{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox Australian rules football match | year = 2018 | competition = AFL Women's | match_type = Grand Final | image = 2018 AFLW Grand Final Logo.png | image_upright = 0.8 | ground_image = File:First AFLW Ball Up 03.02.17.jpg | ground_imagesize = | caption = Ikon Park, venue for the 2018 AFL Women's Grand Final, as seen during an AFLW match in 2017. | home = 50px<br/>{{AFLW|WB}} | home_abbr = WB | away = 50px<br/>{{AFLW|Bri}} | away_abbr = BL | home_qtr1 = 0.1 (1) | home_qtr2 = 0.1 (1) | home_qtr3 = 3.2 (20) | home_qtr4 = 4.3 (27) | away_qtr1 = 1.1 (7) | away_qtr2 = 1.1 (7) | away_qtr3 = 1.1 (7) | away_qtr4 = 3.3 (21) | home_score = 4.3 (27) | away_score = 3.3 (21) | date = 24 March 2018 | stadium = Ikon Park | attendance = 7,083 | umpire = | coin_toss = | kick_end = | anthem = | network = Seven Network | commentators =Jason Bennett, Nigel Carmody, Daisy Pearce, Peta Searle, Sam Lane | last = 2017 | next = 2019 }}
The '''2018 AFL Women's Grand Final''' was an Australian rules football match held on 24 March 2018 to determine the premiers of the 2018 AFL Women's season, the league's second season. It was contested by the {{AFLW|WB}} and {{AFLW|Bri}} and was won by the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs claimed their first AFL Women's premiership, whilst Brisbane suffered their second consecutive loss by six points in a Grand Final.
==Background== The Australian Football League (AFL) continued with the top-two qualification system, whereby the two highest ranked clubs would qualify for the grand final, rather than having a finals series. The date of the match clashed with the opening round of the 2018 AFL season, however the start time of 12:35 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time allowed the match to conclude before the first AFL premiership match to be held later that day, which featured the Brisbane men's team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/afl/womens-afl/afl-changes-start-time-for-2018-aflw-grand-final-20180319-p4z539|title=AFL changes start time for 2018 AFLW grand final|work=The Canberra Times|date=19 March 2018}}</ref>
===Qualification=== {{:2018 AFL Women's season}} Entering the final round of the regular season, five clubs were a mathematical chance of qualifying for the grand final, with the Bulldogs tied with {{AFLW|Mel}} on points but ahead on percentage in the top two positions. The Brisbane Lions were considered the least likely to qualify, as they were in fifth place and needed to defeat {{AFLW|GWS}} away from home and then rely on results in other matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-12/aflw-perfectly-set-up-for-dramatic-finale/9537254|title=AFLW grand finalists are still a mystery, as results set up a frantic finale in round seven|date=12 March 2018|work=ABC News}}</ref>
Brisbane's surprise 40-point win against Greater Western Sydney saw them leapfrog {{AFLW|Ade}}, {{AFLW|GWS}} and {{AFLW|Mel}} into second place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lions.com.au/news/2018-03-16/aflw-match-report-|title=Lions thrash Giants to keep Grand Final dream alive|work=lions.com.au|date=16 March 2018}}</ref> The Bulldogs narrowly defeated Melbourne the following night, thereby clinching qualification and keeping Brisbane's season alive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/western-bulldogs-grab-aflw-grand-final-berth-20180317-p4z4vc.html|title=Western Bulldogs grab AFLW grand final berth|work=The Age|date=17 March 2018}}</ref> {{AFLW|Ade}} were considered strong favourites in the final match of the regular season against {{AFL Col}}, but Collingwood ran away with a surprise victory to ensure that Brisbane retained second position and qualified for their second consecutive grand final.<ref name="HELLO">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-aflw-round-7-collingwood-v-adelaide-crows/news-story/5bbe3b7b70dde1b536dd997ee3ebb7d0|title=Collingwood crushes Adelaide's AFLW dream and sends Brisbane to Grand Final with upset win|date=18 March 2018|publisher=Fox Sports Australia}}</ref> Adelaide's match was watched on television by the Brisbane players, who celebrated wildly after it concluded.<ref name="HELLO"/> Despite the loss, Adelaide coach Bec Goddard congratulated the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions for clinching the two spots in the grand final, saying "the two sides...are in there and I'm sure they will have a cracking contest next week."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/goddard-cites-lack-of-effort-as-crows-fall-short-of-aflw-gf/9561014|title=Adelaide miss AFLW grand final as coach Bec Goddard pins Collingwood loss on lack of effort|date=18 March 2018|work=ABC News}}</ref>
