Brisbane will look to make historical past on Saturday as they may change into the primary AFL staff to win back-to-back premierships twice within the twenty first century.
Hawthorn (2013, 2014 and 2015) and Richmond (2019 and 2020) have managed to win successive grand finals, however the Lions did it throughout 2001, 2002 and 2003 and might be trying to repeat historical past in the identical quarter-century.
Sydney and West Coast value one another a shot at going back-to-back, alternating the 2005 and 2006 premierships, whereas Collingwood (2010 and 2011) and Essendon (2000 and 2001) had probabilities, however each dropped the second sport. Geelong additionally had a possibility after they have been a dominant power beneath Mark Thompson throughout 2007-2009 however dropped the ’08 decider after they have been heavy favourites in opposition to Hawthorn.
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Chris Fagan, Brisbane coach with the premiership cup. AFL Photographs through Getty Photos
One other back-to-back feat for the Lions can be exceptional, and would cement their claims as one of many dominant groups of the century, making three grand finals in a row and 5 of six prelims.
Profitable successive titles as soon as is clearly laborious sufficient. Doing it twice in 25 years is one thing else altogether.
Geelong has received 4 premierships within the twenty first century, however none back-to-back.
In addition to their 2007 and 2009 triumphs beneath ‘Bomber’ Thompson additionally they saluted in 2011 and 2022 beneath Chris Scott.
Patrick Dangerfield (left) and Rhys Stanley of the Cats. AFL Photographs through Getty Photos
AFL grand closing groups
Geelong has recalled veteran ruckman Rhys Stanley to face Brisbane on this yr’s grand closing, after star defender Tom Stewart suffered a concussion within the preliminary closing win over Hawthorn.
The Cats opted to not play Stanley within the prelim, finally sticking with Mark Blicavs within the ruck.
Nonetheless, they wanted to make a change for the sport given Stewart’s heart-breaking harm, and have opted to recall the soon-to-be 35-year-old, as an alternative of a defender like Jed Bews.
Stanley initially fell out of the Geelong facet after struggling a hamstring pressure on the finish of the home-and-away season.
Brisbane in the meantime has made the large name to play captain Lachie Neale, solely three weeks on from a calf pressure suffered within the qualifying closing.
Neale educated totally in the course of the week and has been backed to get by the sport.
He returns on the expense of midfielder Jarrod Berry, who dislocated his shoulder within the preliminary closing win over Collingwood.
It was the second time Berry has dislocated the shoulder this season. The Lions have put a line by the on-baller.
Geelong Cats
IN: R. Stanley
OUT: T. Stewart (concussion)
FB: Z. Guthrie, S. De Koning, C. O’Sullivan
HB: M. O’Connor, J. Henry, L. Humphries
C: O. Dempsey, T. Atkins, M. Holmes
HF: G. Miers, J. Cameron, S. Mannagh
FF: B. Shut, S. Neale, T. Stengle
Fol: R. Stanley, B. Smith, P. Dangerfield
INT: M. Blicavs, O. Mullin, J. Clark, J. Martin, J. Bowes
Brisbane Lions
IN: L. Neale
OUT: J. Berry (shoulder)
FB: R. Lester, H. Andrews, B. Starcevich
HB: D. Zorko, D. Gardiner, D. Wilmot
C: J. Fletcher, J. Dunkley, W. Ashcroft
HF: C. Rayner, L. Morris, Z. Bailey
FF: C. Cameron, T. Gallop, Okay. Lohmann
Fol: O. McInerney, L. Neale, H. McCluggage
INT: D. Fort, L. Ashcroft, C. Ah Chee, S. Marshall, B. Reville
Joel Selwood and Jonathan Brown in the course of the 2025 Premiership Cup Presenters Announcement  AFL Photographs through Getty Photos
What time will the grand closing begin?
The opening bounce of the grand closing is about for two.30pm (AEST) on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from the Melbourne Cricket Floor.
The Friday earlier than the sport is a public vacation in Victoria.
2pm ACST (SA, NT)
12.30pm AWST (WA)
Worldwide
UK: 5.30am
Europe: 6.30am
USA: 9.30pm Friday (west coast), 12.30am Saturday (east coast)
New Zealand: 5.30pm
Japan: 1.30pm
Bali: 12.30pm
Grand closing umpires
Discipline umpire: Simon Meredith (tenth grand closing), Jacob Mollison (second grand closing), Hayden Meyer (second grand closing), Andrew Stephens (first grand closing)
Boundary umpires: Matthew Konetschka, Michael Barlow and Daniel Discipline-Learn
Purpose umpires: Adam Wojcik and Matthew Dervan
Head-to-head
Remarkably, these two groups will play one another for a fourth time this season within the grand closing.
Geelong received the qualifying closing conflict comfortably, main all night time within the 38-point win.
Nonetheless, Brisbane received the 2 video games in the course of the home-and-away season, together with beating the Cats at GMHBA Stadium by 41 factors.
This will even be the fifth closing these two groups have performed in opposition to one another since 2020.
The 2 sides have by no means met beforehand in an AFL grand closing.
Once they met earlier in 2025. Getty
Final time they made the grand closing
The Lions have made the final two grand finals, beating Sydney final yr and shedding to Collingwood in 2023.
