Key events
Patrick Dangerfield turned on one of the all-time great finals performances in Geelong’s preliminary final triumph over Hawthorn. The Cats skipper’s legacy is already cemented, but as Jonathan Horn writes, Dangerfield is making the most of being managed through a season as a power player.
Dangerfield could easily have seen out his final years mainly as a forward, as a bit of a pinch hitter, a player reliant on craft and guile. But he’s become more of a power athlete, and more of a manic player, if that was possible. If you compare him to the tapes of his Brownlow year, he’s bigger through the chest and glutes. He generates as much torque as he ever has. It’s just that he’s utilised a bit more judiciously.
Fans from both sides – as well as the usual smattering of neutrals and corporate types – are starting to make their way into the MCG – or just enjoying the build up from outside the ground.
Brisbane – and their fans – endured a dismal stretch between their three-peat of premierships in 2001-03 and their rebirth in 2019. But that has made the current period of success all the sweeter, as our reporter in Queensland, Joe Hinchliffe, writes …
From Chris Fagan’s first season as coach in 2017, we – or at least I – had invested increasingly messianic faith in the former school teacher from Tasmania’s ability to resurrect our beloved Lions. Yes, we finished bottom of the ladder in that first year and would win just five games in each of those first two seasons.
But, under Fagan, watching the Lions play went from excruciating to exciting. After years in the doldrums, a whisper of hope began to flutter the sails of our once mighty football club.
The Norm Smith medal voting panel is studded with big names including a pair of two-time winners in chairperson and former Crows great, Andrew McLeod, as well as former Hawks and Lions star, Luke Hodge. Kate McCarthy, Jack Riewoldt and Adam Simpson will also be taking on the high-pressure task of voting for the best afield.
Who is your tip? I’m all in on Max Holmes, that that assumes Geelong are going to win.
AFL is still edging its way around the world. And I can confirm, from personal experience, that a watch party in a foreign land alongside like-minded early birds (or larks, depending on where you are) is one of the great occasions.
Jack Snape is at the MCG today, but has looked at the fans watching from much, much further away …
The AFL grand final at the MCG will attract a crowd more than 30,000 fans larger than that of the next Super Bowl.
But while there may be more than 50 watch parties for this weekend’s match scheduled across the globe, including five in China and six in Germany, the sport’s international growth remains a work in progress.
Let us know where you’re watching from as we try to find the fans furthest from the MCG?
Geelong have set the highest of standards in the modern era with four premierships since 2007 while being in contention to add to that haul almost every season.
Geoff Lemon, who will be taking you through the big game, understands better than most that Cats fans hope for the sustained success to continue as much for the club to get its adequate reward as for the joy of victory.
One premiership in the last 13 years could feel pretty good if your team had jagged one in a period of mostly being ordinary. But one premiership in 13 years when 11 of them were spent as contenders, that feels underweight.
The weather in Melbourne is looking ideal for the 46 players stepping onto the MCG in a few hours and the 100,000+ watching from the stands. But it’s not quite the scorcher fans following from homes and backyards are as likely to enjoy.
The forecast is for a top of 19C and sunny skies with a bit of cloud around.
Geelong v Brisbane is the AFL grand final we had to have. The modern-day powerhouses have won two of the past three premierships, and are the only sides to win more than two-thirds of their games over the past six seasons.
Here is where the game will be won – and lost – as well as the matchups to keep an eye on and the players set to shape the decider. And a prediction for how it will all play out – send us your tips on email.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2025 AFL grand final between Geelong and Brisbane at the MCG. A decider between the Cats and Lions has been brewing for a while. Yes, for the 126 years that both clubs have been in the league, as they meet for the first time on the biggest stage. And especially over the past seven seasons since Brisbane took a huge leap toward joining Geelong among the perennial contenders.
Brisbane are in a third consecutive grand final and out to become the first team since Richmond in 2019-20 to go back-to-back, while Geelong won a premiership three years ago. The Cats began this season’s finals campaign with a statement win over the reigning premiers though the Lions have responded with a pair of their own resounding victories.
A widely held view is that we have landed on the two best sides this year, as the Cats are on an eight-match winning streak, while the Lions at the top of their game are arguably still the team to beat. With stars on both sides, as well as emerging and unlucky players that missed the recent premiership for each club, this has all the makings for a cracker.
I’ll be seeing us through to just before the first bounce, when Geoff Lemon will take the reins. There is more than enough action to keep us busy until then. Snoop Dogg headlines the pre-match entertainment and will be joined on stage by Tash Sultana and Baker Boy. Emma Donovan and Kee’ahn will help us get warmed up and, of course, Mike Brady will be playing his usual part and belting out the classics of the genre.
First bounce will be at the traditional grand final start time of 2.30pm local time / AEST. Let us know whether your preference is for an afternoon, twilight or night-time start for the decider in the future?
Team news will be coming in an hour or so. Meanwhile, let us know your tips and predictions, and any other thoughts on how the game will play out – shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
