AFLW grand final news: Key match-up, game breaker, numbers, predictions for Brisbane v Melbourne.
The AFLW grand final is just two days away. Which key matchup could be the deciding factor? What do the numbers tell us? Who wins and why? Find out here.
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We’re so close now to the second AFLW Grand Final of 2022. As the Lions and Demons gear up for the Granny, let’s take a look at the stars and numbers that will be pivotal come Sunday afternoon.
Here’s your one-stop shop for all you need to know ahead of the big dance.
SUPERSTAR TO HEADLINE AFLW GRAND FINAL SHOW
Look out Springfield — Delta is incoming.
The Herald Sun can exclusively reveal that Australian sensation Delta Goodrem will on Thursday be announced as the AFL Women’s grand final entertainment for Sunday’s premiership decider at Brighton Homes Arena in Brisbane.
After her stellar showing at the AFL grand final alongside British superstar Robbie Williams, Goodrem — who showed in September she’s got the boot to match her big hits with a brilliant kick on the MCG — will headline the pre-match show at Springfield before Brisbane takes on Melbourne.
The star is set to perform a series of hits with a full band on the game’s newest turf, which was laid just weeks ago, before the clash.
“In what has been an incredible season for the AFLW, I am grateful to be invited to perform at one of the most exciting sporting matches of the year,” Goodrem said.
A sold-out crowd of close to 7000 people is set to include key politicians and industry figures.
Goodrem’s AFL finals dancing partner — league chief executive Gillon McLachlan — won’t be in attendance at the game after jetting overseas on a delayed holiday.
The star — who has achieved multi-platinum status with nine No. 1 singles and 12 ARIA awards — recently announced her Innocent Eyes tour which marks the 20-year anniversary of her smash hit album that skyrocketed her career.
League executive general manager of customer and commercial, Kylie Rogers, said welcoming Goodrem back on the AFLW’s biggest stage was a thrill for the game.
“The 2022 Telstra Pre-Match Entertainment is a highlight for many fans, and Delta’s performance
will be the perfect beginning to what’s sure to be an amazing showdown on field,” Ms Rogers said.
“Delta’s talent in connecting with her audience and the energy she brings will be an exciting addition to the day,” Rogers said.
“Her skill at connecting with those around her will be on full display.”
GRAND FINAL RESULT WON’T AFFECT DAISY’S CAREER CALL
Daisy Pearce won’t be rushed into a decision on her playing future and is adamant that the result of Sunday’s AFLW grand final won’t be a defining factor.
The 34-year-old is set to lead Melbourne into a second consecutive premiership decider, with the Demons having fallen short of Adelaide in last season’s grand final at Adelaide Oval.
But as they seek to make amends for their heartbreak, Pearce – who has played 54 AFLW games – said “I honestly haven’t made a decision” on playing on next year.
“I’m just going to let myself stay in the moment and enjoy this week and have an almighty crack on the weekend, and then see where the dust settles on that,” she said on Monday.
“It kind of feels like there’s way too many variables in it for me to make a call and will just wait and see at the end of the year.”
But Pearce believes that prevailing over the Lions at Springfield – or not – won’t influence her.
“I don’t feel like it hangs on a result,” she said.
“I’m a pretty intuitive, gut feel sort of person. I just need time to let it all sink in and see where I’m at and sit down and have a chat with the list manager and coach.
“It’s just not something that I’m rushing to make a call on. I don’t feel the need to.”
That’s not to say a call won’t come on Sunday.
“Not unless I get that intuition, gut feeling (after the game),” she said.
“I think I’ll need more time than that.”
Sunday’s clash at Brighton Homes Arena comes just 232 days after the last AFLW grand final was contested, after the AFL made the call earlier this year to bring season seven forward to August.
It presented an unprecedented opportunity for the Demons, who rallied off the back of their disappointment to earn another crack within a calendar year.
But while the experience “doesn’t hurt”, Pearce said the week was an entirely different proposition to last time around.
“If anything, I think it makes you realise that losing isn’t the end of the world,” she said.
“We lost one not even 12 months ago and the sun came up and we all turned up at pre-season training with the attitude of wanting to get better. That’s landed us here. It’s one of those things – if you want to win one, you’ve got to be prepared to feel that hurt and disappointment of losing one. We’ve done that now and while it’s not the result you want, it’s not the end of the world.
“It doesn’t hurt to have had the experience – to have been through the week of grand final week and that kind of thing.
“It all adds to your experiences as a team and as individuals.
“It’s about preparing ourselves as best we can now and enjoying all the little moments and opportunities as we can along the way.”
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Originally published as AFLW grand final news: Key match-up, game breaker, numbers, predictions for Brisbane v Melbourne.
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