2025 AFL Grand Final: Brisbane Lions Beat Geelong Score & Highlights

Brisbane Lions fans had plenty to celebrate on Saturday, 27 September 2025, as their team claimed back-to-back AFL premierships with a commanding 47-point victory over Geelong at the MCG. The result brought a fitting close to a Grand Final week that generated plenty of headlines — not just for the football, but also for the surprise choice of headline entertainment: Snoop Dogg. Will Ashcroft’s Norm Smith Medal-winning performance sealed what had looked increasingly inevitable as the Lions took control mid-game.

Winner: Brisbane Lions · Score: 18.14 (122) def Geelong 11.9 (75) · Norm Smith Medal: Will Ashcroft · Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground · Date: 27 September 2025

The table below consolidates the essential match data from the 2025 AFL Grand Final, drawing on official AFL records and match statistics.

Who won the 2025 AFL Grand Final?

The Brisbane Lions claimed the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final with an emphatic 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) victory over Geelong at the MCG, sealing back-to-back premierships for the second time in the club’s history. The 47-point margin reflected a dominant all-around performance from the Lions, who controlled the contest from the second quarter onwards.

Final score

The final scoreline — Brisbane 18.14 (122) to Geelong 11.9 (75) — tells only part of the story. Brisbane’s disposal efficiency of 70.6% compared favourably with Geelong’s 70.2%, and the Lions finished with 361 disposals to the Cats’ 319, according to ESPN Australia match statistics. The winning margin of 47 points matched the emphatic nature of Brisbane’s triumph.

Key moments

The qualifying final earlier in the 2025 AFL Finals Series had seen Geelong defeat Brisbane 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74) at the MCG, per AFL Official records. That result made Brisbane’s Grand Final victory particularly sweet — and vindicated a finals campaign that had required them to fight through the lower bracket after the qualifying defeat.

The implication: Brisbane’s ability to reset after the qualifying final loss demonstrated the mental fortitude that separates premiership contenders from pretenders.

Who are the AFL grand finalists?

The 2025 AFL Grand Final featured two clubs with rich histories in Australian football: the Brisbane Lions and the Geelong Cats. Brisbane entered the match as slight favourites despite having lost to Geelong in the qualifying final just weeks earlier.

Geelong Cats lineup

Geelong arrived at the Grand Final having secured a qualifying win over Brisbane, with Dempsey kicking 4 goals in that earlier encounter according to AFL Official match data. The Cats’ forward line had been a consistent threat throughout the 2025 season, though they ultimately couldn’t match Brisbane’s clinical efficiency on the big day.

Brisbane Lions lineup

Brisbane’s Cameron and McCluggage each contributed 4 goals in the qualifying final against Geelong, while Bailey added 3, per official AFL records. The Lions’ balanced scoring attack proved decisive across the 2025 season, and that depth carried them to premiership glory.

The pattern: Both finalists had demonstrated their credentials through the finals series, but Brisbane’s superior disposal numbers (361 to 319) and contested ball work ultimately proved the difference at the MCG.

Who’s performing in the AFL Grand Final 2025?

The 2025 AFL Grand Final broke with tradition by featuring international hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg as the headline act for Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment at the MCG, according to AFL Official announcements. The 53-year-old rapper brought his catalogue of hits to the Australian football showpiece, marking one of the most internationally recognised entertainment bookings in Grand Final history.

Pre-game entertainment

Snoop Dogg’s selection wasn’t without controversy. Some AFL fans questioned whether Australian audiences would connect with international hip-hop, with 7NEWS reporting that critics argued fans preferred rock anthems and pop singalongs over international rap acts.

Snoop Dogg performance

The backlash intensified when reports emerged that the Adelaide Crows had raised concerns about Snoop Dogg’s past homophobic lyrics when attempting to have a player’s penalty reduced, 7NEWS noted. Despite the controversy, Snoop Dogg delivered a performance that won over many sceptics. According to 7NEWS coverage, the colourful and energetic show was described as a success that silenced many critics.

Did Geelong or the Lions win?

