North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney, coach Darren Crocker, and inspirational young fan Imogen lift the AFLW premiership cup, the club’s first piece of silverware since the men won the 1999 grand final.

This is the first flag won by an expansion club, after the Roos joined the competition for the third season in 2019, and comes with the icing on the cake of the first undefeated season from the premiers. Join in the chorus …

Danielle Croci was at Ikon Park and has wrapped up all the action:

Jasmine Garner – commonly known in royal blue and white circles, if not more broadly across the AFLW, as “the GOAT” – has been awarded best on ground after gathering a game-high 35 disposals. The Roos’ gun midfielder had, as usual, the cleanest hands around the stoppages even among the red-hot contest between the two standout teams of the season, and won the medal with 11 of a possible 12 votes.

Captain Emma Kearney was next in line for a defensive masterclass and picked up eight votes, with the Roos other onball jet Ash Riddell earning four votes. Alice O’Loughlin was the firestarter with two early goals and was awarded one vote.

Q4. 1 min remaining: North Melbourne 6.3.39 v Brisbane 1.3.9

The Lions are playing out the dying stages bravely but they have in truth been emphatically outclassed all night. The Roos almost find another with a pair of half-chances but the reigning premiers – for another minute or so – dig deep to limit the damage to one behind.

Q4. 5 mins remaining: North Melbourne 6.2.38 v Brisbane 1.3.9

The Roos are shutting this down now with the finish line in sight. They still look the more likely to break away from the repeat stoppages. The biggest battle now seems to be among the Kangaroos players trying to ensure they aren’t stuck on the bench at the final siren.

Q4. 9 mins remaining: North Melbourne 6.2.38 v Brisbane 1.3.9

Tess Craven wins a hot ball at half-forward to keep the ball moving the Roos way. Craven hasn’t had a lot of the footy but most of her touches have turned to gold. The Kangaroos swarm on the scramble near the Roos goalline. Alice O’Loughlin has had the cleanest hands all night and is the only one to gather, is tackled immediately but that looks like a sling. The umpire had no choice there, and the Roos forward boots her third from 20m out. It’s almost party time for the Roos.

Q4. 11 mins remaining: North Melbourne 5.2.32 v Brisbane 1.3.9

The combative Vikki Wall has two goals and now leaves here mark on the Lions playing stocks with a desperate tackle on Jade Ellenger. The Lions midfielder might have buckled a leg in the tackle and has to be helped from the field.

Q4. 13 mins remaining: North Melbourne 5.2.32 v Brisbane 1.3.9

Vikki Wall has another and the Kangaroos have a verrry handy lead. Wall’s strong mark on the lead sets up the shot on goal that gives the Roos a game-high 23-point lead. The Lions have been here before but the tide needs to turn soon.

Q4. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.2.26 v Brisbane 1.3.9

The Roos pick up where they left off and have the ball trapped inside their forward 50. A loose ball bounces around the goalsquare and a pivotal goal is on the cards until a rushed behind gives the Lions time to regather.

The Kangaroos are 20 minutes away from a maiden AFLW premiership. The Lions are looking for a memorable comeback to snatch back-to-back flags. Here we gooooo …

Q3. 1 min remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Brisbane 1.3.9

All the play is in the Kangaroos’ forward half but they can’t find a clear shot on goal. The Roos forwards fling the ball around with a string of handballs but the eventual kick is smothered. The Lions are hanging on until the last break.

Q3. 3 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Brisbane 1.3.9

Alice O’Loughlin takes a strong mark 30m out directly in front and lines up for her third goal… but passes short when she looked to be in range. Wasteful from the Roos and the Lions clear where Nicole Bresnehan takes an uncontested mark and is brought heavily to ground by Dakota Davidson. That should have been a 50m penalty to within goalscoring range but the key forward has dodged a bullet while trying to lift her team.

Q3. 5 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Brisbane 1.3.9

Slick handball on the wing brings the ball to the Roos half-forward line but Orla O’Dwyer gathers for the Lions. Before she knows it, Jenna Bruton pounces with a brutal tackle. Bruton lets the Lions winger know all about it, and it is a sign of how this game is being played out.

Q3. 7 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Brisbane 1.3.9

Cathy Svarc wins a free kick at half-forward and plays on quickly. The Lions key forwards Smith and Davidson are lurking but it is Roos small forward Tess Craven that takes a brave mark. The Roos are doing it at both ends.

Q3. 10 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Brisbane 1.3.9

The ball is at the wrong end of the field again for the Lions as they look to find a way back into the game. Tess Craven snaps a low rocket into the goalsquare but Dunne stands firm with the grab … but the umpire has called “play on”. They have been hot on the distance of kicks and marks all night but that was tight. The pressure is released with a free kick to the Lions in the ruck contest.

