The best side of the year meets the best club across the AFLW’s nine seasons in a mouth-watering grand final at Ikon Park on Saturday night. Since falling short in last year’s decider, North Melbourne have put together an imperious, undefeated season and earned the right to focus on their own form rather than the redemption arc that undeniably hovers overhead. Reigning premiers Brisbane will be more than comfortable embracing a tag of underdogs even while entering a sixth grand final out of a possible eight as the Lions hunt a record-equalling third premiership.
With the Kangaroos out to win their first AFLW flag and the Lions seeking to become the first club to go back-to-back, we look at where the 2024 grand final will be won and lost.
Star-studded midfields
The pair of dominant sides are understandably blessed with elite talent across all lines. But it is the battle of their star-studded midfields that, unsurprisingly, looms as critical to this evenly-matched encounter.
The Kangaroos typically get the game on their own terms with the one-two punch of Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell at the stoppages, ably supported by the likes of Jenna Bruton, Mia King and Ruby Tripodi, yet the Lions can turn to a deeper well of experience in their on-ball brigade. Former AFLW best and fairest winner Ally Anderson somehow still flies under the radar while Belle Dawes sets the tone with her intensity, lifting the Lions even before the opening bounce. The combative ball-winning and hard-running of Sophie Conway and Cathy Svarc could be just enough to give the Lions an edge where it matters most.
Defence wins premierships
Buckle in for a shootout as the two highest-scoring teams in the competition face off. The Kangaroos can blow away their opponents, but they also boast the most miserly defence – giving up an average of 26 inside-50s and only 20 points a game. The reigning premiers, on the other hand, have conceded some larger-than-usual scores. The heftiest humiliation came in round one when the Roos piled on 78 points boosted by a six-goal blitz in the third term that handed the Lions their heaviest AFLW defeat.
The backlines on both sides might be put to their greatest test with the stakes at their highest but can rely on their defensive nous and experience as they aim to nullify each other’s biggest weapons.
Bre Koenen was best afield in last year’s grand final for turning defence into attack as much as pushing up to stoppages to limit Garner’s influence. A return to that dual role can make the Lions captain as good as two players, though a mirror image is waiting on the other side. Emma Kearney has the class and composure to marshal the Kangaroos defence and will be raring to go after finding touch with minimal game time last week as the skipper returned from a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
Young run and gunners
The two leading sides at transitioning the ball from defence to attack this season open up the opposition by speed of foot as much as through clean, penetrating possessions. The Lions were the early adopters of outside run and carry but have perhaps been overtaken by the dash and dazzling ball movement of the Kangaroos.
Tess Craven, Taylah Gatt and Bella Eddey are the young Roos, along with the underrated Amy Smith, who regularly find open spaces in the middle of the field to connect either end. The Lions can call on more experience with Sophie Conway and Orla O’Dwyer leading the way on the wings while Charlie Mullins emerges as another key player between the arcs, but it is the Roos that appear likely to be more polished when the game breaks open.
Forward firepower
The Kangaroos and Lions both benefit from a three-pronged attack but it is last year’s runners-up that have the better spread at the feet of their tall timber. Key forwards Kate Shierlaw, Tahlia Randall and Emma King have combined for 40 goals for North Melbourne but they can also turn to a group of medium-sized goalsneaks as inside 50 targets. All-Australian Alice O’Loughlin has 16 goals for the season, while the pacey Bella Eddey and powerhouse Vikki Wall each have 10. The Roos can also bank on Garner drifting forward for a goal or two, with the damaging midfielder averaging more than a goal a game.
All of that could count for little if Lions spearhead Dakota Davidson is able to repeat her heroics of the decider last year when she turned the game with the first two goals of the final term. Taylor Smith has since stepped up to become the Lions’ focal point and the AFLW’s leading goalkicker with 22 majors. But there are fewer options beneath the surface. Eleanor Hartill has been a useful addition as the third tall but too rarely hits the scoreboard, while speedster Courtney Hodder can put fear into her opponents with defensive pressure but is averaging less than a goal every two games.
