Brisbane celebrates its second AFLW premiership after a 17-point grand final win over North Melbourne. Photo: AFL MEDIA

GRAND FINAL
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.3 (27) def by BRISBANE 7.2 (44)

It took just over a year, but the Lions have healed their heavy hearts after dropping last year’s AFLW grand final on their home deck, this time defeating a brave North Melbourne to capture the flag, roaring home in front of a sold-out Ikon Park.

The Lions had three star players – Jess Wardlaw, Emily Bates and Greta Bodey – leave the club in the off-season, but they’ve now won their second premiership from five grand finals, while North Melbourne still has never beaten Brisbane since the competition’s 2017 inception.

The Kangaroos, who squandered an 18-point lead against the Lions in round four, losing that match by two points, led this one by seven points at three-quarter time.

They were riding a magnificent performance by AFLW Players Association MVP Jasmine Garner, who compiled 24 touches, six clearances, kicked two first half majors and set up Kate Shierlaw, who converted a set shot after taking the mark of the match in the third term to give her side a one-point lead.

North Melbourne’s Alice O’Loughlin, one of the hardest workers on the ground, followed Shierlaw’s major with one of her own, converting a set shot after being rewarded for a tackle, and atoning for two misses earlier in the term.

But the Kangaroos couldn’t capitalise on their stoppage dominance, nor their advantages in inside 50s, which finished 34-21 North Melbourne’s way.

North Melbourne had suffered a crucial injury blow just minutes into the match, with Jenna Bruton exiting due to a foot injury which had her on the bench and in a moon boot before the game hard barely got underway.

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In this highly physical match, the Lions massively out-tackled the Roos, and in the final term firmly got the game on their terms.

Enter Brisbane spearhead Dakota Davidson, who last week was forced from the preliminary final on the three-quarter time siren with what looked a serious knee injury. With her knee heavily taped, Davidson took two crucial contested marks and turned the match on its head.

Davidson’s first major drew her side within one point. The second propelled the Lions into the lead, a buffer it continued to expand. Fittingly, Brisbane captain Bre Koenen — winner of the best on ground medal — put the result beyond doubt with a snap late in the term.Koenen had a day out with 19 possessions, laid 11 tackles, took seven marks, and had 336 metres gained.

The Lions were far more efficient in attack, and brought manic defensive pressure, Courtney Hodder laying an amazing 18 tackles. Brisbane’s trio of Natalie Grider, Ally Anderson, and Isabel Dawes tallied 20 touches each, with Anderson winning six clearances.

The Lions’ second premiership puts them one behind Adelaide in the silverware department, but it builds their case that they’ve been the competition’s most consistently successful side, as their five grand final appearances remain unmatched. And Brisbane is more than well-positioned to challenge for another flag again next season.

North Melbourne will take some measure of satisfaction from its finals campaign, finally rising to defeat fellow elite sides, Melbourne, and Adelaide. But beating the Lions remains a bridge too far, despite leading at every change in this grand final.

The Roos made great strides, nonetheless, and will be more than keen to avenge this loss and be a serious contender for next year’s flag.