===Venue=== It was announced by the AFL that the 2018 AFL Women's Grand Final would be played at Ikon Park.<ref name="Ikon Park">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/aflw-grand-final-western-bulldogs-to-host-decider-at-ikon-park/news-story/0de5df37fecbab5dc7576cfb6684fa76|title=AFLW grand final: Western Bulldogs to 'host' decider at Ikon Park|publisher=Fox Sports Australia|first=Josh|last=Gabelich|date=17 March 2018|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref> The decision was made on the basis that Ikon Park could manage a greater capacity than the Western Bulldogs' home ground the Whitten Oval.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/aflw-grand-final-western-bulldogs-to-host-decider-at-ikon-park/news-story/0de5df37fecbab5dc7576cfb6684fa76|title=AFLW Grand Final: Western Bulldogs to host decider at Ikon Park|date=19 March 2018|publisher=Fox Sports Australia}}</ref> It was the first time an AFL Women's Grand Final was played in Melbourne.<ref name="Ikon Park" />
==Match summary== The game was played in wet and blustery conditions, with heavy rain falling in the hours leading up to the game. This kept the crowd numbers down, with most huddled under the sheltered areas, and caused the scheduled pre-match entertainment by Missy Higgins to be cancelled.<ref name="Bulldogs win thrilling AFLW grand final">{{cite news |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bulldogs-win-thrilling-aflw-grand-final-20180324-p4z61i.html |date=26 March 2018 |access-date=26 March 2018 |newspaper=The Age |title=Bulldogs win thrilling AFLW grand final |first=Daniel |last=Cherny }}</ref> The first quarter opened with a Brisbane goal. Speedster Kate McCarthy brought the ball out of the centre and delivered it to forward Jess Wuetschner, who found Sophie Conway unmarked 20 metres out from goal with a precision pass. Conway then converted.<ref name="Bulldogs win thrilling AFLW grand final" /><ref name="Western Bulldogs win 2018 AFLW premiership" />
[[File:Monique Conti 04.02.18.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Monique Conti was voted best on ground]] Conway had another opportunity a few minutes later, but chose to attempt a snap shot herself rather than send the ball to Wuetschner, who was alone in the goal square, and missed everything. Conway's goal was the only one kicked by either side in the first half. The Western Bulldogs seemed unable to get past key Brisbane defender Kate Lutkins. Kaitlyn Ashmore also had an opportunity from 15 metres out just before the half time siren, but also missed everything.<ref name="Bulldogs win thrilling AFLW grand final" /><ref name="Western Bulldogs win 2018 AFLW premiership">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-aflw-grand-final-western-bulldogs-v-brisbane-lions/news-story/e7795f1e7cb63d95db76ca037721ad39 |title=Western Bulldogs win 2018 AFLW premiership defeating Brisbane Lions in Grand Final |publisher=Fox News |access-date=26 March 2018 }}</ref>
After the half time break, the rain abated, and Bulldogs midfielders Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney began to wrest control of the centre of the oval. The game remained tough and physical, with Kearney, who was well-contained by Brisbane tagger Nat Exon for most of the day, turning aside assistance offered by one of the trainers, and there were injury concerns for Kirsty Lamb. Deanna Berry somehow evaded two defenders and managed to kick the Bulldogs' first goal with a long shot from outside the 50-metre arc.<ref name="Bulldogs win thrilling AFLW grand final" /><ref name="Western Bulldogs win 2018 AFLW premiership" />
This was followed in quick succession by another, dribbled in by Kirsten McLeod, who had been brought in to replace the suspended Katie Brennan, but had not touched the ball in the first half. Monique Conti, an 18-year-old who also played in the basketball grand final with the Melbourne Boomers, and wound up being voted best on ground, concluded the third term with a goal from a ball delivered to her by McLeod, giving the Bulldogs a 14-point lead.<ref name="Bulldogs win thrilling AFLW grand final" /><ref name="Western Bulldogs win 2018 AFLW premiership" />
