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NEVER, ever, ever write off Brisbane.

After another round of expansion losses, and with seemingly the entire (nonBrisbane) football public siding with the fairytale story of North Melbourne, the Lions have once again triumphed, defeating the Roos by 17 points to sew up the 2023 AFLW premiership.

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They came from fourth on the ladder – having their ups and downs in the home-andaway season – but a finalquarter brace from Dakota Davidson, who had come into the match under a serious injury cloud with a knee injury, carried the Lions to a 7.2 (44) to 4.3 (27) victory.

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Brisbane set an AFLW record for tackles in the process such was its intensity, laying 110, ahead of 106 by Sydney in this year's elimination final, and held North Melbourne scoreless in the final term.

North Melbourne had suffered a significant blow in the opening minutes when last week's best-afield, the lively Jenna Bruton, was felled by a right foot injury, unable to put any weight on the leg.

The first quarter itself was tense and scrappy, Courtney Hodder and Mia King themselves laying eight and seven tackles, respectively. Chances deep in attack were few and far between.

After a week of being in the headlines (presumably much to the humble Garner's own distaste) after missing out once again in the AFLW best and fairest count, it took a beautiful Garner set shot from 48m to kick the opening goal, coming 16 minutes into the game.

Sometimes in Grand Finals it's as simple as taking your chances, and that's what Charlie Mullins did from the 50m mark, wheeling and kicking to the top of the square, with the ball skipping through an out-of-alignment North defence for the Lions' first.

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Koenen was swung onto Garner, starting in the middle, and while she didn't completely shut down the superstar, her influence was somewhat quelled.

"Zombie" from Irish band The Cranberries hit the PA as Orla O'Dwyer kicked a clever bouncing snap early in the third, giving Brisbane the lead for the first time in the game.

It signalled the steely resolve of the Brisbane side, lifting its pressure around the contest and beginning to turn the tide in the clearances.

The heavy Northdominated crowd could sense the turning tide, rising in volume in an attempt to urge their side forward.

It worked.

Kate Shierlaw – who had barely been sighted to this point – took a strong contested mark, beating out two Brisbane opponents, and converted truly from a tight angle to snatch back the lead.

Ash Riddell streamed out of the centre, three North players laid a tackle (with an excitable Riddell celebrating before the umpire had even called holding the ball), with Alice O'Loughlin kicking truly.

But there was a final twist in the tale yet, with the polarising Davidson – who Lions fans love while she gets under the skin of opposition supporters – shook off her knee injury and stood tall to kick not just the first, but the second of the final term as well.

Integral Brisbane winger Sophie Conway underwent a head injury assessment at three-quarter time and into the fourth term, but returned, while the tough-as-nails Shannon Campbell received a series of heavy knocks throughout the game.

Garner was once again the Roos' best with 24 and two goals, while Mia King stood tall in the contest, recording a game-high 12 clearances and 19 touches.

Belle Dawes ran her heart out, with a game-high 18 contested possessions, 20 touches and 13 tackles, while Ally Anderson bobbed up at important moments to finish with 20 disposals and six clearances.

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