The Brisbane Lions won the 2025 AFL Grand Final, defeating Geelong by 47 points at the MCG on Saturday, 27 September 2025. The victory cemented Brisbane’s status as the dominant force in the AFL and gave the club its second consecutive premiership.

Match report

Brisbane’s triumph was described as emphatic and stunning, with the Lions controlling the match after half-time. The team’s 361 disposals and 149 contested possessions demonstrated their superior ball use throughout the contest, per ESPN Australia statistics.

Back-to-back win

The win marked Brisbane’s second consecutive AFL premiership, achieved through the 2025 Grand Final victory. Will Ashcroft’s Norm Smith Medal-winning performance in the Grand Final provided the individual brilliance to complement the team’s collective dominance, according to Brisbane Lions Official match coverage.

The catch: Geelong’s earlier qualifying final win proved they could beat Brisbane — but the Cats couldn’t reproduce that form when it mattered most on Grand Final day.

Who is favoured to win the 2025 AFL Grand Final?

Betting markets and AFL analysis had Brisbane as favourites heading into the 2025 Grand Final, despite their earlier defeat to Geelong in the qualifying final. The Lions’ superior disposal numbers — 361 to Geelong’s 319 — and marginally better efficiency (70.6% to 70.2%) suggested they had the tools to win, ESPN Australia match data indicated.

Pre-match odds

Brisbane’s status as slight favourites reflected their consistent 2025 season form and the belief that they’d learned from the qualifying final loss. The team’s depth across all lines gave them an edge that ultimately translated to the 47-point Grand Final victory. For the latest AFL news and rumours, including player updates, check out latest AFL news.

Predictions

The result vindicated those who’d backed Brisbane. The Lions’ ability to win contested ball (149 to Geelong’s 141) proved decisive at the MCG, and their clinical conversion inside 50 ultimately secured the premiership.

Timeline of the 2025 AFL Grand Final

Three moments shaped the narrative around the 2025 AFL Grand Final: the qualifying final upset, Grand Final week build-up, and the main event itself.

• 2025 AFL Finals Series: Geelong defeated Brisbane 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74) in the qualifying final at the MCG (AFL Official)
• September 2025: Grand Final week build-up featuring Snoop Dogg announcement controversy and fan debates
• Saturday, 27 September 2025: Brisbane Lions defeated Geelong Cats 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) at the MCG before over 100,000 fans (Official Highlights)
• Post-match: Premiership presentation ceremony with Will Ashcroft honoured as Norm Smith Medal winner

Confirmed facts and uncertainties

Here’s what we know definitively about the 2025 AFL Grand Final — and what remains less certain.

The trade-off: Snoop Dogg’s hiring initially polarised fans, yet the performance itself delivered the spectacle the AFL wanted. The league gains global media attention through international celebrity bookings — but risks alienating traditional audiences who valued domestic entertainment acts.

Expert perspectives on the 2025 AFL Grand Final

Brisbane’s performance today showed exactly why they’re deserving premiers. They lost the qualifying final and came back stronger — that’s premiership character.

— AFL Official match commentary (AFL Official)

Snoop Dogg brought genuine star power to the Grand Final. Despite the initial scepticism, this was a performance that lifted the whole occasion.

— Sports entertainment analysis from 7NEWS

Summary

The 2025 AFL Grand Final delivered a clear result: Brisbane Lions are the dominant team in Australian football, winning back-to-back premierships with a clinical 47-point victory over Geelong at the MCG. The 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) scoreline reflected a dominant all-around performance, with Will Ashcroft’s Norm Smith Medal-winning display the individual highlight of a team effort. Beyond the football, Snoop Dogg’s headline entertainment act proved controversial beforehand but successful in execution — potentially reshaping how the AFL approaches Grand Final spectacles going forward. For Brisbane Lions supporters, the wait until 2026 begins now; for the rest of the AFL world, the task of toppling this Brisbane dynasty remains unclear.

Related reading: 2025 AFL Grand Final: Brisbane Lions Premiership Triumph · 2025 AFL Grand Final Result: Brisbane Lions Premiership

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