Invincible Kangaroos seal back-to-back AFLW premierships with win over Lions
North Melbourne have completed a perfect season and become the first AFLW team to win back-to-back premierships with a 40-point win over the Brisbane Lions in the grand final.Ash Riddell starred in the Kangaroos’ 9.2 (56) to 2.4 (16) triumph at a sold-out Ikon Park on Saturday night, the league’s best-and-fairest winner breaking yet another record with 39 disposals.It was the highest tally ever recorded in a season decider.Fellow midfield star Jasmine Garner (28 touches, one goal) also shone, and Jenna Bruton kicked three goals, including two in the final term as the margin blew out.Eilish Sheerin (28 disposals, nine clearances, two goals) was influential early, while experienced pair Emma Kearney and Libby Birch led superbly in defence.Sheerin’s goalscoring brilliance and classy all-round game saw her named best-afield. The first-year Roo was awarded 12 votes for her dominant performance, followed by Riddell (6), Garner (5) and Brisbane’s Belle Dawes (1).It was North’s 27th consecutive win in a record-breaking streak, with Darren Crocker’s side still unbeaten since losing the 2023 grand final to Brisbane.View image in fullscreenThe Kangaroos lift the AFLW premiership cup after defeating the Lions in the grand final at Ikon Park. Photograph: James Ross/AAPThe two heavyweight teams met in the decider for a third consecutive season, and it was one-way traffic after a tight start, as the Kangaroos flexed their considerable muscle.Charlotte Mullins gave Brisbane the perfect start with the first goal of the game, but North kicked the next five before halftime to build a commanding 22-point lead by the main break.It included a gift to Kate Shierlaw at the start of the second term when experienced Lions defender Shannon Campbell gave away twin 50-metre penalties, advancing her opponent from half-back to the goal square.The landslide continued in the second half, with Tahlia Randall kicking North’s sixth consecutive major, before Ruby Svarc ended a 40-minute goal drought for Brisbane.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Australia SportGet a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports deskPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionIt was brief respite for the Lions, who were outclassed despite the efforts of Dawes (31 disposals), Sophie Conway (22) and Mullins (20).North’s win made veteran Birch the first four-time AFLW premiership player, including triumphs with the Western Bulldogs (2018), Melbourne (2022) and the Kangaroos (2024-25).Three Roos – Blaithin Bogue, Eliza Shannon and Sheerin – played in their first flag.Tough Kangaroos midfielder Mia King was the hard-luck story, missing out on selection after her mooted recall from a knee injury was deemed too big a risk for the decider.It was more end-of-season heartbreak for Craig Starcevich’s Lions, who have lost in five of their seven grand final appearances.The result also denied the city of Brisbane a cross-code grand slam, after the Lions’ (AFL) and Broncos’ (NRL, NRLW) premiership successes in September and October.
