2025 AFL Grand Final: Brisbane Lions Premiership Triumph

Brisbane Lions silenced doubters on 27 September 2025, turning a qualifying-final defeat into a 47-point demolition of Geelong at the MCG to claim back-to-back AFL premierships—the first time in club history. The result answered every question about their staying power after they lost to the Cats three weeks earlier.

Winner: Brisbane Lions · Final Score: 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) · Norm Smith Medal: Will Ashcroft · Venue: MCG · Date: 27 September 2025

Who won the 2025 AFL Grand Final?

Brisbane Lions defeated Geelong Cats by 47 points in the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final at the MCG, finishing 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75). The win marked the club’s second consecutive premiership—a historic achievement that cemented their place at the top of Australian rules football. The official AFL match centre confirmed the result, with goal scorers documented for both sides.

The Lions dominated across all key statistical categories. Brisbane accumulated 361 disposals compared to Geelong’s 319, with 230 kicks to the Cats’ 199. Contested possessions went Brisbane’s way 149–141, demonstrating their physical edge in the clinch moments. Lachie Neale, who entered the match as Brisbane’s substitute, scored a game-breaking goal that broke Geelong’s resistance late in the piece.

Final score

The scoreboard told the story: Brisbane Lions 18.14 (122) defeated Geelong Cats 11.9 (75). Brisbane’s goal scorers included Cameron (4), McCluggage (4), Bailey (3), Lohmann (2), and singles from L. Ashcroft, W. Ashcroft, Morris, Neale, and Rayner. Geelong’s multiple goal-kickers included Dempsey (4), with Blicavs, Bowes, Close, Holmes, Mannagh, Mullin, and Neale also contributing.

Norm Smith Medal winner

Will Ashcroft claimed the 2025 Norm Smith Medal as best on ground, receiving 13 votes from the five judges (3, 3, 3, 2, 2). According to the AFL official reporting, Harris Andrews finished second with 6 votes, Zac Bailey third with 5, Jaspa Fletcher fourth with 3, Dayne Zorko fifth with 2, and Hugh McCluggage sixth with 1 vote. Luke Hodge, a Brisbane Lions legend, presented the medal to Ashcroft.

Bottom line: Brisbane Lions are premiers for the second consecutive year, winning by 47 points in a dominant display. Will Ashcroft became the first player since Dane Swan (2010–2011) to win back-to-back Norm Smith Medals.

Did Geelong or the Lions win?

The Lions won—their second straight premiership over Geelong in a match that flipped the script from their earlier meeting. Before the Grand Final, Geelong had defeated Brisbane 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74) in the Qualifying Final at the MCG earlier in September 2025. The AFL official match records confirm both results from the 2025 finals series.

Brisbane’s victory was described as “stunning” and “emphatic” in coverage, with the Lions erasing any doubt about their premiership credentials after that earlier loss. Their disposal efficiency of 70.6% marginally outpaced Geelong’s 70.2%, but the gap in total disposals (361–319) showed Brisbane controlled the ball for most of the day.

Match summary

Brisbane built their advantage through superior ball use and scoring efficiency. The Lions scored 18 goals from 32 scoring shots, while Geelong managed 11 goals from 20 attempts. With 100,000-plus fans packed into the MCG, the atmosphere reflected a club at the height of its powers.

Key moments

The turning point came when Lachie Neale—brought on as Brisbane’s substitute—converted a crucial goal that deflated Geelong’s hopes. The AFL’s official reporting highlighted this moment as decisive in the final quarter. Ashcroft’s consistent presence around the contest provided the Lions with a clear midfield advantage throughout.

Who are the AFL grand finalists?

The 2025 AFL Grand Final featured Geelong Cats versus Brisbane Lions. Both clubs confirmed their lineups on Grand Final day, with the official AFL match centre documenting each side’s 22 players and substitute selections. The official team sheets showed Lachie Neale as Brisbane’s substitute and Jack Martin as Geelong’s substitute.

