Brisbane's decision to play Lachie Neale after a calf injury was a masterstroke, and Harris Andrews dominated the air (again). But Patrick Dangerfield's game was a far cry from his prelim final heroics. Here's whose stocks are up and down after the 2025 AFL Grand Final.
Our footy experts cast their eye over the week's action to find out whose stocks are up -- whether it's a coaching masterstroke or a player having a blinder -- and whose are down.
Brisbane
Stocks up: Lachie Neale, you proved a lot of people wrong. From injuring his calf just 22 days ago to starring as a supersub on Grand Final day, the Lions' co-captain backed his body and came up a massive winner. From kicking a key goal to open up a 19-point lead late in the third term, to his incredible final quarter heroics in the guts, Neale's impact was significant. He finished with seven clearances from a half of footy, six of which came in the fourth quarter. His final stat line? Seventeen and a goal -- not bad for just a half! Don't let the final score fool you, he was massive in getting Brisbane into a winnable position.
In the qualifying final loss to the Cats, Hugh McCluggage was blanketed. He told ESPN it was his poorest performance of the year, and he wanted to rectify it. In the Grand Final, rectify it he did. From totalling just four kicks against the Cats three weeks ago, to having four majors in a Grand Final, McCluggage was one of Brisbane's best in a crowded field. He had 26 disposals, four goals, three direct goal assists, and five clearances. Speaking of kicking four in a decider? Charlie Cameron really was the catalyst for Brisbane's onslaught. After a 'down year' by his standards, his Grand Final was magnificent.
And while we mentioned one co-captain, it'd be remiss not to mention the second. Without Harris Andrews repelling early Geelong attacks, the Lions might have been well behind at half time. He's the competition's best key defender, with apologies to GWS's Sam Taylor, and in the Grand Final, he didn't put a foot wrong. His kicking is elite, his positioning is elite, and his defensive body work is elite. He had a game-high nine marks (five intercept marks), a game-high 11 intercept possessions, and 18 disposals, in what was a commanding performance.
Stocks down: Let's be honest, Zac Bailey could have won the Norm Smith Medal if he'd nailed even half the chances he missed in the Grand Final! The dynamic forward had a handful of looks at goal in the first quarter, but could only manage four behinds to quarter time alone, and finished with a staggering 3.6! He really could have spiralled after quarter time, but coach Chris Fagan made the right move in shuffling him into the midfield and getting him around the ball and away from the big sticks for a while. He was otherwise excellent, finishing with 23 disposals, five clearances, and 534 metres gained.
And spare a thought for Brandon Starcevich. Having just about one of his finest performances, shadowing Geelong's preliminary final match-winner Patrick Dangerfield, the rugged defender was unfortunately ruled out of the game late in the third term with concussion -- another head knock for a player who has a history of bad concussions. Fingers crossed he's okay, but it doesn't look great.
Geelong
Stocks up: He waited a while to get his crack in an AFL Grand Final, but Max Holmes is a star, and belongs in the big games. He was clearly the Cats' best midfielder, winning 33 disposals, five clearances, and kicking a goal, while running tirelessly all game. Hopefully it isn't the last time we see him on the biggest stage.
Speaking of the next generation down in Geelong, Ollie Dempsey continues to show why he's one of the league's best 'fat side' wingers. He kicked the opening goal of the Grand Final in signature style from the top of the square after running in from the wing. He toiled away hard all day, finishing with four majors and a direct goal assist from 19 disposals.
Stocks down: For all his preliminary final heroics against the Hawks last week, Cats stalwart Patrick Dangerfield just wasn't able to back it up in the Grand Final. Geelong's skipper was very well held by Brandon Starcevich for a half of footy, but even when the Lions stopper went off with concussion, Dangerfield was unable to find more of the footy, finishing the match with just 10 disposals and zero clearances, after his game-high eight clearances last week.
Speaking of stalwarts, it just wasn't Jeremy Cameron's day, either. After colliding with his skipper in the first term, Cameron looked a mile off the pace with what looked to be a significant arm injury. The Coleman medallist battled on, but was unable to affect the game aside from an inspirational run-down tackle in the third term to keep his side in the contest. Cameron finished with 0.2 from eight disposals.