Geelong's incredible run in the 2025 season has come to a heartbreaking end, with the Cats going down by 47 points to Brisbane in the Toyota AFL Grand Final.
It was a brutal and hard fought match for much of the afternoon, but a quick burst from Brisbane at the end of the third quarter proved to be decisive, the Cats unable to wrestle back the ascendancy as the Lions kicked away.
A telling factor in the contest was Brisbane's dominance around stoppages, Geelong unable to win the crucial clearances when it mattered most.
Lawson Humphries was among Geelong's best in a backline under siege for most of the afternoon, collecting 23 disposals, five score involvements and five intercept possessions.
It will be a bitter pill to swallow for the Cats after a terrific season full of growth, but it will also be a valuable learning experience for plenty of young players who got their first taste of an AFL Grand Final.
The start of the game was everything a fan could hope; brutal, contested and uncompromising. It took over 15 minutes for either team to break the deadlock and it was none other than Ollie Dempsey, who found space in the goal square and got on the end of a brilliant chain, kicking the opening goal of the game.
Brisbane answered shortly after, but Oisin Mullin would then set the MCG alight with a dashing goal, taking a bounce and slotting it on the run to give the Cats the lead.
Inaccuracy from the Lions would help Geelong maintain that lead, taking a three point advantage into quarter time.
Max Holmes was everywhere early collecting 11 touches and over 300 metres gained in the first quarter, while Jack Bowes was important with seven disposals (five contested) and a goal assist.
Bowes continued his hot start immediately after the first break, working hard inside 50 and kicking the opening goal just two minutes into the second quarter.
Brisbane then flexed their muscle and wrestled back the ascendancy in a hurry, kicking four of the next five goals to kick away and put the Cats on the back foot.
But as they have done all year, Geelong were able to answer the challenge with Shannon Neale and Brad Close nailing a pair of brilliant set shot finishes, leaving scores level at the end of the first half.
It marked the first time since 1909 that scores have been level at half time of a V/AFL Grand Final, setting the stage for a monumental conclusion to the season.
Lawson Humphries was brilliant in the opening half collecting 12 disposals, three score involvements and three intercept possessions while going at 100% efficiency, along with Bowes (10 disposals, one goal) and Max Holmes (17 disposals, three clearances) who continued to be heavily influential.
The intensity lifted to a new level after half time, Brisbane snatched the lead back before Max Holmes answered with a brilliant finish of his own, launching home a mammoth set shot from outside 50.
But in a decisive five minutes to end the third quarter, the Lions broke the game open with three quick goals to take a game-high 19 point lead into the final break.
Another flurry of goals from Brisbane after three quarter time sealed the deal, Geelong falling by 47 points in front of 100,022 spectators at the MCG.
2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final
GEELONG 2.3 5.6 6.8 11.9 (75)
BRISBANE 1.6 5.6 9.9 18.14 (122)
GOALS
Geelong: Dempsey 4, Neale, Mullin, Mannagh, Holmes, Close, Bowes, Blicavs 1
Brisbane: McCluggage, Cameron 4, Bailey 3, Lohmann 2, Rayner, Neale, Morris, W.Ashcroft, L.Ashcroft 1
BEST
Geelong: Dempsey, Holmes, Humphries, Atkins, Smith
Brisbane: McCluggage, Andrews, Bailey, Cameron, W.Ashcroft, Gardiner
INJURIES
Geelong: Jeremy Cameron (arm)
Brisbane: Brandon Starcevich (head)
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Jack Martin (replaced Rhys Stanley at three quarter time)
Brisbane: Lachie Neale (replaced Sam Marshall at half time)
CROWD: 100,022 @ MCG
