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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jack Snape

AFLW clubs’ lack of ambition laid bare by 2025 grand final deja vu

AFLW AFL Kangaroos Lions Emma Kearney North North Melbourne Brisbane Moore Melbourne
The Kangaroos sing the team song at the conclusion of the AFLW first preliminary final match against Melbourne Demons
The Kangaroos sing the team song after the AFLW first preliminary final match against Melbourne Demons. Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP

North Melbourne against Brisbane, take three. Over 116 matches of AFLW in 2025, the competition has delivered the same grand finalists for the third straight year. And few, apart from Melbourne fans, would disagree that Saturday night’s sold-out clash is a fitting conclusion to the 10th season of elite women’s footy.

But the consistent brilliance of the Lions and Kangaroos has also highlighted a lack of ambition from other AFLW clubs, whose failure to even spend what they are allowed to on coaches is an open secret in the competition.

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