Enjoy Danielle Croci’s on the siren match report.
That’s a wrap from Ikon Park
This was one of the great AFLW Grand Finals – a tense, physical, see-sawing affair. The Lions fully deserved their second flag. They have lost a glut of players in recent years but have refreshed on the run and can never be underestimated at the pointy end of the season. They weathered the early storm, tackled hard and were a bit more efficient heading forward. By the final term, they were the ones running on top of the ground. Devastation for the Roos, who made all the early running, but they have the talent and the will to be back on this stage next again year. A terrific Grand Final and advertisement for women’s football.
Premiership Cup
A second AFLW Premiership for Craig Starcevich and Bree Koenen. The remarkably tanned Lions coach also won one at Collingwood in 1990 but was knocked senseless by Terry Daniher and was no doubt a bit foggy afterwards. He held his nerve today, backed his girls in and watched them run all over the top of the Kangas. A great coaching achievement.
Medal time
The Lions are getting their medals from the boys and girls from the South Melbourne Districts junior club. Plenty of supporters of both stripes have hung around for the presentation. The crowd was in excess of 12,000 and they certainly made a lot of noise. “Best day ever”, the little girl presenting Davidson’s medal tells her.
Player of the Match
The winner is Bree Koenen. The Lions skipper was immense today, particularly when the Roos were pushing hard in the first half. She had ten tackles and nine intercepts. Ally Anderson with twenty disposals and Jas Garner from the Roos were also right in the mix.
Pandemonium and devastation at Ikon Park. This Brisbane team just keeps knocking on the door and they got the flag they deserved today. It looked rocky at times and they were slaughtered at stoppages, but they held their nerve and came home with a wet sail.
Full Time: Brisbane 7.2 (44) def North Melbourne 4.3 (27)
The Lions are Premiers! They won it with a four goal to zip final term. They turned up the wick, trusted their system, and then shut it down at the death. A remarkable win.
Q4. 1 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 4.3 (27) v Brisbane 7.2 (44)
Goal to Brenna Koenen! They’re home now. She has played an incredible game and has sealed this Premiership.
Q4. 4 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 4.3 (27) v Brisbane 6.2 (38)
A free kick in the goal square and a goal to Ellie Hampson. They might be home here. A remarkable final term from the Lions and from Dakota Davidson in particular. They have one hand on the Cup.
Lions back in front
Q4. 7.40 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 4.3 (27) v Brisbane 5.2 (32)
Dakota again! Too big, and too strong. The Lions are back in front. What a game this is.
Davidson has two 💪
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) December 3, 2023
LIONS BACK IN FRONT.#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/oc9kBg6lHt
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Q4. 13 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 4.3 (27) v Brisbane 4.2(26)
Lions get the first of the final term, with Dakota Davidson marking strongly and converting. She hasn’t had a huge impact – perhaps not surprisingly given her bung knee – but she’s turned it on at the right time.
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Three Quarter Time: North Melbourne 4.3 (27) v Brisbane 3.2 (20)
North are 20 minutes away from their first AFLW flag. Two late goals in a minute were crucial in the premiership quarter, just when the Lions seemed to be asserting control. We’re in for a cracking finish here and the atmosphere is febrile at Ikon Park.
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Q3. 2 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 4.3 (27) v Brisbane 3.2(20)
Two goals in a minute for the Kangas, courtesy of a strong tackle from Alice O’Loughlan. Crucial pair of goals against the run of play.
Two in a minute for the Roos 🔥#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/yHAII4IyNs
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) December 3, 2023
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North regain lead
Q3. 3 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 3.3 (23) v Brisbane 3.2(20)
An extraordinary, courageous mark from Kate Shierlaw who duly converts. North back in front.
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Q3. 4 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 2.3 (15) v Brisbane 3.2(20)
This is a tackle-fest, a shin shuddering, bruising affair. The heat has gone up a notch in this game and for the first time the Lions have started to get things on their terms.
Lions hit the front
Q3. 14 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 2.3 (15) v Brisbane 3.1(19)
A lovely, linking build up and a clever gather and snap as Orla O’Dwyer puts the Lions in front!
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Half time: North Melbourne 2.2 (14) v Brisbane 2.1 (13)
Despite the narrow margin, the Roos have been better on the spread, a bit cleaner and a bit tougher. They’ve dominated the clearances and Inside 50s, but the Lions have defended stoutly, with Breanna Koenen excellent down back.