Geelong in the meantime received the 2022 grand closing, additionally beating Sydney.
Path to the grand closing
These two groups met within the qualifying closing, with Geelong successful comfortably.
The Cats then took down Hawthorn within the prelim with a view to earn this spot.
They’ve been the in-form staff of the finals collection up to now, led by captain Patrick Dangerfield.
Brisbane needed to go the good distance round after shedding to Geelong. They hosted crosstown rivals Gold Coast within the semi finals, proving too robust.
They then upset Collingwood on the MCG of their preliminary closing, operating away it late to guide their grand closing spot.
Cam Rayner of the Lions reacts after Zach Guthrie shoves him over. AFL Photographs through Getty Photos
Odds (Sportsbet)
Geelong $1.55
Brisbane $2.47
(Appropriate as of 1:30pm AEST, Thursday)
Norm Smith Medal
Bailey Smith (Geelong) – $7.50
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) – $8
Max Holmes (Geelong) – $9
Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) – $13
Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane) – $15
First aim scorer
Jeremy Cameron (Geelong) – $7.75
Logan Morris (Brisbane) – $10
Cam Rayner (Brisbane) – $12
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) – $12.50
Tyson Stengle (Geelong) – $12.50
Jeremy Cameron of the Cats. AFL Photographs through Getty Photos
Grand closing tickets
Tickets have bought out.
The right way to watch AFL grand closing
The match might be stay on Channel 7 nationally.
Latest AFL grand closing historical past
2024: Brisbane 18.12. (120) defeated Sydney 9.6. (60)
2023: Collingwood 12. 18. (90) defeated Brisbane 13. 8. (86)
2022: Geelong 20. 13. (133) defeated Sydney 8. 4. (52)
2021: Melbourne 21. 14. (140) defeated Western Bulldogs 10. 6. (66)
2020: Richmond 12. 9. (81) defeated Geelong 7. 8. (50)
2019: Richmond 17. 12. (114) defeated GWS 3. 7. (25)
2018: West Coast 11. 13. (79) defeated Collingwood 11. 8. (74)
2017: Richmond 16. 12. (108) defeated Adelaide 8. 12. (60)
2016: Western Bulldogs 13. 11. (89) defeated Sydney 10. 7. (67)
2015: Hawthorn 16. 11. (107) defeated West Coast 8. 13. (61)
Snoop Dogg poses with Josh Daicos (left) and Nick Daicos of the Magpies throughout an AFL Telstra Grand Remaining Leisure Media Alternative on the MCG. AFL Photographs through Getty Photos
Grand closing leisure line-up
Pre-match leisure
Snoop Dogg
Tash Sultana
Baker Boy
Vera Blue
Mike Brady
What occurs if there is a drawn outcome?
Within the occasion of a draw on the finish of abnormal time, extra time might be performed to crown a winner.
If scores are even at full-time, a six-minute break will happen earlier than two three-minute halves (plus time on) are performed to find out a outcome. On the finish of the primary extra interval, the groups will change ends and not using a break.
If scores are nonetheless tied after the completion of each halves, the method might be repeated till a winner is asserted.
Each golf equipment will obtain 10 interchanges for every half (excluding the medical substitute). Any leftover interchanges from every half is not going to carry over.
Group runners might solely head onto the sphere after a aim, throughout an prolonged stoppage in play or on the conclusion of the primary half because the gamers change ends.
Will Ashcroft of the Lions celebrates kicking a aim in the course of the 2024 AFL Grand Remaining match. Getty
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is introduced to the participant judged to be greatest on floor within the grand closing. The honour is set by an impartial panel of soccer specialists by a 3-2-1 voting construction.
The Norm Smith Medal can’t be shared between a number of gamers. Within the occasion of a tie, a count-back-like state of affairs of the upper votes obtained will decide a winner.
The panel is made up of Andrew McLeod (chair), Luke Hodge (Channel Seven), Kate McCarthy (Triple M), Jack Riewoldt (Fox Footy) and Adam Simpson (SEN).
The 2025 Norm Smith Medal might be introduced by two-time winner and former Hawthorn premiership captain Luke Hodge, who completed his profession at Brisbane.
Earlier winners:
2024: Will Ashcroft, Brisbane
2023: Bobby Hill, Collingwood
2022: Isaac Smith, Geelong
2021: Christian Petracca, Melbourne
2020: Dustin Martin, Richmond
2019: Dustin Martin, Richmond
2018: Luke Shuey, West Coast Eagles
2017: Dustin Martin, Richmond
2016: Jason Johannisen, Western Bulldogs
2015: Cyril Rioli, Hawthorn
West Coast coach Adam Simpson and former Eagles captain Luke Shuey. Â AFL Photographs through Getty Photos
Premiership cup, Jock McHale and Ron Barassi Medal presentation
Former West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson will current the Jock McHale medal, awarded to the coach of the successful staff.
Essendon nice Ken Fraser will current the Ron Barassi medal to the successful captain.
Three-time premiership Richmond ahead Jack Riewoldt is that this yr’s premiership cup ambassador.
If Geelong wins, the cup might be introduced by former premiership captain Joel Selwood.
If Brisbane wins, three-time premiership Lion Jonathan Brown will current the cup.
