Premiers, BOG Medal and first goal: 14 Fox Footy pundits deliver ultimate GF Crystal Ball

Arguably the two best and most bankable teams of the decade will collide on Saturday night in the 2025 AFLW grand final, with the North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroos taking on the Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park.

It’ll be the third straight grand final meeting between the two teams, with the Kangaroos hoping to become the first AFLW team to claim back-to-back premierships.

The Lions will be aiming to join Adelaide as the only triple premiers in the competition. Remarkably, it’ll be Brisbane’s seventh grand final appearance — and its fourth in a row — in 10 AFLW seasons.

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We’ve surveyed an array of Fox Footy pundits ahead of the game — and when it comes to tipping the winner, the Kangaroos have the edge as they look to win a 27th straight match.

Of the 14 pundits surveyed, nine tipped North Melbourne to win the flag, including Australian Football Hall of Fame member Debbie Lee.

“North will win because their zone defence is the best in the competition, routinely disrupting opposition ball movement and forcing turnovers in dangerous areas,” Lee told foxfooty.com.au. “Their ability to read the play, regain possession and transition at speed puts relentless pressure on opposition backlines.

“Add in a dominant, hard-running midfield that consistently outworks its opponents, and the Roos have the perfect platform to control the game.

“If their midfield fires as expected, Brisbane simply won’t be able to contain North’s momentum or scoring power.”

The W Debrief co-hosts, Kellie Underwood and Lauren Wood, both suggested the Roos’ preliminary final scare against Melbourne last week has primed them for the grand final.

“They got rid of some demons against the Demons last week when it looked like their remarkable winning streak would end. It might just be the scare they needed to snap them into action,” Underwood told foxfooty.com.au.

Despite the Kangaroos’ two-year dominance, Fox Footy’s AFLW experts weren’t in unison North would go back-to-back.

St Kilda skipper Hannah Priest was one of four pundits to tip a Lions flag, which would be the club’s third in competition history.

“An incredibly successful journey – their seventh grand final in 10 seasons – and they’ve got the recipe for disrupting the juggernaut that is North Melbourne,” Priest told foxfooty.com.au.

Fox Footy commentator Jess Webster had a similar mindset, adding: “Elite pressure game, experience on the finals stage and heavy underdogs — it’s a recipe for a Lions upset!”

As well as their premiership prediction, Fox Footy experts also provided their best on ground medal and first goalkicker tips — and there was a clear BOG standout.

Six tipsters predicted North Melbourne captain Jas Garner to claim a second consecutive best on ground medal.

Fellow 2025 All-Australian Courtney Hodder received two votes from experts predicting a Lions triumph.

Kangaroos forward Blaithin Bogue — a revelation for North inside 50 this season — was the most popular first goalkicker selection (five), alongside teammate Tahlia Randall (two).

See all 14 experts’ premier, best on ground medal and first goalkicker tips — and the full final verdict — below.

AFLW GRAND FINAL TIPS AND PREDICTIONS 2025

Premiership winner (of 14 tipsters)

10 — Kangaroos

4 — Brisbane Lions

Best on ground medal

7 — Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

2 — Courtney Hodder (Brisbane Lions)

1 — Alice O’Loughlin (Kangaroos), Ally Anderson (Brisbane Lions), Belle Dawes (Brisbane Lions), Ash Riddell (Kangaroos)

First goalkicker

5 — Blaithin Bogue (Kangaroos)

3 — Tahlia Randall (Kangaroos), Courtney Hodder (Brisbane Lions)

2 — Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

1 — Bella Eddey (Kangaroos)

JORDYN ALLEN

Premiers: Kangaroos by 26 points — “They have genuine big-game match-winners — see Jas Garner’s fourth quarter in the preliminary final — as well as the most consistently executed team system the AFL has ever seen!”

Best on ground medal: Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

First goalkicker: Courtney Hodder (Brisbane Lions)

DYLAN BOLCH

Premiers: Kangaroos by 27 points — “The Roos will become the first ever AFLW side to go back-to-back. They’ve got stars across all three lines and are at the peak of their powers right now, having broken the AFL/VFL/AFLW record for most consecutive wins. The Dees challenged them last week, but they held their nerve and their stars stood tall. They’ve just got too many game-breakers for the Lions to handle.”

