This was published 5 months ago
AFL grand final player ratings: Which three triumphant Lions scored a perfect 10?
Updated ,first published
Who soared, and who flopped, on the AFL’s biggest stage? In a grand final in which the Brisbane Lions killed off Geelong’s spirit, their influential players were far easier to spot.
AFLW premiership player Libby Birch rates every Brisbane player, while former Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney rates every Cat.
Click on each player to reveal their mark out of 10, along with Birch and McCartney’s analysis.
THE COACHES:
Chris Fagan (Brisbane)
Made bold calls in grand final week with Jarrod Berry and Lachie Neale, then the in-game masterstroke to bring Neale on at half-time. Brave and decisive coaching capped off back-to-back glory, after keeping his side alive despite a qualifying final loss. Rating: 10/10
Chris Scott (Geelong)
Hampered by injuries to two critical players in Tom Stewart and Jeremy Cameron. He has built a great team doing it his way. Rating: 5/10
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
Continue this series
Lions go back-to-backUp next
‘It looks like a masterstroke now’: Super sub Neale is the match winner
Chris Fagan called Lachie Neale into his office on Monday. He had a suggestion for the two-time Brownlow medallist.
‘Ultimate devastation’: The most shattered Cat in the rooms after grand final thrashing
The crestfallen Cats sought out family in the aftermath of their crushing loss amid tears, hugs – and resolve to go again in 2026.
Previously
- Analysis
A rare contest, a 50m goal and an unholy trinity of errors: The moments that turned the grand final
The 47-point margin suggests a romp but until time-on in the third quarter, few could have predicted with any confidence where this game was headed.
Libby Birch is a four-time AFLW premiership player.
Brendan McCartney is a former AFL coach.