North Melbourne have completed a perfect season and become the first AFLW team to win back-to-back premierships, defeating the Brisbane Lions by 40 points in the grand final at a sold-out Ikon Park. The 9.2 (56) to 2.4 (16) scoreline belied a fiercely contested battle, with Brisbane matching the Kangaroos early before North's killer instinct took over.
Brisbane followed a blueprint from Melbourne's near-win the previous week, applying intense pressure and physicality to unsettle the reigning champions. They lay bruising tackles and attacked the ball with abandon, but their aggressive style came at a cost. An undisciplined 100-metre penalty from Shannon Campbell in the second quarter gifted North a goal, shifting momentum decisively.
The Kangaroos, led by stars such as Kearney, Randall, Riddell and Garner, showed why they are champions. Ash Riddell broke disposal records again, while Eilish Sheerin, in her first grand final, earned best-on-ground honours. Eliza Shannon, an unlucky exclusion last year, stood out in North's impenetrable defensive structure.
North Melbourne's ability to find match-winners across the ground proved decisive. For every Brisbane stumble, the Kangaroos capitalised, their accuracy and opportunism devastating. The scoreline may mock Brisbane's valiant effort, but North's steely-eyed demeanour never wavered.
The result ends a trilogy of grand finals between these two sides, but both teams appear set to contend again next year. The match, held at Ikon Park, raised questions about the league's ambition, with calls for a larger venue befitting such a clash of titans. For now, the historic, jubilant Kangaroos celebrate a perfect season, with their banner declaring: 'Not done yet.'