The Brisbane Lions fought back in the final quarter. Wuetschner dribbled in a goal to peg the Bulldogs' lead back to eight points. Kearney responded with a fourth Bulldogs goal, but Wuetschner kicked her second in reply. In the dying minutes of the game, the Brisbane Lions surged forward, seeking a fourth major that would tie the game and send it into extra time. The ball was marked in the dying seconds of the game by Bulldogs' defender Naomi Ferres, who grasped it as the final siren sounded.<ref name="Bulldogs win thrilling AFLW grand final" /><ref name="Western Bulldogs win 2018 AFLW premiership" />
When it came time to raise the winner's cup at the end of medal presentations, acting captain Ellie Blackburn declared: "I can't hold that cup up alone – KB, get up here!"<ref name="Katie Brennan proud">{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Lauren |date=24 March 2018 |title=AFLW Grand Final: Katie Brennan proud of her Western Bulldogs premiership teammates |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/aflw-grand-final-teams-kirsten-mcleod-to-replace-suspended-bulldogs-captain-katie-brennan/news-story/9bddeaba8bca109b150896391d9dfcea |newspaper=Herald Sun |access-date=26 March 2018 }}</ref> The two raised the cup together, Brennan lifting her shirt to reveal the Bulldogs' guernsey beneath.<ref name="Katie Brennan proud" /> The gesture invoked memories of the 2016 AFL Grand Final, when injured Bulldogs skipper Robert Murphy was similarly called up on stage to raise the cup.<ref name="Brennan puts on a brave face">{{cite news |date=24 March 2018 |title=Brennan puts on a brave face, enjoys her own 'Murphy moment' |first=Daniel |last=Cherny |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/afl/womens-afl/brennan-puts-on-a-brave-face-enjoys-her-own-murphy-moment-20180324-p4z62p.html |newspaper=The Canberra Times|access-date=26 March 2018 }}</ref>
==Teams== The teams were announced on 22 March.<ref name="Yay">{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-22/aflw-teams-announced-for-grand-final|title=AFLW: Grand Final teams revealed|date=22 March 2018|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Telstra Media|access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref> Western Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan was a prominent exclusion from the team, after she was suspended by the Tribunal for a sling tackle executed in the final match of the home-and-away season against Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-22/brennan-loses-appeal-ruled-out-for-dogs-from-aflw-decider/9577288|title=Katie Brennan loses her appeal against ban, is ruled out of AFLW grand final for Western Bulldogs|work=ABC News|date=22 March 2018}}</ref> The tribunal's decision to reject Brennan's appeal was met with surprise by some, who thought the punishment was not in line with expectations in the men's game.<ref name="Brennan">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-23/katie-brennan-takes-afl-rules-to-human-rights-commission/9578830|title=AFLW Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan to challenge rules at Human Rights Commission|work=ABC News|date=23 March 2018}}</ref> Brennan subsequently lodged a proceeding with the Australian Human Rights Commission in an attempt to have the AFL amend the differences between the AFLW regulations and the AFL regulations.<ref name="Brennan"/> Brisbane named an unchanged line-up.<ref name="Yay"/> {| | valign="top" | {{Aussie rules team | title = Western Bulldogs | teamcolour = WB | backpocket1 = 18 Libby Birch | fullback = 11 Lauren Spark | backpocket2 = 16 Naomi Ferres | halfbackflank1 = 22 Hannah Scott | centrehalfback = 19 Tiarna Ernst | halfbackflank2 = 10 Nicole Callinan | wing1 = | centre = 2 Ellie Blackburn(c) | wing2 = | halfforwardflank1 = 35 Jenna Bruton | centrehalfforward = 28 Bonnie Toogood | halfforwardflank2 = 8 Monique Conti | forwardpocket1 = 23 Aisling Utri | fullforward = 6 Kirsten McLeod | forwardpocket2 = 1 Brooke Lochland | ruck = 4 Aasta O'Connor | ruckrover = 5 Emma Kearney | rover = 27 Kirsty Lamb | interchange1 = 36 Angelica Gogos | interchange2 = 21 Bailey Hunt | interchange3 = 17 