As North Melbourne and Brisbane prepare for their third straight Grand Final, the best way to understand the significance of this matchup is through AFLW Grand Final stats, tactical patterns and structural differences built over the past two seasons. North arrive as the undefeated, system-driven side with a 28-game winning run. Brisbane enter carrying a style built on pressure, turnover scoring and moments of disruption that can flip momentum instantly. This guide explains the elements that matter most and how they connect to what we’ve seen across this growing rivalry.
How the Rivalry Has Evolved and What the 2025 Data Shows
The contrasting outcomes of the last two Grand Finals form the foundation of this year’s storyline. Brisbane controlled 2023 with a high-pressure, territory-based approach. North Melbourne reversed that in 2024 with cleaner ball control, stronger clearance work and more disciplined defensive structure. These themes continue into 2025 but appear in more refined ways.
The table below shows how their core metrics now compare across this season:
2025 Season Metrics — Side-by-Side View
| Metric | North Melbourne | Brisbane |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring Output | Efficient, structured | Impactful from turnovers |
| Inside 50 Efficiency | Consistent | Improved through late rounds |
| Tackle Profile | Steady | High-pressure baseline |
| Forward Half Time | League-leading | Momentum-dependent |
| Intercept Marks | Shared across defence | Dunne dominant |
| Centre Clearances | Riddell-driven | Competitive but streaky |
These figures highlight the structural difference: North thrive when the match settles into steady rhythm, while Brisbane perform best when contests tilt into fast, unpredictable sequences. For example, Brisbane’s Round 6 comeback this season came from a late burst of pressure and turnover scoring that shifted the match in under five minutes — a pattern consistent with their overall identity.
Venue, Conditions and Player Impact — Understanding the Factors Influencing AFLW Grand Final Stats
Ikon Park once again shapes the tactical expectations for this Grand Final. Its width allows teams to shift angles and find space, a format that suits North Melbourne’s controlled ball movement and composed transition. Brisbane, though, have a history of lifting their defensive work at this venue, especially in isolation contests and intercept moments.
Weather may play a deciding role. Showers in the forecast could reduce the value of uncontested marking and lead to more congestion around stoppages. Earlier in the season, Brisbane generated some of their strongest defensive numbers in similar conditions — including a quarter where they kept an opponent inside their defensive half for nearly eight minutes straight.
Key players reflect each side’s identity.
Jasmine Garner anchors North’s contested strength. Ash Riddell drives territory with clean distribution and centre-clearance reliability — core pillars of North Melbourne AFLW stats. Blaithin Bogue brings new versatility, offering speed and pressure in her first Grand Final appearance.
Brisbane lean on Courtney Hodder’s pressure bursts, Jennifer Dunne’s intercept stability and Neasa Dooley’s increasingly confident one-on-one defensive work. These roles tend to rise in value when games become chaotic or weather-affected.
Tactical Blueprint and What It Means for the 2025 Grand Final
Explaining this matchup requires understanding how each team constructs its play.
North Melbourne rely on:
• Slowing tempo through measured possession
• Controlling territory through clearances
• Creating repeat inside-50 entries to break open backlines
• Keeping a disciplined defensive structure behind the ball
Brisbane operate differently:
• Forcing turnovers and attacking quickly
• Increasing pressure through repeat tackles
• Disrupting opposition build-up play
• Targeting key creators such as Riddell and Garner
The matchup typically swings based on which approach dictates the early phases of the game. When North Melbourne slow the contest, the match stabilises in their favour. When Brisbane accelerate the tempo or force transition errors, the game becomes more volatile — a situation that suits their strengths.
Predictive indicators based on season form, venue history and head-to-head patterns lean slightly toward North Melbourne, particularly through their territory control and balance at stoppages. Brisbane remain within striking range, especially if conditions favour pressure-driven football.
Current projections place the likely result within a 7–15 point margin, with turnover differential noted as the most influential factor.
Conclusion — Understanding the 2025 Match Through AFLW Grand Final Stats
As North Melbourne and Brisbane enter their third consecutive Grand Final, the data behind AFLW Grand Final stats provides the clearest explanation for how this matchup has evolved and why it remains so evenly balanced in different conditions. North’s structured, possession-first style meets Brisbane’s high-pressure, momentum-driven approach in a contest where conditions, tempo and execution at stoppages may decide the outcome.
Whether this season ends with back-to-back history or a fresh twist in the rivalry, the numbers reveal a premiership shaped by contrast, clarity and two distinct ways of playing the modern AFLW game.
