Brisbane Lions won the 2025 AFL Grand Final, defeating Geelong 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) at the MCG on Saturday, 27 September 2025. The 47-point margin marked the club’s second consecutive premiership — the fifth in the AFL era and 13th when counting Fitzroy’s history. For the first time since 1909, the scoreboard read level at half-time in a Grand Final. The 100,022 fans at the MCG witnessed history as the Lions secured back-to-back flags.

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Winner: Brisbane Lions · Score: 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) · Opponent: Geelong Cats · Norm Smith Medal: Will Ashcroft · Venue: MCG

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Pre-game entertainment lineup and any payment arrangements
  • Specific details on player injury absences during the season
3Timeline signal
  • Qualifying final: Geelong beat Brisbane 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74) at MCG
  • Grand Final: 27 September 2025 — Brisbane secured second consecutive premiership
4What’s next
  • Brisbane Lions cement status as one of the AFL’s dominant clubs this century
  • Questions linger over whether Geelong can rebuild for another premiership push
Label Value
Date Saturday, 27 September 2025
Venue Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Winner Brisbane Lions
Margin 47 points
MVP Will Ashcroft
Crowd 100,022
Premiership number 5th in AFL era (13th including Fitzroy)

Who won the 2025 AFL Grand Final?

Brisbane Lions won the 2025 AFL Grand Final, defeating Geelong 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) at the MCG on Saturday, 27 September 2025. The 47-point margin marked the club’s second consecutive premiership — the fifth in the AFL era and 13th when counting Fitzroy’s history. The victory came before a crowd of 100,022 fans and cemented Brisbane as only the fourth club this century to win back-to-back flags.

Final score

Brisbane opened the match strong but Geelong hung tough, with the scores locked level at half-time — the first time a Grand Final had been tied at the main break since 1909. Brisbane Lions shifted momentum decisively after the main break, kicking 13 goals to 6 in the second half, with nine of those coming in the final quarter alone. According to the Brisbane Lions Official Website, “Brisbane kicked 13 to 6 goals after the main break.”

What this means

Geelong supporters watched a winning position slip away in the second half — the Cats had beaten Brisbane in the qualifying final just weeks earlier.

Key moments

Will Ashcroft was awarded the Norm Smith Medal as best-on-ground, with his work through the midfield proving decisive in Brisbane’s second-half dominance. The midfielder accumulated crucial contested possessions, won clearances, and delivered entries inside-50 at key moments.

For Geelong, Ollie Dempsey offered a glimmer of hope in the final quarter, kicking three goals at the 29th, 32nd, and 34th minutes. Shaun Mannagh added another at the 35th, while McCluggage responded with his fourth goal for Brisbane in the 30th minute — a sequence that highlighted how quickly momentum can shift at this level.

Who are the AFL grand finalists?

The 2025 AFL Grand Final featured Geelong Football Club against Brisbane Lions — a rematch of the qualifying final where Geelong had prevailed 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74) at the MCG. The Grand Final was the 130th annual grand final of the Australian Football League. Both clubs had navigated finals series filled with drama to reach the season’s final day.

Bottom line: Brisbane Lions are the 2025 premiers. The Lions scored 122 to Geelong’s 75, won a second consecutive flag, and did it in front of 100,022 fans at the MCG. For anyone tracking the AFL’s power shift, the data is clear: Brisbane is now the benchmark.

Who’s performing in the AFL Grand Final 2025?

Pre-game entertainment details and any payment arrangements remain unverified in available sources. The research did not confirm specific performer details, payment figures, or confirmed entertainment acts for the 2025 Grand Final. Claims circulating online about celebrity involvement lack substantiation from authoritative AFL or venue sources.

The catch

Without official AFL confirmation, any entertainment details remain speculative. Fans seeking verified performer information should check the league’s official channels closer to future events.

Did Geelong or the Lions win?

The Brisbane Lions won. Geelong entered the Grand Final with momentum from their qualifying final victory over Brisbane, and for much of the match the outcome hung in the balance. But Brisbane’s superior ball use after half-time proved the difference. The Lions finished with 361 disposals to Geelong’s 319, 230 kicks to 199, and 149 contested possessions to 141. The match statistics from ESPN AFL paint a picture of a team that simply dominated the second half.

Match report

Geelong held their own in the first half, matching Brisbane disposal for disposal. At the main break, both teams had recorded 165 disposals each, 103 kicks each, and 62 handballs each. Geelong had 27 inside-50s to Brisbane’s 26, with clearances split 19 to Geelong and 20 to Brisbane. The parity was remarkable — and the 1909 parallel made the rounds in commentary circles.

The second half told a different story entirely. Brisbane’s pressure, ball movement, and conversion efficiency all lifted. Nine goals in the final quarter finished the job.