Hayley Wildes | interchange4 = 24 Kim Rennie | interchange5 = 7 Deanna Berry | interchange6 = | coach = Paul Groves }} | valign="top" | {{Aussie rules team | title = Brisbane Lions | teamcolour = BL | backpocket1 = 29 Emma Pittman | fullback = 11 Leah Kaslar | backpocket2 = 3 Breanna Koenen | halfbackflank1 = 8 Emma Zielke(c) | centrehalfback = 13 Kate Lutkins | halfbackflank2 = 9 Kate McCarthy | wing1 = | centre = 15 Nat Exon | wing2 = | halfforwardflank1 = 1 Emily Bates | centrehalfforward = 16 Tahlia Randall | halfforwardflank2 = 6 Megan Hunt | forwardpocket1 = 23 Jess Wuetschner | fullforward = 25 Brittany Gibson | forwardpocket2 = 10 Kaitlyn Ashmore | ruck = 14 Sabrina Frederick-Traub | ruckrover = 17 Jamie Stanton | rover = 18 Ally Anderson | interchange1 = 4 Sharni Webb | interchange2 = 2 Bella Ayre | interchange3 = 20 Shannon Campbell | interchange4 = 12 Sophie Conway | interchange5 = 21 Arianna Clarke | interchange6 = | coach = Craig Starcevich }} |}
==Scorecard== {{AFLGameDetailed | title = 2018 AFL Women's Grand Final | date = Saturday, 24 March (12:35pm) | home team = {{AFLW|WB}} | home Q1 = 0.1 (1) | home Q2 = 0.1 (1) | home Q3 = 3.2 (20) | home final = 4.3 (27) | home goals = Berry, McLeod, Conti, Kearney | home best = Conti, Blackburn, Kearney, Birch, Spark, Bruton | home injuries = Nil | home reports = | winner = H | away team = {{AFLW|Bri}} | away Q1 = 1.1 (7) | away Q2 = 1.1 (7) | away Q3 = 1.1 (7) | away final = 3.3 (21) | away goals = Wuetschner 2, Conway | away best = Lutkins, Stanton, Wuetschner, Zielke, Ashmore | away injuries = Campbell (head/neck) | away reports = | venue = Ikon Park | crowd = 7,083 | report = [https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/997858/aflw-match-report-dogs-take-out-flag Report] | umpires = Mirable, Howorth, Adair | BOG award = Best on ground | BOG winner = Monique Conti | broadcast = Seven Network | anthem = Isabella Clarke | notes = <!-- Start on a new line to get bullet points to display properly --> }}
==Media coverage== The 2018 AFL Women's Grand Final was broadcast on the Seven Network, as part of a broadcasting rights deal that saw Seven West Media gain broadcasting rights to all matches of the 2018 AFL Women's season, airing on the Seven Network, 7mate, or the video on demand service, PLUS7.<ref name="abc-4">{{cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Patrick|title=AFL women's competition: Fixture released, all games to be broadcast on TV|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-09/afl-womens-fixture-all-games-to-be-broadcast-on-tv/8106542|website=ABC News Australia|access-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311172448/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-09/afl-womens-fixture-all-games-to-be-broadcast-on-tv/8106542|archive-date=11 March 2017|date=9 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="mumbrella-1">{{cite web|title=Channel Seven to broadcast inaugural Women's AFL|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/edelman-hires-former-mango-account-director-422402|website=Mumbrella|publisher=Focal Attractions|access-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311172635/https://mumbrella.com.au/channel-seven-broadcast-inaugural-womens-afl-422591|archive-date=11 March 2017|date=29 January 2017}}</ref> Outside of Australia, it was made available live and for replay on the Watch AFL subscription web site and app.<ref>{{cite web|title=Watch AFL|url=https://www.watchafl.com.au/|website=www.watchafl.com.au|access-date=11 March 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aussie Rules TV Schedules for 2017 for USA, Canada, and Mexico|url=http://www.afana.com/drupal5/tvsched|website=afana.com|publisher=Australian Football Association of North America|access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://womens.afl Official AFL Women's website]
{{2018 Western Bulldogs premiership players (AFLW)}} {{Western Bulldogs}} {{Brisbane Lions}} {{2018 AFL Women's season}} {{AFL Women's}} {{Portal bar|Sports|Australia}}
Grand Final AFL Women's Grand Final 2018 Category:AFL Women's Grand Finals Category:Brisbane Lions Category:Western Bulldogs Category:Sports competitions in Melbourne Category:Women's sporting events in Victoria (state) Category:Australian rules football in Victoria (state) Category:2018 in sport in Melbourne Category:2018 in Victoria (state)