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It was a tense and gritty affair, and took until the closing minutes before the Brisbane Lions could break away and stamp their authority on the contest. Now, we rate every player and the competing coaches from the 2023 AFLW grand final between Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne.

Brisbane Lions

6. Poppy Boltz: Disciplined key defensive role on various tall forwards. Created great
contests throughout the game.

6. Jennifer Dunne: Shared key defensive responsibilities with Boltz and continued to make it
hard for North Melbourne’s forwards.

7.5. Shannon Campbell: Brutal best at ground level and in the air. Calm, composed and
worked in tandem with Koenen down back all day.

9.5. Nat Grider: Massive game. 16 intercept possessions speaks for itself. Unbelievable
ability to collect loose balls down back and tackle when needed.

Orla O’Dwyer celebrates her goal.Credit: Getty

6. Jade Ellendger: Ran all day, providing plenty of options on the wing, however the
contested nature of the game meant the footy spent more time at stoppage.

7. Orla O’Dwyer: Worked herself into the game with a very important goal in the third term to prove
Brisbane’s chaos balls inside forward 50 metres work wonders.

10. Breanna Koenen: Played as a spare in defence for the first half. The general down back,
halting North Melbourne’s early first-half momentum. Went to Garner after half-time and
controlled her influence, sealing Brisbane’s win with a stunning last quarter goal.

6.5. Sophie Conway: Influential third term, with some brutal game-changing, momentum
swinging tackles.

Brisbane captain Breanna Koenen proudly displays the two medals she collected at the 2023 AFLW grand final.Credit: Getty

5.5. Lily Postlethwaite: Two magnificent moments that defined Brisbane’s game; a tackle on
Emma Kearney in the second term and her chaos kick inside forward 50 metres to O’Dwyer’s advantage in her 25th game.

9. Dakota Davidson: For a player that came into the game under an injury cloud, she was
the matchwinner. Two goals in the last term to become a dual premiership player and provide her
side with a constant threat up forward.

9.5. Isabella Dawes: One-touch Dawes, take a bow. Massive at ground level in the contest,
had a huge influence on the outcome of the game.

5. Tayla Smith: Suffering from an early hit by Randall, showed her willingness to put her
body on the line throughout the game.

After having a huge influence on the AFLW grand final, Courtney Hodder celebrates Brisbane’s win with her mum.Credit: Getty

9.5. Courtney Hodder: The Tackler. Eighteen tackles, huge, from the courageous mark-of-the-year
winner.

8.5. Tahlia Hickie: Fought hard against two quality rucks in King and Rennie. A great ability
to create space for her midfielders with her hit-outs.

5. Cathy Svarc: Seemed to be carrying an injury, battled hard against Garner early. Had
some important pressure acts.

9. Ally Anderson: Consistent, clean brilliance through the midfield. Her evasive skills proved too slick for North’s midfield.

Ally Anderson breaks into space for the Lions in the AFLW grand final.Credit: Getty

8. Ellie Hampson: Another big-moment player. Two goals when the Lions needed them most.

5. Phoebe Monahan: Difficult key defensive role, but was consistent in her efforts all day.

7. Charlotte Mullins: Great forward pressure in the first half. She got the Lions off to a
cracker, nailing their first goal of the match.

5. Ruby Svarc: Limited opportunities for the speedy small forward to get involved.

Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich lifts the AFLW premiership cup with skipper Breanna Koenen, much to the delight of the Lions players.Credit: Getty

5. Mikayla Pauga: Limited game for the youngster, but contributed to the overall team
performance.

10. Coach Craig Starcevich: Incredible ability to coach on match day. A very deserving two-time premiership coach.

North Melbourne

6. Jasmine Ferguson: Started well alongside her defensive partner in Wright, but struggled when the momentum went Brisbane’s way.

4. Eliza Shannon: Was hard for Shannon to influence with limited game time.

North skipper Emma Kearney delivered a classy post-match speech after her team lost the AFLW grand final to Brisbane.Credit: Getty

6.5. Emma Kearney: The captain did her best to inspire her Roos to victory. Her third quarter was her best, providing strong run off half-back.

6. Sarah Wright: Provided strong, stoic defence all day.

5. Erika O’Shea: Couldn’t provide her usual spark off half-back, but an incredible season for the Irish speedster.

North’s Erika O’Shea fights for the ball.Credit: Getty

5. Amy Smith: Good pressure around the contest with eight tackles, helping to keep the ball in the Roos’ forward half.

8. Mia King: Influenced the Roos’ dominant clearances wins. Provided great territory with her kicks out of the contest. Did her best to apply pressure on the Lions’ ball-winners.

High-flyer Kate Shierlaw drags in a contested grab in the grand final.Credit: Getty

4.5. Taylah Gatt: Her best moment was lowering her eyes to set up the opening goal.

5. Bella Eddey: Struggled to find space in a hotly contested game.

6.5. Kate Shierlaw: With the major highlight of the day, Shierlaw took an incredible mark and sealed it with a goal to do her bit for the team.

7. Alice O’Loughlin: One of the Roos’ best. Provided good forward pressure with nine tackles and linked up with key forwards, finishing with three score involvements.

7. Emma King: She was unstoppable in the ruck, and took important marks around the ground. Was an aerial presence all day.

5.5. Tahlia Randall: Was always threatening, crashing packs, and presented with commanding leads but couldn’t impact on the scoreboard.

7. Kim Rennie: Had an excellent day out in the ruck, and provided important defensive coverage, patrolling the airways down back. Shared her grand final experience with the rest of the team.

8.5. Jasmine Garner: North’s best player. Was in her finest form, however Starvevich moved his magnets well to negate her influence in the second half.

7. Ash Riddell: Went head-to-head with Belle Dawes at stoppages, winning plenty of the football, a solid contributor.

4.5. Tess Craven: Did her best on the wing, but wasn’t enough in her first grand final.

5.5. Nicole Bresnehan: Another north player who struggled to influence.

6. Lulu Pullar: Was thrown at each end on the day, but couldn’t impact.

4.5. Niamh Martin: Another player who will be better for the grand final experience.

NA. Jenna Bruton: Went down with a serious lower-leg injury in the first quarter. A tragic way to end her second grand final.

7. Coach Darren Crocker: An incredible feat to get North in tip-top form at the end of the season. So close. All his players will be better for the experience.

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