After ten home & away rounds, and a remarkable Finals Series, the 2023 AFLW Grand Final is upon us as North Melbourne and Brisbane go head to head for the premiership. Can the Roos break through for their maiden flag? Or will the Lions add a second premiership to their name?
AFLW 2023 Grand Final Preview & Betting Tips
North Melbourne vs Brisbane
Ikon Park, Sunday 2:30pm AEDT
North Melbourne and Brisbane came into the finals series after finishing third and fourth respectively in the home & away season, but upset wins on the road in the Qualifying Finals laid the path for both sides to make it to the big dance. North Melbourne defeated minor premiers Adelaide by a point in a thrilling Preliminary Final, with their success built off the back of a dominant performance in the clearance battle, with a +12 advantage.
A big factor behind North Melbourne’s victories over the top two teams in the competition during the Finals Series has been their red hot starts. The Roos kicked the first two goals of the game against Adelaide which was a massive swing given both sides kicked just four goals for the entire game. In the Qualifying Final against Melbourne, the Kangaroos kicked the first seven goals of the game, with Melbourne failing to kick a major until the dying minutes of the fourth quarter.
Brisbane reached their fifth AFLW Grand Final on the back of a four point win over Geelong last week. Shannon Campbell was the hero with a late goal to give the Lions the victory in a seesawing clash. Campbell was swung forward late after Dakota Davidson left the ground with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, however the Lions forward has been cleared of any structural damage and remains a chance to be fit for the decider.
North Melbourne were the best defensive team in the home & away season holding teams to just 21.3 points per game, and they’ve continued that excellence in the finals. Coming up against the two highest scoring teams in the competition in Melbourne and Adelaide, the Roos have conceded an average score of 20 points per game across their two finals. If they can make this a low scoring clash, it’s going to give them the upper hand against a Lions side that prides themselves on their potent forward fifty.
The midfield battle looms as an area where the Kangaroos can gain an advantage to control the game, with North possessing two of the top three disposal getters in the league. Ash Riddell (30.7 disposals per game) and Jasmine Garner (29) have been in red hot form all season long, however in the Preliminary Final it was Jenna Bruton who lifted in the third quarter to keep the Kangaroos in the game. Bruton recorded a game high 28 disposals and adds another impressive layer to a star studded North Melbourne midfield.
We are set for a thrilling conclusion to what has been a remarkable season, and this game won’t be any different. With how the Finals Series has played out, we can expect plenty of momentum swings and likely a low scoring game. The Kangaroos have had an incredible finals campaign to knock off the top two sides in the league, and they are playing a defensive brand of football that is standing up to the pressure of finals football.
North Melbourne -3.5
$1.87 (1 Unit)
