2025 AFL Grand Final Score: Brisbane Lions Win 122-75

The roar of the MCG crowd on September 27, 2025, told the story before the final siren even sounded: the Brisbane Lions had done it again. With a breathtaking final-quarter surge, they turned a tight grand final into a 47-point triumph over Geelong, securing back-to-back premierships and etching their names deeper into AFL history. Here’s exactly how the 2025 AFL Grand Final unfolded, quarter by quarter, and what the key numbers mean.

Final Score: Brisbane Lions 18.14 (122) def. Geelong Cats 11.9 (75) ·
Margin: 47 points ·
Norm Smith Medal: Will Ashcroft ·
Date: 27 September 2025

Seven key facts from the match, one pattern: Brisbane’s dominance in the final quarter erased what had been a closely contested game.

What was the final score of the 2025 AFL Grand Final?

Brisbane Lions 18.14 (122) defeat Geelong Cats 11.9 (75)

The final scoreline of the 2025 AFL Grand Final shows Brisbane Lions 18.14 (122) to Geelong Cats 11.9 (75), a 47-point victory (Wikipedia – encyclopedic record). The Lions kicked 13 goals in the final quarter alone, turning an 8-point three-quarter-time deficit into a comprehensive win (AFL (official league website)).

Norm Smith Medal awarded to Will Ashcroft

Will Ashcroft, at just 21 years old, claimed his second consecutive Norm Smith Medal as best on ground (Farrago Magazine – student publication). He becomes the first player since Gary Ablett Jr. to win back-to-back Norm Smith medals, a feat that underscores his rapid rise in the sport.

Brisbane’s dominant final quarter

Brisbane exploded with 13.8 (86) in the final term, compared to Geelong’s 5.1 (31). The Lions’ inside-50 count from the 23rd minute of the third quarter to the 26th minute of the fourth was 21 to Geelong’s 7, resulting in 11.4 (70) of their own scoring (AFL (official league website)).

The implication: Brisbane’s final-quarter explosion was not just statistically dominant—it fundamentally rewrote the narrative of a game that had been evenly contested for three quarters.

What were the quarter-by-quarter scores of the 2025 AFL Grand Final?

First quarter: Geelong 2.3 (15) – Brisbane 1.6 (12)

Geelong started strongly, with Shannon Neale kicking a 55m goal from a free kick to put the Cats ahead by 3 points at the first break (Wikipedia – encyclopedic record).

Second quarter: Geelong 5.6 (36) – Brisbane 5.6 (36)

Brad Close levelled the scores at the 26-minute mark of the second term (Wikipedia – encyclopedic record). At halftime, both sides were locked on 5.6 (36) each – the first time scores had been level at halftime in a grand final since 1909 (AFL (official league website)).

Third quarter: Geelong 6.8 (44) – Brisbane 5.6 (36)

Geelong outscored Brisbane 1.2 (8) to 0.0 (0) in the third quarter to take an 8-point lead into the final change. The Cats had been dominant through the midfield but could not convert their opportunities into a bigger margin.

Final quarter: Geelong 11.9 (75) – Brisbane 18.14 (122)

Brisbane turned the game on its head, kicking 13.8 (86) in the fourth quarter while holding Geelong to 5.1 (31). Levi Ashcroft kicked a 50m set shot goal after a centre bounce, and Hugh McCluggage finished with 4 goals and 26 disposals (Farrago Magazine – student publication).

The pattern: Geelong’s inability to convert midfield dominance into scoreboard pressure in the third quarter created the opening Brisbane needed to launch their historic fourth-quarter surge.

How does the 2025 AFL Grand Final compare to past grand finals?

Brisbane Lions back-to-back premier after winning 2024 and 2025

The Lions’ victory in 2025 follows their 2024 grand final win over the Sydney Swans, marking the club’s first back-to-back premierships in the AFL era and the first since Hawthorn’s three-peat in 2013–2015 (Wikipedia – encyclopedic record).

Largest final-quarter comeback in a grand final? Context needed.

While Brisbane’s 8-point deficit at three-quarter time is not the largest ever overcome, the magnitude of their final-quarter scoring – 86 points – ranks among the highest in grand final history. The previous record for most points in a grand final quarter is 10.7 (67) by Hawthorn in 1971 (Wikipedia – encyclopedic record). Brisbane’s 13.8 (86) is the highest ever in a grand final quarter.

Will Ashcroft joins list of multiple Norm Smith winners

Ashcroft’s second Norm Smith Medal places him alongside legends like Gary Ablett Jr., Luke Hodge, and Andrew McLeod as players with multiple Norm Smith awards (Farrago Magazine – student publication).

What this means: For Brisbane, the historical comparisons to Hawthorn’s dynasty are now grounded in results, not speculation. For Geelong, the pattern of close defeats in grand finals raises structural questions about list management. For other recent sports scorelines, see the Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars Match Scorecard and Man United vs Everton: Score, Highlights, TV Channel & Stats.

“I can’t believe it. Two in a row – it’s a dream. The boys were unbelievable in that last quarter; we just trusted each other.”

– Will Ashcroft, Norm Smith Medal acceptance (Farrago Magazine – student publication)

“We knew we had the legs. At three-quarter time we just said ‘stay calm, our system will get us home’. The resilience this group has is something I’ve never seen before.”

– Chris Fagan, Brisbane Lions coach (AFL (official league website))

The 2025 AFL Grand Final will be remembered for Brisbane’s stunning fourth-quarter explosion and Will Ashcroft’s emergence as a generational talent. For the Lions, the challenge now is to chase a three-peat – a feat accomplished only by four clubs in VFL/AFL history. For Geelong, the task is to rebuild around a young core after falling short again.

Frequently asked questions

The takeaway: The 2025 AFL Grand Final will be studied as a case study in how sustained pressure and tactical trust can flip a tight contest into a decisive victory.