Q3. 13 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Brisbane 1.3.9

The Lions are rallying but are unable to make the most of a series of inside 50s. A rushed behind is all they can find as the Roos then pick their way out of defence with some calm and composed short kicking.

Q3. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Brisbane 1.2.8

The Lions get the ball going their way and for a moment it looks like Taylor Smith might have found an opening, but the ball trickles away and across the boundary. After a clearing kick from Libby Birch a stoppage outside the arc ends with Lions ruck Tahlia Hickie holding her arm under duress. It looks like she copped a nasty knock to the elbow, that could be costly for the Lions.

The players are in position and the second half is about to begin. North Melbourne have left the door open after their hot start and the next goal feels critical.

Q2. 1 min remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Brisbane 1.1.7

Sophie Conway streams out of the Lions’ defensive 50 but here … comes … Vikki Wall. The powerful runner chases down the Lions speedster and it’s a free kick for incorrect disposal. A long bomb flies over the top of the tall timber and takes one bounce … into the post. A let off for the Lions.

Q2. 3 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.0.24 v Brisbane 1.1.7

The Roos have set up the wall and the ball is locked in their forward half. The Lions are defending stoutly but they need to try something fresh to pick their way through the middle of the park. But for all their impressive play and general advantage, the margin is less than three goals.

Q2. 5 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.0.24 v Brisbane 1.1.7

Vikki Wall almost has a second as the ball is flung around a stoppage with some silky handballs and ends up with the Roos forward within range. Wall had more time than she realised and a hurried snap sails out of bounds on the full.

Q2. 7 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.0.24 v Brisbane 1.1.7

The Roos move between the arcs with dazzling speed as Ash Riddell sends a low-flying rocket into the goalsquare. Hearts in mouths for a trio of Lions defenders but they are eventually able to clear.

Q2. 9 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.0.24 v Brisbane 1.1.7

Cathy Svarc looks to spark the Lions with some dash along the boundary and earns a free kick for holding on. The veteran plays on quickly but Roos have already blocked up their end and the Lions have nowhere to go.

Q2. 11 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.0.24 v Brisbane 1.1.7

Sublime ball movement through the centre square from the Roos ends with Vikki Wall kicking long to the centre square. Randall almost takes the grab over the top but a reaching hand from only just Jennifer Dunne taps it away. After a brief scramble the hurried kick ends in Wall’s arms just 20m out directly in front. She was the only player that kept going from the earlier kick, and Irish woman extends the Roos’ lead.

Q2. 13 mins remaining: North Melbourne 3.0.18 v Brisbane 1.1.7

Garner takes a strong grab inside the forward 50 but is too far out to score. A dart to Kate Shierlaw on the lead is deemed to be too short, the quick kick forward is almost snapped up by O’Loughlin but the Lions are now well aware of the danger that the All-Australian presents.

Q2. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 3.0.18 v Brisbane 1.1.7

No surprise that the Lions have come out fired up but an overzealous tackle on Garner hands the Roos the footy. The Lions get it back on the wing but after an intercept mark from Poppy Boltz the Roos tall forward Tahlia Randall smothers the kick then equalises a two-on-one to set up another stoppage. Inspirational moment from Randall against her former club.

Q1. 1 min remaining: North Melbourne 3.0.18 v Brisbane 1.1.7

Ellie Hampson gets the Lions on the scoreboard. Emma King is too enthusiastic in the tackle as she brings Hampson to ground with a sling. Hampson nails the set shot and the Roos will be frustrated to give up a soft goal on the brink of the first change.

Q1. 3 mins remaining: North Melbourne 3.0.18 v Brisbane 0.1.1

Alice O’Loughlin has a second and the Kangaroos are three goals in front. The sizzling forward closes down the Lions’ attempt to clear their defence with a bone-crunching tackle and kicks truly from the set shot. Danger signs already for the Lions!

Q1. 4 mins remaining: North Melbourne 2.0.12 v Brisbane 0.1.1

The Roos are back on the attack with their high possession, outside run and gun game flowing. Belle Dawes blocks a couple of likely entries with brave smothers.

Q1. 6 mins remaining: North Melbourne 2.0.12 v Brisbane 0.1.1

The Kangaroos finally clear their defensive 50 and a slick chain transitions the play quickly to the other end. Emma Kearney wins a hard-fought one-on-one on the wing and plays on quickly. Jas Garner is involved again around the arc, moves the ball swiftly to the goal square where it ends up in the hands of Alice O’Loughlin. The young All-Australian snaps on her right boot and it’s another for the Roos.

