The AFLW Grand Final is here. The Brisbane Lions will host the Melbourne Demons.
Whether you’re a diehard, a casual fan, or just want to sound like you know what you’re talking about, this is the preview for you.
Season seven recap
The AFLW’s seventh season was the first to feature all 18 teams. It was dominated from the outset by the Lions and the Demons. Both teams lost only once, and scored almost three times as many points as their opponents across the season.
Both have progressed comfortably through the finals, setting up a highly-anticipated grand final match-up.
Brisbane Lions
The Lions have been a dominant force in the early years of the competition – this is their fourth Grand Final, and a chance for their second premiership.
That consistency hides some major changes. As the competition expanded, the Lions lost a lot of key players to new clubs, and have rebuilt a list with a combination of young talent and experience.
They are a well balanced team – the season’s best attack, and second best defence.
Key Players
Ally Anderson: Awarded the year’s best player last week. An experienced midfielder who forms a power duo with last year’s best player, Emily Bates.
Jesse Wardlaw: The year’s leading goal scorer, leading a star-studded forward line including Greta Bodey and Courtney Hodder.
Breanna Koenen: Captain and defender. Forms a rock solid defensive wall alongside Shannon Campbell and Kate Lutkins.
Melbourne Demons
It’s the second Grand Final this year for one of the original AFLW teams. In the sixth season, which finished in April, the Demons went down to the Adelaide Crows by 13 points. They had qualified for that Grand Final on the back of beating Brisbane.
In season seven, their only loss was to the Lions. They are also a well-balanced side, the competition’s second-best attack and best defence.
Key players
Kate Hore: The league’s second best goal scorer, booting 17 for the season. Also selected in the competition-wide team of the year.
Tayla Harris: The tall forward is one of the league’s most recognisable faces. She began her career as a Brisbane Lion and joined Melbourne this year after four years at Carlton.
Daisy Pearce: Captain and one of the games most respected figures. Still a key player at 34 years of age. It could be her last game – and a retirement with a premiership medal is on the cards.
The details
The game will be held at Brighton Homes Arena in Springfield, Brisbane. It will be broadcast on Channel 7, Fox Footy, Kayo, the womens.afl website and the official AFLW app.
It begins at 1:40pm Queensland time, 2:40pm in Vic, NSW, ACT and Tas, 2:10pm in SA, 1:10pm in NT, and 11:40am in WA.
Delta Goodrem is headlining the pre-match entertainment.
