DETAILS | Melbourne v Brisbane
DATE: Sunday 9 November
TIME: 1:05pm (AEDT)
LOCATION: IKON Park | Wurundjeri
BROADCAST: Fox Footy and Kayo Sports
GAME DAY GUIDE: Available here
TICKETS: Available here
BACK TO FINALS FOOTY
It’s been 12 months of highs and lows for Melbourne. 2024 saw the Dees bow out of the finals race, finishing 9th on the ladder after the home-and-away season. With another year of connection and the addition of a couple young stars, Melbourne has put itself back in premiership contention, with a top-two finish and a double chance at November footy.
While it’s been a positive campaign so far - winning nine of their 12 home-and-away games - as we know, finals is a whole new season, where anything can happen.
These two teams have a long history, having played against each other on 11 occasions across the 10 seasons, from the club’s inaugural game in 2017 to high-pressure finals, the rivalry has seen it all. This means that Sunday's final will no doubt be just as high pressure at the 11 games gone by.
In the context of finals football, if Dees win on Sunday, they will go straight to the Preliminary Final in two weeks’ time. If they lose, they will play again next weekend in a Semi Final against the winner of the St Kilda and Adelaide match.
LAST TIME WE MET
Round 11, 2025 | Brisbane 6.9 (45) def. Melbourne 5.6 (36)
Off the back of a powerful second half, Brisbane defeated Melbourne by nine points on its home deck of Brighton Homes Arena during Round 11.
It was a high-pressure game from the opening bounce with both sides struggling to hit the scoreboard with a major in the opening quarter.
Melbourne got a foothold in the match early in the second term, gaining ascendancy around the stoppages and able to keep the ball in its front half as a result. The Dees held a 14-point lead at the half.
Brisbane ramped up its pressure after the main break, kicking four goals in the third term to take a nine-point lead in the final quarter.
Kicking another two goals in the final term, while holding the Dees goalless, the home side secured a sixth straight victory, 6.9 (45) to 5.6 (36).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ryleigh Wotherspoon
While Melbourne has plenty of players with finals experience, it’s the young Demons who could be the difference for the side in 2025. Having never played finals footy, Wotherspoon is one of seven players that could be the unassuming talent for the upcoming finals campaign.
Wotherspoon has been slowly building since first arriving at the club at the end of 2023, becoming a crafty forward with a certain flare to her game. Her natural footballing ability and tenacity inside 50 means she could be the spark that energises the Melbourne side come Sunday.
Sophie Conway
Sophie Conway is an obvious choice for Brisbane, having been an integral cog in the Lions mix since 2018. In the context of Melbourne, Conway was particularly important just two weeks ago, a standout in helping her side defeat the Dees during Round 11.
In what was a high-pressure game at Brighton Homes Arena, Conway was seemingly unstoppable collecting 27 disposals, two goals, six tackles and six score involvements. Restricting her impact will, no doubt, be important for Melbourne on Sunday.