Q2. 3 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 2.2 (14) v Brisbane 2.1 (13)
Ellie Hampson finds some space and converts for the Lions. A crucial goal, given how much North have been peppering the Inside 50s. Some great work by Ally Anderson to set it up.
Q2. 10 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 2.2 (14) v Brisbane 1.0 (6)
Garner again! She was awarded a line ball free kick for holding and duly converted. She’s looming large over this Grand Final.
Two goals in the first half for Jas 🔥#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/t3aKBKPn9N
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) December 3, 2023
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Q2. 12 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 1.1 (7) v Brisbane 1.6 (6)
A remarkable, long range dribbling goal from Charlotte Mullins to get the Lions on the board.
Quarter time: North Melbourne 1.0 (6) v Brisbane 0.0 (0)
Don’t let the low score throw you off. This has been a tense, physical, high standard Grand Final so far, with both backlines dominant.
Opening goal
Q1. 1.50 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 1.0 (6) v Brisbane 0.0 (0)
The Roos are up and away and it had to be Jasmine Garner. Long range, clutch set shot from the North superstar.
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Q1. 3 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 0.0 (0) v Brisbane 0.0 (0)
Brisbane’s Taylor Smith has come to the bench after a horrific knock backing into a pack. A real kidney crusher. Still no score in what has been a brutal opening.
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Early injury for Kangaroos
Q1. 5.50 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 0.0 (0) v Brisbane 0.0 (0)
Confirmation that Jenna Bruton is out of this Grand Final. Wretched luck given her form in recent weeks.
Updated
Q1. 8.30 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 0.0 (0) v Brisbane 0.0 (0)
Still a scoreless Grand Final. North keep pepping the Inside 50s, but Brisbane’s intercept game is in good order early.
1. 13 Mins remaining. North Melbourne 0.0 (0) v Brisbane 0.0 (0)
A tight, tense opening to this game, with North’s Jenna Bruton carried from the field. Looks like an ankle or foot injury and she looks in big trouble.
Opening Bounce
Brisbane won the toss, and we are up and away in the 2023 AFLW Grand Final.
Welcome to Country and National Anthem
G Flip has fulfilled her ambassadorial duties, Uncle Colin Hunter Jr has given the Welcome to Country and Vera Blue has sung the anthem. It’s all very real now!
Teams
Here are the teams. No late changes. Dakota Davidson’s knee has come up ok after she looked in seven shades of strife this time last week.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Backs: Wright, Ferguson
Half-back: Shannon, Kearney, O’Shea
Centre: Gatt, King, Pullar
Half-forwards: Eddey, Bruton, O’Loughlin
Forwards: Shierlaw, Randall
Followers: King, Garner, Riddell
Interchange (from): Bresnehan, Craven, Smith, Rennie, Martin, McGrath, Gavalas, Burke
In: McGrath, Gavalas, Burke
BRISBANE LIONS
Backs: Boltz, Dunne
Half-backs: Koenen, Grider, Campbell
Centre: O’Dwyer, Dawes, Ellenger
Half-forwards: Postlethwaite, Davidson, Conway
Forwards: Smith, Hodder
Followers: Hickie, C Svarc, Anderson
Interchange (from): Monahan, Hampson, R Svarc, Mullins, Pauga, McKee, Wendland, Smith
In: McKee, Wendland, Smith
Here’s Sarah Burt’s preview
Preamble
Welcome to a sold-out Ikon Park for the AFLW Grand Final. It’s been more than two thousand days since an AFLW Grand Final was held in Victoria, and this one promises to be a gem. Three Roos (Emma Kearney, Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell) and three Lions (Sophie Conway, Dakota Davidson and Ally Anderson) were named in the 2023 AFLW All Australian side. But there’s an abundance of talent on every line which was certainly evident in last week’s Preliminary Finals. Three Lions – Ally Anderson, Shannon Campbell and Breanna Koenan – will be playing their fifth Grand Final, while North’s women have never made it this far. They’re favourites today though. They have peaked at exactly the right time and boast the most dangerous footballer in the competition in Jasmine Garner. As a Geelong fan, I’m still coming to terms with some of the officiating in last week’s Preliminary Final, but the Lions deserve to be here and are always knocking on the door so if the Kangas do bring some joy to their long-suffering supporters today, they will have earned it.
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