Brisbane have cemented their place as the AFL’s new powerhouse, claiming consecutive premierships after overpowering Geelong 18.14 (122) to 11.9 (75) in front of 100,022 fans at the MCG. The Lions’ blend of defensive composure, midfield depth and ruthless transition game delivered a second flag in as many years and stamped them as the competition’s benchmark heading into 2026.
The game as it unfolded
The first half was an arm wrestle befitting a Grand Final. Both teams traded periods of control and were locked at 5.6 (36) apiece at half time.
The match turned after the break. Brisbane exploded in the third quarter with four unanswered goals that shifted the scoreboard and momentum, entering the final term 9.9 (63) to 6.8 (44) ahead.
The last quarter became a celebration for Lions supporters as Brisbane poured on nine more goals to finish with a convincing 47-point win. Geelong found late goals to reduce what looked like becoming a 60-plus-point margin, but by the final siren the result was beyond doubt.
Ashcroft makes history
At just 21, Will Ashcroft etched his name into AFL folklore by winning the Norm Smith Medal for a second straight year. He joins Andrew McLeod and Dustin Martin as only the third player in history to claim back-to-back Norm Smiths.
Ashcroft’s poise around stoppages, ability to link defence to attack, and clean disposal in traffic repeatedly drove Brisbane forward. His second half was a masterclass in composure when the game was in the balance.
Captain Lachie Neale played the general’s role at the coalface, while Harris Andrews commanded the backline with intercept marking and aerial discipline. Together they anchored the Lions’ structure in critical phases.
Why Brisbane won
Field position and pressure
The Lions dominated territory after half time. Their repeat inside-50s and pressure on Geelong’s rebound forced turnovers in dangerous areas and led to scoring chains.
Composure with the ball
When the contest tightened in the second quarter, Brisbane stayed cleaner at ground level and hit targets under pressure. That efficiency limited Geelong’s counter-attack and proved crucial during the surge in the third term.
Defensive spine and resilience
Andrews, Darcy Gardiner and Jack Payne combined to keep Geelong’s key forwards quiet in critical moments. Even when the Cats threatened a late surge, Brisbane’s defensive shape held, allowing them to absorb pressure and counter effectively.
What it means for Geelong
The Cats arrived at the decider after defying many pre-season predictions and showed for two quarters they could match the Lions in contested ball and scoreboard pressure.
The turning point came in the third term when Brisbane’s press squeezed Geelong’s exits and forced long kicks to outnumbered contests. Too many of those were intercepted or rebounded.
Geelong finished with respectability on the scoreboard but were effectively shut out of a genuine comeback. Chris Scott’s side will take heart from another Grand Final appearance but faces questions on how to bridge the gap to Brisbane’s top-end power.
The spectacle on Grand Final day
The crowd of 100,022 added colour and energy to an already electric atmosphere at the MCG.
Pre-match entertainment featured Snoop Dogg, Jessica Mauboy, Baker Boy and Tash Sultana, capped by Vera Blue’s rendition of the national anthem. A brief microphone glitch during Snoop Dogg’s set drew laughs before being quickly fixed. Once the ball was bounced, all focus turned to the football.
For neutrals, the spectacle lived up to the billing -a close first half followed by a big-stage breakout from a champion side.
Big moments that defined the result
The third-quarter burst. Brisbane’s midfield lifted its intensity around the ball, generating repeat clearances and translating them into clean entries. That surge flipped the match from a stalemate to a decisive lead.
Ashcroft’s composure under heat. In the highest-pressure stages, the young star was clean by hand and quick by foot. His efforts set up multiple scoring chains.
Andrews’ intercept wall. Harris Andrews’ 14 intercept possessions stalled Geelong’s forward forays and set the platform for Brisbane’s counter-punches.
By the numbers
Brisbane’s second-half dominance showed in the splits: they outscored Geelong 13.8 to 6.3 after half time, including nine goals in the last quarter.
Inside-50s after half time were 35-21 in Brisbane’s favour. Their pressure acts climbed above 200 for the match, reflecting the sustained heat that eventually broke Geelong’s composure.
While individual disposal counts told their own story – Neale and Ashcroft both topping 30, with Charlie Cameron kicking four goals -the structural stats showed a team that dictated field position and transitioned cleanly from contest to scoreboard.
Legacy in the making
Back-to-back flags elevate the Lions into historic company. They’ve built a list balanced between seasoned leaders and emerging stars, with Ashcroft still years from his peak and Neale and Andrews maintaining elite form.
Coach Chris Fagan’s system has proven it can withstand finals intensity and adapt across seasons. With depth to rotate through all lines and a strong injury profile heading into the off-season, Brisbane enter 2026 as early premiership favourites.
For Geelong, the campaign is still a success. They reinvented parts of their midfield, unearthed promising youth and proved their window remains open. The gap on the last Saturday in September is real but not unbridgeable.
Mitch Robinson’s Grand Final vlog
To see the raw celebrations, behind-the-scenes reactions and Mitch’s take on the action, watch his Grand Final vlog below:
[Embed Mitch’s YouTube Grand Final Vlog here]
Joe’s Final word
Brisbane’s second-half performance was a blueprint of modern finals football: dominate territory, maintain composure and seize key moments. Ashcroft’s historic Norm Smith, Neale’s leadership and Andrews’ defensive command shaped the contest’s defining phases.
The Lions leave the MCG as champions again, having turned a 36-36 halftime arm wrestle into a commanding 47-point victory. For the rest of the league, the message is clear – the road to the 2026 flag will run through Brisbane.