Geelong entered the Grand Final having won the Qualifying Final against Brisbane, giving them a week off before the decider. The Cats carried that momentum early but couldn’t maintain it against a determined Lions outfit that flipped the result in decisive fashion.

Team lineups

Both teams featured experienced campaigners alongside emerging talent. Brisbane’s premiership core included Brownlow Medalist Lachie Neale, veteran defender Harris Andrews, and young star Will Ashcroft. Geelong relied on their own established names while looking to upset the defending premiers on the biggest stage.

Final teams locked in

With big substitute calls confirmed for Grand Final teams, coaches had finalised their selections before match day. The official AFL record confirmed each club’s final 22, with no late changes reported on the morning of the game.

Who’s performing in the AFL Grand Final 2025?

No confirmed performer lineup was available in verified primary sources at the time of publication. The entertainment schedule for AFL Grand Final day typically includes pre-game performances at the MCG, but specific details regarding headline acts at the 2025 edition were not documented in official AFL records or major sports publications.

Social media speculation about international music artists attending the 2025 Grand Final circulated in the lead-up to the match, but these reports lacked confirmation from the AFL or event organizers. Readers seeking official entertainment announcements should check the AFL official website for the most current information.

Pre-game entertainment time

AFL Grand Final day traditionally features entertainment throughout the afternoon, with pre-game ceremonies beginning in the hours leading up to the 2:30pm (AEST) bounce time. Specific performance times for 2025 were not detailed in publicly available verified sources.

Snoop Dogg details

Reports suggesting Snoop Dogg would perform or appear at the 2025 AFL Grand Final originated from unverified social media speculation. The AFL’s official communications and match-day materials did not list any international headline performers for the 2025 edition.

Who was favoured to win the 2025 AFL Grand Final?

Entering the Grand Final, the form guide gave both teams genuine claims. Geelong held the psychological edge after their 38-point Qualifying Final win over Brisbane, but the Lions had demonstrated they could beat anyone on their day. The official AFL records showed both clubs had earned their Grand Final spots through the competitive 2025 finals series.

Pundits debated the matchup extensively in the week leading to the game. Brisbane’s ability to flip the result from the Qualifying Final suggested their premiership experience from 2024 gave them an edge in high-pressure moments. The final scoreboard reflected that experience telling in the crunch periods.

Pre-match predictions

Both teams entered the Grand Final with 2024 premiership experience (Brisbane) or recent finals pedigree (Geelong had reached the 2023 Grand Final). The closeness of their Qualifying Final suggested a tight contest, though Brisbane ultimately won by 47 points.

Schedule and date

The 2025 AFL Grand Final took place on Saturday, 27 September 2025, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The bounce time was 2:30pm (AEST), following the traditional Grand Final day schedule that has anchored the event since the early 1900s.

Brisbane Lions’ 2025 triumph answers every question about their staying power. After winning the 2024 premiership and losing the Qualifying Final to Geelong earlier in 2025, the Lions proved their 2024 title was no fluke by dominating the Cats in the Grand Final. The scoreboard margin of 47 points reflected genuine superiority across the ground—not a fluke result but a statement performance.

What makes this premiership remarkable is the arc. Brisbane entered 2025 having beaten Geelong in 2024’s Grand Final, then lost to them in the Qualifying Final, then beat them again when it mattered most. That resilience—combined with Will Ashcroft’s extraordinary back-to-back Norm Smith performances—makes this more than a two-peat. It’s proof the Lions have built something sustainable at the top of Australian rules football.

For AFL fans watching from Australia, the 2026 season now carries an extra subplot: can anyone stop Brisbane from making it three straight? The early market will be watching Geelong’s response, but with Ashcroft still in his early 20s and the premiership core intact, the Lions have every reason to feel confident about their dynasty prospects.

Related reading: Brisbane Lions premiership · 2025 AFL Grand Final result

Brisbane Lions’ commanding preliminary final win over Collingwood propelled them into the Grand Final, where they clinched the premiership with a decisive 122-75 defeat of Geelong.

Frequently asked questions