AFL: Grand Final preview

Sydney and Brisbane will both be out to erase recent grand final heartbreak when they clash in the big one at the MCG on Saturday.

Brisbane lost a thriller against Collingwood in 2023, while the season before, Sydney were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat against Geelong.

Sydney have been the best team all season, winning the minor premiership, but that will all count for nothing unless they can finish the job.

The Lions have needed to play an extra game in finals and it remains to be seen if it will catch up with them at the MCG.

Western Bulldogs were the last team to win the grand final when finishing outside of the top four in 2016, and Brisbane will be trying their best to do the same.

There is very little to separate the two teams and it could come down to who can handle the whole occasion the best.

Another thriller could be on the cards and we are all set up for a cracker of a grand final.

. What: Sydney v Brisbane
. Where: MCG, Melbourne
. When: 14:30 (AEST), Saturday 28th September
. How to watch: Foxtel, Kayo, Channel 7
. Odds: Sydney 1.75, Brisbane 2.10

Swans wait on skipper

Sydney have a big call to make on captain Callum Mills, who is facing a battle to prove his fitness ahead of the grand final.

Mills has been struggling with a hamstring injury and had to sit out the preliminary final win against Port Adelaide.

He will be given every chance to prove his fitness, but coach John Longmire could be left with a tough decision to make.

Logan McDonald will definitely be available to play after recovering from the ankle injury picked up in the preliminary final.

The two sides played out a thriller back in Round 19 this season, before Brisbane edged the game by two points.

Another close game looks to be on the cards and both sides are priced at 5.50 to win the game by 1-12 points.

Meanwhile Tom Papley has averaged just under two goals a game this season and booted three in the win over Port Adelaide.

Papley is priced at 12.00 to kick the first goal of the grand final, or 1.14 to score at anytime.

Lions on a high

Brisbane are on a roll and they will be hoping that momentum can take them all the way to a grand final win.

Chris Fagan’s side have stepped up to the plate in finals, showing great character and quality to win all three games so far.

They made light work of Carlton in the elimination final, beating the Blues 99-71 at the Gabba, before completing an incredible fight back to win at Greater Western Sydney in the semi-final.

Brisbane then beat Geelong by 10 points at the MCG in the preliminary final.

They are riding the crest of the wave and that could count for a lot when they attempt to turnover the Swans.

The Lions have won the last three games against the Swans, but this is a grand final and all that will now be forgotten.

Joe Daniher has booted 50 goals during the regular season, and if the Lions are to win the grand final, they will need him to bring his shooting boots once again.

He can be backed at 10.00 to kick the first goal of the grand final or 1.09 to score at anytime.