hot from the get go with both sides aware of how important a strong start is in a grand final. Courtney Hodder looms as a difference maker for the Lions in the front half, while Taylor Smith and Dakota Davidson are an ever-present threat. There is much talk about whether the game will be veteran Emma Kearney‘s last AFLW match, but she will leave nothing out there regardless, alongside Libby Birch who wins flags wherever she goes.

PREDICTION

North Melbourne is clearly the team to beat here given the Roos’ record and on paper they should win by a few goals at least given they are at home and got the litmus test they needed in the preliminary final. Brisbane would be a deserving winner as well, and despite somehow coming in as the underdog for yet another grand final, the Lions’ recent form stacks up well. Have to tip the Roos, but hopefully it’s a close contest that goes down to the wire.