Norm Smith Medal

Will Ashcroft took home the Norm Smith Medal as best-on-ground. His ability to win the ball in tight spaces and distribute cleanly under pressure gave Brisbane a decisive edge through the middle of the ground.

The upshot

Brisbane’s back-to-back flag cements their place among the AFL’s elite clubs this century. For Geelong, the loss raises questions about whether another premiership window remains open.

How much is Snoop Dogg getting paid for the AFL Grand Final?

No verified information was found regarding Snoop Dogg’s involvement in the 2025 AFL Grand Final or any associated payment arrangements. Despite circulating online claims, no authoritative source confirmed the rapper’s engagement, performance schedule, or financial terms. Any reports of payment figures should be treated as unverified until official confirmation from the AFL or event organizers.

Pre-game time

Without confirmed entertainment details, specific pre-game schedules could not be verified. The focus of the 2025 Grand Final remained firmly on the football.

The trade-off

For readers following celebrity involvement rumors, the lesson is straightforward: wait for official confirmation. Unverified claims about high-profile performers have a habit of not matching the actual event.

Confirmed

  • Brisbane Lions win — 2025 AFL Grand Final
  • Score: 122-75 (47-point margin)
  • Will Ashcroft — Norm Smith Medal winner
  • Final teams: Geelong vs Brisbane
  • Back-to-back premiership — fourth club this century
  • Half-time score parity — first since 1909
  • Geelong beat Brisbane in qualifying final 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74)
  • Brisbane 361 disposals vs Geelong 319
  • Brisbane 230 kicks vs Geelong 199

Unclear

  • Pre-game entertainment lineup and payment details
  • Specific player injury absences during the 2025 season
  • Any confirmed celebrity involvement in the Grand Final

Key statistics comparison

Brisbane and Geelong produced remarkably similar first-half numbers, but the second half separated the two sides decisively.

Statistic Brisbane Lions Geelong Cats
Total disposals 361 319
Kicks 230 199
Handballs 131 120
Contested possessions 149 141
Disposal efficiency 70.6% 70.2%
Goals after half-time 13 6

The disposal efficiency numbers are close — 70.6% for Brisbane versus 70.2% for Geelong — but the volume tells the story. Brisbane simply had more of the ball and used it better after the main break. The Lions’ second-half surge turned a tight contest into a comfortable margin.

2025 AFL Grand Final timeline

Two moments defined Brisbane’s path to premiership glory: a qualifying final loss that could have derailed lesser teams, and a Grand Final response that rewrote the season’s narrative.

Date Event
Geelong and Brisbane qualify for Grand Final
Brisbane Lions defeat Geelong 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75)
Last Grand Final with level scores at half-time

THE LION dynasty has arrived. Take me home, two straight flags. Brisbane has done it.

— Brisbane Lions Official Club Statement

Chris Fagan has etched his Lions into history as only the fourth club this century to win back-to-back premierships.

— AFL Official Report

Related reading: Brisbane Roar FC vs Auckland FC Lineups · Argentina vs South Africa – 2024 Rugby Results, Stats & Analysis

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com, afl.com.au

Following their commanding prelim win over Collingwood just days earlier, the Brisbane Lions dominated Geelong to secure the 2025 premiership at the MCG.

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Frequently asked questions

What was the 2025 AFL Grand Final score?

Brisbane 18.14 (122) defeated Geelong 11.9 (75) — a 47-point winning margin.

Where was the 2025 AFL Grand Final held?

The match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Who received the Norm Smith Medal?

Will Ashcroft won the Norm Smith Medal as best-on-ground in the 2025 AFL Grand Final.

What time did the 2025 AFL Grand Final start?

The 2025 AFL Grand Final took place on Saturday, 27 September 2025. Specific bounce time was scheduled by the AFL closer to the event.

Was the 2025 AFL Grand Final at the MCG?

Yes, the 2025 AFL Grand Final was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) before a crowd of 100,022 fans.

Who were the 2025 AFL Grand Final teams?

The 2025 AFL Grand Final was contested between Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions.

What entertainment featured at the 2025 AFL Grand Final?

Pre-game entertainment details could not be verified from authoritative sources for the 2025 Grand Final. Fans seeking confirmed entertainment information should consult the official AFL website closer to future events.

Brisbane Lions entered the 2025 Grand Final having lost to Geelong in the qualifying final weeks earlier — a defeat that could have shattered a lesser team’s confidence. Instead, the Lions responded with the most dominant second-half performance of the season, kicking 13 goals to 6 after the main break to claim a 47-point win and their second consecutive premiership. The achievement places Chris Fagan’s side among an elite group: only the fourth club this century to win back-to-back flags, and now firmly established as the AFL’s benchmark team.