The Brisbane Lions have secured their second AFLW premiership, defeating the North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroos in the Season 8 Grand Final.
The Roos led in the first three terms of the match until Brisbane’s Dakota Davidson snapped two goals in the final quarter to take the Lions ahead, finishing with a 17-point lead – Brisbane 7.2 (44) to North Melbourne Tasmania 4.3 (27).
There were 12,616 fans at Ikon Park in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon to watch the Lions, who finished fourth on the ladder, take home the premiership.
Bre Koenen, captain of the Brisbane side, was named best on ground for the match. Leading her team to victory, the 28-year-old also finished with 19 disposals and 11 tackles.
The Lions also broke the AFLW record for the most tackles in one game, laying 110 tackles on the Roos throughout the match.
While it was a tight contest, the Roos led the match in points in the first three quarters. Jasmine Garner, who just missed out on the Best and Fairest prize at the AFLW W Awards last week, kicked the opening goal 16 minutes into the game with a 48m set shot.
Brisbane replied with a goal from the 50m boundary coming from Charlie Mullins early in the second quarter. By half time, there was one point in it, the score 14-13 to the Roos.
It was another hotly contested quarter, but three quarter time saw the Roos leading by one goal and one behind, 27-20.
It came down to the fourth and final quarter, and a spectacular performance from Brisbane’s Dakota Davidson.
Last week, the 24-year-old was in doubt of making the team for the grand final, after copping a knee injury that was eerily similar to the dreaded ACL rupture.
Once the scans came back giving her the all-clear, she was determined to play in the grand final – and for Brisbane’s sake, it was lucky she did.
Davidson kicked two goals in the final quarter to lift Brisbane’s spirits and secure the lead for the Lions. A goal from Ellie Hampson quickly followed, before captain Bre Koenen kicked a major in the closing minutes of the match, bringing the final score to 44-27 to the Lions.
The petrol can
As the team celebrated the premiership – Brisbane’s second in the AFLW – one of the girls ran onto the field holding an unusual object above her head.
It was a petrol can – and there is a special story behind it from pre-season, as Dakota Davidson explained in a post-match interview with 7 Sport.
“We had to carry (the petrol cans) for 20km through a trek,” Davidson said.
“So every time times get tough, we always throw up the jerry can.
“(Then) everyone knows it’s time to work hard – like we did in the pre-season.”
‘No ACL, no worries’
Later, Davidson spoke with AFLW as she celebrated the win.
“Honestly, the best feeling in the world,” she said.
“This is why we play footy – to win games like this – and I’m just gonna soak up every minute of it.”
Davidson was asked about her knee injury scare last week, and how she responded when the scans came back with the good news.
“I looked at my physio dead in the eyes and I said: ‘No ACL, no worries – let’s get this done’,” she said.
“I tried everything I could in my capability to play this week because you know this is what dreams are made of and this is why we train.
“Wrap it up, stick a need in it – who cares, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Davidson said the team would celebrate with “a few ‘quiet’ bevraginos in Melbourne.