AFL grand final 2025 teams and expert tips: The hard calls made as Cats, Lions teams locked in

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September 25, 2025 — 7.05pm

Emergencies for the grand final:
Geelong: Jed Bews, Mitch Knevitt, Oliver Henry
Brisbane Lions: Sam Day, James Tunstill, Darragh Joyce

The expert predictions

Jimmy Bartel
Geelong by three points
The Cats will win because there are less questions on availability. Like a good race horse, they are running across the top of the ground at the right time of the year, and this will be pivotal when the players are searching for that last surge deep in the last quarter.
Norm Smith: Shaun Mannagh

Libby Birch
Geelong by nine points
Their midfield depth and ability to control territory has overwhelmed opponents throughout the finals, and it’s hard to see Brisbane breaking that stranglehold.
Norm Smith: Patrick Dangerfield

Michael Gleeson
Geelong by 28 points
The Cats will bring the pressure again and it will be too much. They’ll shut Hugh McLuggage down again and their midfield will be too quick and strong.
Norm Smith: Patrick Dangerfield

Patrick Dangerfield enhanced his legacy with a masterful performance in the Cats’ preliminary final win over Hawthorn.

Calum Jaspan
Geelong by 54 points
If Patrick Dangerfield has half the game he had last Friday and Geelong’s taggers repeat their performance from the qualifying final, I don’t think this one will be close.
Norm Smith: Shaun Mannagh

Emma Kearney
Geelong by 13 points
Their game is so sound at the moment, they’re the in-form team in the comp. The Cats’ incredibly dangerous forward line will be hard to stop.
Norm Smith: Oliver Dempsey

Sam McClure
Geelong by seven points
The Cats have so few weaknesses and Brisbane are battered and bruised. Geelong have been the best team since the halfway mark of the year.
Norm Smith: Bailey Smith

Marc McGowan
Geelong by 15 points
There is little between the teams, and Tom Stewart’s absence will hurt, but I’m backing the Cats to win the midfield battle, as they did in the qualifying final.
Norm Smith: Max Holmes

Max Holmes will play in his first AFL grand final on Saturday.

Bob Murphy
Geelong by 12 points
They haven’t put a paw wrong for most of the year and look to have plenty of run left in their legs.
Norm Smith: Jeremy Cameron

Jake Niall
Geelong by 34 points
Tom Stewart’s absence aside, Geelong have their best side available and nary a compromised player. Shades of 2022, except that the opposition is stronger.
Norm Smith: Patrick Dangerfield

Brisbane Lions stars Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley, Levi Ashcroft, Harris Andrews, Hugh McCluggage and Will Ashcroft early this week at their club’s Brownlow Medal funcion.

Jon Pierik
Brisbane Lions by two points
The Lions will have learnt from their qualifying final mistakes, coach Chris Fagan already putting the heat on his men to be better. In Harris Andrews, the Lions boast the ultimate defender.
Norm Smith: Hugh McCluggage

Peter Ryan
Geelong by 10 points
Settled, dynamic and hungry, the Cats’ versatility, freshness and scoring power gives them a slight edge.
Norm Smith: Patrick Dangerfield

Mathew Stokes
Geelong by 21 points
The Cats have too many winners across the ground and are healthier than the Lions with more recovery time as well. I am biased, but I also think how unheralded stars in Brad Close, Gryan Miers, Zach Guthrie and Tom Atkins are the reason teams win premierships.
Norm Smith: Bailey Smith

Caroline Wilson
Brisbane Lions by 10 points
The Lions are match-hardened despite their injury issues and will benefit from their significantly tougher run to the grand final.
Norm Smith: Will Ashcroft

Andrew Wu
Geelong by 12 points
The cards could not have fallen much better for Geelong, who have close to their best team available, are not carrying injured players and play a banged-up interstate rival on the road for the third time this finals series.
Norm Smith: Max Holmes

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