AFL

Huge match-ups crucial to AFL grand final

By AAP Newswire

Sep 26, 2025

Ryan Lester (pic) is expected to get the big job of trying to keep Jeremy Cameron quiet. -AAP Image

KEY AFL GRAND-FINAL MATCH-UPS:

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* Jeremy Cameron (Geelong) v Ryan Lester (Brisbane). Lester is usually the man to get the job on Geelong's spearhead. But in the qualifying final, Cameron had the veteran defender on the ropes early and forced the Lions to switch Darcy Gardiner onto him. Keeping the athletic and wickedly dangerous Coleman Medal winner quiet is crucial to slowing down the Cats and Lester will want another crack.

* Oisin Mullin (Geelong) v Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane). Expect the hard-running Irishman to again attempt to put the clamps on Brisbane's silky-skilled star. Mullin kept McCluggage to just 14 disposals while kicking a goal himself in the qualifying final. All-Australian midfielder McCluggage responded against Gold Coast and Collingwood with big numbers and if he gets off the chain, he could turn the decider Brisbane's way.

* Mark O'Connor (Geelong) v Cam Rayner (Brisbane). Another feisty match-up that should be revisited in the season decider. O'Connor kept Rayner to just one first-half disposal in the qualifying final before the Lion received a controversial double free kick and kicked two majors just before half-time. Rayner managed to snag a third goal, and 12 second-half touches, as he got under the skin of Cats fans. Powerful forward Rayner can turn a game on its head and O'Connor will need his wits about him all game.

* Shannon Neale (Geelong) v Harris Andrews (Brisbane). Arguably the best key defender in the game right now, Lions co-captain Andrews is an intercepting beast and also plays a crucial role in helping out his teammates. Neale will need to crash packs, mark the ball or at least bring it to ground to thwart the Brisbane skipper, who has had his number recently. There's also every chance Mark Blicavs could be sent to Andrews, like Magpie Billy Frampton's famous lockdown role in 2023. Watch this space.

* Rhys Stanley (Geelong) v Darcy Fort (Brisbane). While Blicavs was marvellous in the qualifying final, Stanley will return in the ruck to give Geelong flexibility to cover the loss of Tom Stewart. Blicavs worked over Fort and Oscar McInerney physically and in the clinches, and was critical to their on-ball dominance. Stanley, hugely athletic in his own right, can't afford to let the Lions get on top where it counts.