AFLW Agenda: The four biggest grand final talking points ahead of North Melbourne vs Brisbane
The AFLW Grand Final was sold out by Tuesday and plenty of supporters who want to attend will be locked out. ELIZA REILLY asks — has the league got the right venue?
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Which game plan is better equipped to stand up in finals? Who will break the game open? Will the sequel be just as good as the original?
We look at the four biggest talking points ahead of Saturday’s AFLW decider.
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FIT FOR PURPOSE?
For the second year in a row, tickets for the AFLW grand final at Ikon Park have sold out. Last year, 12,616 people watched Brisbane defeat North Melbourne by 17 points. And this year, the crowd is tipped to nudge Ikon’s 12,500 capacity yet again after the ticket pool was exhausted on Tuesday morning, less than 24 hours after they went on sale. It’s a credit to the AFLW fan base that demand is so strong and they’ve sold out the game two years running. But it does beg the question of whether the decider needs to be played at bigger venues to allow more fans to attend.
The league has been big on growth. But now plenty of fans, both genuine and prospective, will miss out. The biggest AFLW game of the year deserves the biggest audience and the decision to move the grand final to a night timeslot is indicative of that desire. But if the AFL was bold and innovative, it would have scheduled the game at its own Marvel Stadium instead of booking a Supercross event at the venue this weekend. There are all sorts of logistic complications to consider like the highest-ranking team earning hosting rights and a series of concerts ripping up the turf recently. But some forward planning could’ve ensured that the venue was available in the event of a Melbourne grand final, a foreseeable outcome given the Kangaroos claimed the minor premiership. The WBBL will be playing its decider at the MCG this year. It’s time for the AFL to get aspirational.
WHERE THE GAME WILL BE WON
Control vs. chaos – which method will prevail? North Melbourne and Brisbane have forged vastly different paths into this year’s grand final. The Kangaroos love to control the footy and do so with great effect. As one of the most skilled teams in the competition, North Melbourne racked up 78 more disposals than Port in its preliminary final and used the ball at 65 per cent. The Kangaroos also had 139-76 uncontested possessions. But Brisbane has the game plan to disrupt North Melbourne. In the second half against Adelaide, the Lions upped their pace and pressure, putting speed on the ball and the Crows’ defence under immense pressure.
Brisbane only needs to be within touching distance at half-time to do the same again knowing the Lions’ incredible fitness and stamina. North’s defence has been the best in the competition for a reason this year. The Kangaroos work so well as a team that only one North defender – Sarah Wright – was recognised in the All-Australian squad. They’re near unbeatable in the air but Brisbane’s speed and unpredictability will worry them. If it’s not Dakota Davidson, who tore the Kangaroos apart in last year’s grand final, Taylor Smith will get you. Sophie Conway sneaks forward. Courtney Hodder has had some of her biggest moments in grand finals. Ellie Hampson always makes a contest. Brisbane is built for finals. The Kangaroos have the poise to win them.
TWO STORIES – ONE ENDING
Will the sequel be just as good as the original? By the time the final siren sounds on Saturday night at Ikon Park, we’ll either witness the first AFLW expansion team win a premiership or the first club go back-to-back. We’ve never had the two same clubs reach the decider two years in a row but funnily enough, 17 of the 18 AFLW captains tipped one of North and Brisbane to feature in this year’s grand final again in the annual pre-season survey. Nine backed the Kangaroos and eight selected Brisbane as the side, aside from their own, most likely to make the grand final. And after last year’s clash, it’s only fair that we get a second edition. For North Melbourne, it’s a case of which holds more weight – a shot at revenge or the pressure of an undefeated season. The Kangaroos bottled the feeling of last year’s heartbreak and have used it as a source of motivation ever since.
That much was obvious when North Melbourne belted the Lions by 44 points in round one. The chance to do to Brisbane what Brisbane did to them is vengeance on a platter. But the Kangaroos will have to contend with the burden of favouritism. North Melbourne is just the third team to go through a home and away season undefeated. The first was Brisbane in 2017. The result? The Lions lost the grand final to Adelaide. The second was Fremantle in 2020 but that season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic with no premier awarded. North doesn’t want to assume top dog status but the reality is that they’ve made it very hard to tip against them. They’ll start favourites with the bookmakers for the second year in a row despite Brisbane’s incredible grand final run. Saturday will be the Lions’ sixth AFLW grand final appearance from a possible eight. If they can upset North Melbourne again and win their third decider, they’ll equal Adelaide as the most successful team in the league’s history. They’ll also become the first club to go back-to-back. Will we see a new force claim the crown or will a perennial contender cement a dynasty?
WHO WILL BREAK THE GAME APART?
While midfielders have a fairly firm grip on the Norm Smith medal, defenders have been named best on ground in three of the last four AFLW grand finals. Last year, Brisbane captain Breanna Koenen was the unanimous pick after spending the first half as an interceptor behind the ball before spending time around the ball limiting Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell in the second half. Teammate Shannon Campbell was judged best on ground in Brisbane’s grand final loss to Melbourne in season seven. And back in 2021, now retired Lions stopper Kate Lutkins won the medal. Ask any AFLW coach and they’ll tell you that most games are won in the midfield. But both of these teams boast incredible defenders who are capable of turning the tide in big games.
The last time these two sides met in round one, North picked Brisbane apart because the Lions relied too much on attacking running patterns. But it’ll be a different story on Saturday given Brisbane concedes an average of 25.6 points in grand finals. Will that open the door for a midfielder to tear the contest apart? Garner was prolific in last year’s decider with 24 touches, 452 metres gained and five clearances. Ridell has been prolific this season and is having a massive influence around the ground. Belle Dawes has enjoyed a breakout season and is Brisbane’s barometer around the ball. While you can’t discount Ally Anderson’s influence on the Lions midfield. It’ll take a team effort to win the flag but it’s a wide-open field for Saturday’s gamebreaker.
Originally published as AFLW Agenda: The four biggest grand final talking points ahead of North Melbourne vs Brisbane
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