Geelong will recall veteran ruckman Rhys Stanley to face Brisbane in this year's grand final, after star defender Tom Stewart suffered a concussion in the preliminary final win over Hawthorn.
The Cats opted not to play Stanley in the prelim, ultimately sticking with Mark Blicavs in the ruck.
However, they needed to make a change for the game given Stewart's heart-breaking injury, and have seemingly opted to recall the soon-to-be 35-year-old, instead of a defender like Jed Bews.
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Stanley initially fell out of the Geelong side after suffering a hamstring strain at the end of the home-and-away season.
Brisbane meanwhile have seemingly made the big call to play captain Lachie Neale, only three weeks on from a calf strain suffered in the qualifying final.
Neale trained fully during the week and has been backed to get through the game.
He returns at the expense of midfielder Jarrod Berry, who dislocated his shoulder in the preliminary final win over Collingwood.
It was the second time Berry has dislocated the shoulder this season. The Lions have seemingly put a line through the on-baller.
AFL grand final teams
Geelong Cats
IN: R. Stanley
OUT: T. Stewart (concussion)
FB: Z. Guthrie, S. De Koning, C. O'Sullivan
HB: M. O'Connor, J. Henry, L. Humphries
C: O. Dempsey, T. Atkins, M. Holmes
HF: G. Miers, J. Cameron, S. Mannagh
FF: B. Close, S. Neale, T. Stengle
Fol: R. Stanley, B. Smith, P. Dangerfield
INT: M. Blicavs, O. Mullin, J. Clark, J. Martin, J. Bowes
Brisbane Lions
IN: L. Neale
OUT: J. Berry (shoulder)
FB: R. Lester, H. Andrews, B. Starcevich
HB: D. Zorko, D. Gardiner, D. Wilmot
C: J. Fletcher, J. Dunkley, W. Ashcroft
HF: C. Rayner, L. Morris, Z. Bailey
FF: C. Cameron, T. Gallop, K. Lohmann
Fol: O. McInerney, L. Neale, H. McCluggage
INT: D. Fort, L. Ashcroft, C. Ah Chee, S. Marshall, B. Reville
What time will the grand final start?
The opening bounce of the grand final is set for 2.30pm (AEST) on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Friday before the game is a public holiday in Victoria.
2pm ACST (SA, NT)
12.30pm AWST (WA)
International
UK: 5.30am
Europe: 6.30am
USA: 9.30pm Friday (west coast), 12.30am Saturday (east coast)
New Zealand: 5.30pm
Japan: 1.30pm
Bali: 12.30pm
Grand final umpires
Field umpire: Simon Meredith (10th grand final), Jacob Mollison (second grand final), Hayden Meyer (second grand final), Andrew Stephens (first grand final)
Boundary umpires: Matthew Konetschka, Michael Barlow and Daniel Field-Read
Goal umpires: Adam Wojcik and Matthew Dervan
Head-to-head
Remarkably, these two teams will play each other for a fourth time this season in the grand final.
Geelong won the qualifying final clash comfortably, leading all night in the 38-point win.
However, Brisbane won the two games during the home-and-away season, including beating the Cats at GMHBA Stadium by 41 points.
This will also be the fifth final these two teams have played against each other since 2020.
The two sides have never met previously in an AFL grand final.
Last time they made the grand final
The Lions have made the last two grand finals, beating Sydney last year and losing to Collingwood in 2023.
Geelong meanwhile won the 2022 grand final, also beating Sydney.
Path to the grand final
These two teams met in the qualifying final, with Geelong winning comfortably.
The Cats then took down Hawthorn in the prelim in order to earn this spot.
They have been the in-form team of the finals series so far, led by captain Patrick Dangerfield.
Brisbane had to go the long way around after losing to Geelong. They hosted crosstown rivals Gold Coast in the semi finals, proving too strong.
They then upset Collingwood at the MCG in their preliminary final, running away it late to book their grand final spot.
Odds (Sportsbet)
Geelong $1.55
Brisbane $2.47
(Correct as of 1:30pm AEST, Thursday)
Norm Smith Medal
Bailey Smith (Geelong) – $7.50
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) – $8
Max Holmes (Geelong) – $9
Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) – $13
Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane) – $15
First goal scorer
Jeremy Cameron (Geelong) – $7.75
Logan Morris (Brisbane) – $10
Cam Rayner (Brisbane) – $12
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) – $12.50
Tyson Stengle (Geelong) – $12.50
Grand final tickets
Tickets have sold out.
How to watch AFL grand final
The match will be live on Channel 7 and for the first time live on Fox Footy.
Recent AFL grand final history
2024: Brisbane 18.12. (120) defeated Sydney 9.6. (60)
2023: Collingwood 12. 18. (90) defeated Brisbane 13. 8. (86)
2022: Geelong 20. 13. (133) defeated Sydney 8. 4. (52)
2021: Melbourne 21. 14. (140) defeated Western Bulldogs 10. 6. (66)
2020: Richmond 12. 9. (81) defeated Geelong 7. 8. (50)
2019: Richmond 17. 12. (114) defeated GWS 3. 7. (25)
2018: West Coast 11. 13. (79) defeated Collingwood 11. 8. (74)
2017: Richmond 16. 12. (108) defeated Adelaide 8. 12. (60)
2016: Western Bulldogs 13. 11. (89) defeated Sydney 10. 7. (67)
2015: Hawthorn 16. 11. (107) defeated West Coast 8. 13. (61)
Grand final entertainment line-up
Pre-match entertainment
Snoop Dogg
Tash Sultana
Baker Boy
Vera Blue
Mike Brady
What happens if there's a drawn result?
In the event of a draw at the end of ordinary time, additional time will be played to crown a winner.
If scores are even at full-time, a six-minute break will occur before two three-minute halves (plus time on) are played to determine a result. At the end of the first additional period, the teams will change ends without a break.
If scores are still tied after the completion of both halves, the process will be repeated until a winner is declared.
Both clubs will receive 10 interchanges for each half (excluding the medical substitute). Any leftover interchanges from each half will not carry over.
Team runners may only head onto the field after a goal, during an extended stoppage in play or at the conclusion of the first half as the players change ends.
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is presented to the player judged to be best on ground in the grand final. The honour is decided by an independent panel of football experts through a 3-2-1 voting structure.
The Norm Smith Medal cannot be shared between multiple players. In the event of a tie, a count-back-like situation of the higher votes received will determine a winner.
The panel to determine the winner is yet to be announced.
The 2025 Norm Smith Medal will be presented by two-time winner and former Hawthorn premiership captain Luke Hodge, who finished his career at Brisbane.
Previous winners:
2024: Will Ashcroft, Brisbane
2023: Bobby Hill, Collingwood
2022: Isaac Smith, Geelong
2021: Christian Petracca, Melbourne
2020: Dustin Martin, Richmond
2019: Dustin Martin, Richmond
2018: Luke Shuey, West Coast Eagles
2017: Dustin Martin, Richmond
2016: Jason Johannisen, Western Bulldogs
2015: Cyril Rioli, Hawthorn
Premiership cup, Jock McHale and Ron Barassi Medal presentation
Former West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson will present the Jock McHale medal, awarded to the coach of the winning team.
Essendon great Ken Fraser will present the Ron Barassi medal to the winning captain.
Three-time premiership Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt is this year's premiership cup ambassador.
If Geelong wins, the cup will be presented by former premiership captain Joel Selwood.
If Brisbane wins, three-time premiership Lion Jonathan Brown will present the cup.
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