Best on ground medal: Jas Garner (North North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroo

First goalkicker: Tahlia Randall (Kangaroos)

SARAH BURT

Premiers: Kangaroos by 12 points — “North Melbourne to go back-to-back. Melbourne took it up to them last week, but they’re just uncatchable this season and have such momentum going into the grand final.”

Best on ground medal: Alice O’Loughlin (Kangaroos)

First goalkicker: Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

HANNAH DAVIES

Premiers: Brisbane Lions by 2 points — “I can’t be a Brisbane reporter if I don’t back my home team! I think it’s going to go down to the absolute wire with a late goal from Ellie Hampson.”

Best on ground medal: Courtney Hodder (Brisbane Lions)

First goalkicker: Tahlia Randall (Kangaroos)

NIKKI HARWOOD

Premiers: Brisbane Lions by 1 point — “Orla O’Dwyer kicks a freak goal from the boundary to seal victory.”

Best on ground medal: Ally Anderson (Brisbane Lions)

First goalkicker: Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

CHYLOE KURDAS

Premiers: Kangaroos by 3 points — “They have the depth and class across all positions.”

Best on ground medal: Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

First goalkicker: Courtney Hodder (Brisbane Lions)

DEBBIE LEE

Premiers: Kangaroos by 12 points — “North will win because their zone defence is the best in the competition, routinely disrupting opposition ball movement and forcing turnovers in dangerous areas. Their ability to read the play, regain possession and transition at speed puts relentless pressure on opposition backlines. Add in a dominant, hard-running midfield that consistently outworks its opponents, and the Roos have the perfect platform to control the game. If their midfield fires as expected, Brisbane simply won’t be able to contain North’s momentum or scoring power.”

Best on ground medal: Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

First goalkicker: Blaithin Bogue (Kangaroos)

HANNAH PRIEST

Premiers: Brisbane Lions by 7 points — “An incredibly successful journey – their seventh grand final in 10 seasons – and they’ve got the recipe for disrupting the juggernaut that is North Melbourne.”

Best on ground medal: Belle Dawes (Brisbane Lions)

First goalkicker: Tahlia Randall (Kangaroos)

RUBY SCHLEICHER

Premiers: Kangaroos by 8 points — “They had a scare last week against Melbourne — and that was the check they needed to go into this week non-complacent. I’m not saying they would have gone in like that, but it was a healthy check.”

Best on ground medal: Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

First goalkicker: Courtney Hodder (Brisbane Lions)

KELLI UNDERWOOD

Premiers: Kangaroos by 22 points — “They got rid of some demons against the Demons last week when it looked like their remarkable winning streak would end. It might just be the scare they needed to snap them into action.”

Best on ground medal: Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

First goalkicker: Bella Eddey (Kangaroos)

MONIQUE VAN DER HEYDEN

Premiers: Kangaroos by 14 points — “They have been too good all season and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Like Melbourne last week, Brisbane will test the Roos, but North’s disposal dominance and classy ball movement will get the job done.”

Best on ground medal: Jas Garner (Kangaroos)

First goalkicker: Blaithin Bogue (Kangaroos)

BEN WATERWORTH

Premiers: Kangaroos by 30 points — “Get the sense Saturday’s game will be a genuine culmination of two totally dominant years. AFLW grand finals are traditionally low scoring, but the Roos have been an offensive force all season — a strength that’ll be on full display Saturday night, with the likes of Tahlia Randall, Blaithin Bogue and Alice O’Loughlin to all hit the scoreboard. And Ash Riddell to cap off the most perfect week.”

Best on ground medal: Ash Riddell (Kangaroos)

First goalkicker: Blaithin Bogue (Kangaroos)

JESS WEBSTER

Premiers: Brisbane Lions by 6 points — “Elite pressure game, experience on the finals stage and heavy underdogs — it’s a recipe for a Lions upset!”

Best on ground medal: Courtney Hodder (Brisbane Lions)

First goalkicker: Blaithin Bogue (Kangaroos)

LAUREN WOOD

Premiers: Kangaroos by 4 points — “Last week was the biggest challenge they’ve had in almost two seasons and it’ll strengthen them. Expect the big names to deliver and make history as the first team to go back-to-back.”

Best on ground medal: N/A (part of the best on ground medal voting panel)

First goalkicker: Blaithin Bogue (Kangaroos)