Q1. 8 mins remaining: North Melbourne 1.0.6 v Brisbane 0.1.1

The Lions have been able to find a way into their forward 50 with an early 7-4 advantage but there is little breathing space as the Kangaroos defence swarm on anything coming in high and long. Repeat entries and stoppages keep the pressure on the Roos but there isn’t enough space for the Lions to get a sight on goal.

Q1. 10 mins remaining: North Melbourne 1.0.6 v Brisbane 0.1.1

Tess Craven kicks the first goal of the 2024 AFLW grand final. No surprise that it was Jas Garner that found the young gun alone in the forward 50 after some quick hands from Emma King in a stoppage. It was Garner’s first disposal of the game after six minutes, but it is quality over quantity as Craven slots the set shot to send the Roos on their way.

Q1. 11 mins remaining: North Melbourne 0.0.0 v Brisbane 0.1.1

The Kangaroos work the ball inside 50 for the first time but that opens up plenty of space for the Lions on the rebound. A fast transition finds Dakota Davidson running alone on the way back to goal but the key forward had it spent before bringing down the mark.

Q1. 13 mins remaining: North Melbourne 0.0.0 v Brisbane 0.0.0

Taylor Smith finds space just inside the 50m arc and takes a strong mark on the lead. The Lions forward wheels around to send the ball close to goal but gets under the kick and the danger is cleared by Jas Ferguson.

Q1. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 0.0.0 v Brisbane 0.0.0

A heated opening befitting a grand final is played out between the arcs with tough tackling and intense pressure. A key match up looks like Ally Anderson going head-to-head with Ash Riddell.

The umpire holds the football aloft and … we’re underway in the 2024 AFLW grand final.

The formalities are completed with A Welcome to Country by Uncle Colin Hunter Junior and the national anthem performed by Bonnie Anderson. Captains Emma Kearney and Bre Koenen are delivering their last messages and we’re seconds away from the first bounce.

A sellout crowd at Ikon Park falls silent during a touching tribute to Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, the young friends from Melbourne’s south-east who tragically died in Laos and were footballers with their local Beaumaris club.

This is the sixth time that North Melbourne and Brisbane have met as they lock horns again in the AFLW grand final. The Lions took out the first five encounters, including last year’s decider, but the Kangaroos made a statement with a resounding breakthrough victory over their rivals in round one of this season.

The best side of this year and the best club of the AFLW’s nine seasons are difficult to separate. But this is where the grand final could be decided.

North Melbourne and Brisbane will both head into the game as selected.

Send your predictions in to me on email or @martinpegan on Bluesky or X.

We have a little taster of Lime Cordiale at Ikon Park with their sublime indie tunes perfectly suited to the sunset slot.

Lime Cordiale aren’t the only performers with a not-so subtle interest in the Kangaroos this evening. Here is a very personal view of how the North Melbourne women’s side are bringing much-needed joy to young fans of the eternally embattled club.

The once respected club have become the laughing stock of the competition. Fans have, as always, paid the heaviest price. Frustration has grown. Tears have flowed. The youngest supporters know of nothing else.

But that is only half the story. While the men’s team has floundered, the women’s team has flourished.

The sun is shining and Lime Cordiale are warming up the crowd with their light indie classics. Lead singer Louis Stanley Leimbach is wearing his heart on his sleeve with a familiar royal blue and white number.

Brisbane are into an incredible sixth grand final out of the eight deciders that have been held since the AFLW was launched in 2017. A win over North Melbourne this evening at Ikon Park would take the AFLW powerhouse level with Adelaide for the most premierships in the league with three flags.

It almost seems a bit unfair, like it might be time to give someone else a go, but Jack Snape found out what makes the Lions the competition benchmark.

There is strength in the Lions’ collective. Under the AFLW’s tiered salary system, players fall into one of four tiers each with fixed salaries, but across a club’s entire list only two possible combinations will add up to next season’s $1.175m cap number: one with more players at the top and bottom, and the other with more players in the middle tiers. “We say one’s capitalist and one’s communist,” Brock says. “We’re communists, but we’re the only club who’s gone that way.”

We have AFLW reporter Danielle Croci already in a seat at Ikon Park in Melbourne where the forecast is for – no more rain! But Danielle is seeing otherwise …

The drizzle is still coming down, on and off, although some sun has started poking through. It will be interesting to see if it does actually clear up as forecasts are promising. The Kangaroos have played in heavy rain four times this season so if it keeps up, that could favour them. Although, whether it does or doesn’t stop raining, I’ve been told that Ikon Park drains quite well. Both teams are out there doing some warm-ups now.