Two teams. One premiership. History awaits.
The biggest day on the AFL calendar has arrived.
After 23 home-and-away rounds and three weeks of finals, the 2026 AFL season comes down to one final game as the Brisbane Lions take on the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL Grand Final at the MCG.
And this isn't just any Grand Final.
The Lions are chasing a remarkable third consecutive premiership, while Fremantle is attempting to win the first premiership in the club's history.
For Brisbane, victory would see the Lions become the first team since Hawthorn's 2013–15 side to win three consecutive AFL premierships. For Fremantle, a win would finally deliver the elusive premiership that has escaped the club throughout its 32-season AFL history.
The two clubs have never previously met in an AFL final, making Saturday's Grand Final a genuine first in league history.
So, who will lift the premiership cup?
Brisbane Lions v Fremantle Dockers
MCG | Saturday, September 26 | 2:30pm AEST
Brisbane Lions: One win from history
It is difficult to find a bigger incentive than the one facing the Brisbane Lions.
Chris Fagan's side has already established itself as one of the great teams of the modern era, winning the 2024 and 2025 premierships. Now, they have the opportunity to join the exclusive company of teams to have completed a three-peat.
Getting here hasn't been easy.
The Lions survived an extraordinary preliminary final against Hawthorn, eventually prevailing 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122) in one of the most dramatic games of the season. Brisbane kicked 12 goals in a remarkable final term before Hugh McCluggage put the Lions in front with just 36 seconds remaining. Kai Lohmann's fifth goal after the siren put the finishing touches on the nine-point victory.
That performance once again demonstrated Brisbane's ability to perform when the pressure is at its absolute highest.
The Lions also have an extraordinary level of Grand Final experience behind them. Brisbane is appearing in its fourth consecutive Grand Final, and almost the entire squad already has premiership experience.
There is, however, one major selection question hanging over the Lions heading into Saturday.
Dual Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale is facing a tribunal challenge over his suspension, with his availability for the Grand Final still a major talking point.
If Neale is unavailable, Brisbane will need to find another way to cover one of the most influential midfielders in the competition.
But that is perhaps the defining feature of this Lions team: there are weapons everywhere.
Will Ashcroft, Josh Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage, Charlie Cameron, Cam Rayner, Kai Lohmann and Eric Hipwood give Fremantle plenty to think about across four quarters.
And when the game is on the line, Brisbane has repeatedly shown that it knows how to handle the moment.
Fremantle Dockers: The ultimate prize awaits
For Fremantle, this is about much more than simply winning another football game.
This is a chance to make club history.
The Dockers have reached just their second AFL Grand Final, following their 2013 defeat to Hawthorn. A victory on Saturday would deliver the first premiership in Fremantle's history.
And the way they reached the Grand Final should give Dockers supporters plenty of confidence.
Fremantle looked dead and buried against Sydney in the preliminary final, trailing by as many as 28 points during the third quarter.
Then everything changed.
The Dockers produced a stunning final-term comeback, kicking five unanswered goals to run over the Swans and win by 12 points, 12.11 (83) to 10.11 (71). Shai Bolton and Luke Jackson both kicked two goals, while Isaiah Dudley produced the late goal that helped seal the result.
That comeback says plenty about this Fremantle side.
They have already experienced the pressure of a final. They've already had their season pushed to the brink. And they've already demonstrated that they can remain composed when the momentum appears to be completely against them.
There is also plenty of individual big-game experience within the Fremantle squad, including Shai Bolton, Luke Jackson and Mason Cox.
The Dockers' biggest challenge will be doing it against a Brisbane team that has spent the past two seasons mastering Grand Final football.
Fremantle also knows it can beat Brisbane.
Back in Round 12, the Dockers travelled to the Gabba and defeated the Lions 15.13 (103) to 10.18 (78), extending their winning streak to 11 games at the time. Fremantle's pressure and ball movement caused Brisbane significant problems that afternoon.
That result will give the Dockers plenty of belief heading into Saturday.
The Grand Final battle
There are compelling arguments on both sides.
Brisbane has the experience.
The Lions have played in three consecutive Grand Finals before Saturday and know exactly what is required when the pressure reaches its peak.
Fremantle has the hunger.
For a club that has never won a premiership, this is an opportunity that players, coaches and supporters have been waiting decades for.
The Dockers also finished the home-and-away season as minor premiers and have demonstrated throughout 2026 that their best football can trouble anyone.
Then there is the MCG factor.
Brisbane has plenty of recent experience at the venue, while Fremantle will need to adapt to the biggest stage of all.
Ultimately, this could come down to which midfield can control territory and which forward line can make the most of its opportunities.
If Lachie Neale is available, Brisbane's midfield depth becomes even more formidable. If he isn't, Fremantle will have an opportunity to put greater pressure on the Lions through the middle.
At the other end, containing Brisbane's variety of forward threats will be a massive assignment for the Dockers.
Our AFL Grand Final Tip
Brisbane Lions
There is a genuine argument to be made for both teams, but we're backing the Lions to complete the three-peat.
Fremantle has been outstanding throughout 2026 and has already demonstrated that it can beat Brisbane. The Dockers also have enough firepower to make this an extremely competitive Grand Final.
But Brisbane's combination of Grand Final experience, composure under pressure and proven ability to perform on the biggest stage is difficult to overlook.
The Lions have won their past two premierships and are now one victory away from doing something that hasn't been achieved since Hawthorn's famous three-peat more than a decade ago.
Prediction: Brisbane Lions 101 – Fremantle Dockers 91
Expect Fremantle to throw everything at Brisbane, but we're tipping the Lions to hold their nerve in the final quarter and create another chapter in AFL history.
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The Grand Final is almost here.
One team is chasing history.
One team is chasing its first premiership.
And by Saturday afternoon, we'll know who gets to lift the cup.
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