The two best teams of the 2020s battle it out for their second premiership of the decade, as Geelong faces Brisbane in the 2025 AFL Grand Final.
The Cats will be trying to win their 11th V/AFL premiership, and their third under coach Chris Scott, after triumphs in 2011 and 2022.
The Lions will be trying to win their 13th V/AFL premiership (8 as Fitzroy, 4 as Brisbane), and second under coach Chris Fagan, after triumphing in 2024.
Watch the best build-up to the 2025 AFL Grand Final, with expert analysis and full Grand Final day coverage, on Fox Footy via Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Brisbane can become the first team to go back-to-back as AFL premiers since Richmond (2019 and 2020).
The Lions and Cats are the two winningest teams of the 2020s, and the winner will become the first team to win two premierships in the twenties, staking a clear claim as the best club of the decade thus far.
This is the first time the Grand Final has seen a rematch of a qualifying final since 2018, when West Coast beat Collingwood twice in one finals series.
However in the four Grand Finals involving a rematch previous to that, the qualifying final loser won the Grand Final – including 2003 (Brisbane def Collingwood) plus 2005, 2006 and 2015.
Captains Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats and Lachie Neale of the Lions hold the premiership cup. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
This is the 47th time in V/AFL history two Grand Finalists have played four games against each other in one season (excluding drawn Grand Finals). It hadn’t happened since 2005, when Sydney and West Coast met four times; the Eagles winning both games in Perth, the Swans winning in Sydney and in the Grand Final.
The match gets underway at 2:30pm AEST from the MCG.
The pre-game entertainment featuring Snoop Dogg will start at 1.30pm (AEST).
Watch the best Grand Final day coverage on Fox Footy with all the build-up, as well as exclusive Fox Footy commentary on the game from 6pm AEST.
More Grand Final coverage …
AFL GRAND FINAL ULTIMATE GUIDE: Every big question about the big game answered
WHAT TIME IS THE AFL GRAND FINAL? Key start times, details — and what happens if it’s a draw
CRYSTAL BALL: 38 AFL experts tip the premier, margin, Norm Smith and first goalkicker
ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE: When Snoop Dogg will perform and drama behind his choice
GRAND FINAL SPRINT: Two big names, Giants star locked in amid change from traditional format
TEAMS: Lions make call on Neale; Cats settle on veteran to fill star void
GF THIS DECADE DESERVES: Why there’s more than a flag on offer in Cats v Lions
TRADE ANALYSIS: Why rivals must ‘look out’ as Cats, Lions trade coups loom
6AM — ‘EXPECTATION GROWING’ FOR LIONS STAR’S 11-YEAR FIRST
Superstar dual Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale looms as Brisbane’s likely sub for Saturday’s Grand Final against Geelong.
Neale on Thursday night was named in the Lions’ line-up to take on the Cats in the 2025 AFL Grand Final, replacing the injured Jarrod Berry (shoulder).
The Lions co-captain on Friday lifted the premiership cup with Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield in front of thousands of fans at Yarra Park after the traditional AFL Grand Final parade.
Neale on Friday said he’d pulled up well from several strong training sessions across the previous week, but added he didn’t know whether he’d be named the sub.
But 7News Melbourne reporter Mitch Cleary said Neale was likely to start the Grand Final as Brisbane’s 23rd man.
“Expectation growing Lachie Neale to be named as Brisbane’s starting sub tomorrow with Bruce Reville in the 22,” Cleary wrote on X on Friday night.
Neale RARING to go for Grand Final | 02:27
Neale hasn’t started as a sub since Round 1, 2014 when he played for Fremantle against Collingwood. He was the Dockers’ sub in their 2013 Grand Final loss to Hawthorn.
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Neale was Brisbane’s sub.
“I think Brisbane would’ve taken note of what GWS did three weeks ago with Josh Kelly … he pretty much dragged back them back into the game against Hawthorn,” Brown told Fox Footy on Friday.
“They’ll decide after the captain’s run … but they’ll have to roll the dice.”
Lions coach Chris Fagan wouldn’t be drawn into a definitive answer on the Neale-sub prospect.
“I’m not going to talk about the line-ups. They come out an hour before the game and we’ll leave it until then,” Fagan told reporters.
Neale’s Brisbane teammate Josh Dunkley is set to play on Dangerfield at times during Saturday’s decider.
Triple All-Australian Nick Dal Santo said Dangerfield was a “huge threat”, but Dunkley would be an appropriate match-up.
“If he (Dangerfield) plays in the midfield, I think Josh Dunkley is the only player that could probably go step for step with him – and it’s still a huge challenge,” Dal Santo told Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight. “If he goes forward, clearly he’ll have to hand him over.”
Fox Sports News reporter Drew Jones suggested Dangerfield, who produced one of the great individual finals performances in Geelong’s preliminary final win over Hawthorn, had “shown himself to be the AFL’s LeBron”.
“No matter what, LeBron will take his team as far as he can go – regardless of how his teammates are playing – and then when his team is good and he locks in, he takes them all the way,” Jones said. “I think that’s the sort of performance we saw from Dangerfield.”
Follow the 2025 AFL Grand Final live below!