It’s a stalemate at the moment, being fought between the arcs with a tremendous ferocity and physicality.

Next goal is huge. If the Lions get it the game is well and truly on. If North get it, I think it’s pretty close to curtains.

North Melbourne has the ball locked in its forward 50 but there is no way through the desperation of the Lions’ defence in this third quarter. They are fighting for their lives back there, but how long can they hold on?

Eight minutes to play in the third, the margin is 16 points.

A bit of feeling in the Brisbane huddle in the moments before the bounce. Not quite now or never yet, but the Lions need to issue a response in this third quarter.

Ball is in the air and we’re at it again.

Ally Anderson and Orla O’Dwyer lead the way in the disposal count, but it has been a far more even team effort from North Melbourne across the board.

Dakota Davidson, who broke last year’s grand final open for the Lions, is yet to have a touch. The scope for Brisbane improvement is clear, but not easy against a red hot Kangaroos side.

North Melbourne completely dominated the second quarter, owning field possession and the contest against a Brisbane side that looked out of ideas pretty quickly.

The Lions only look at goal came right at the end of the term when Orla O’Dwyer’s snap barely missed. But still, Brisbane will look at that first half and think a 17-point deficit isn’t the end of the world. The Lions love a comeback and the door is still ajar here,

But North Melbourne looks like premiers right now. A huge second half awaits.

In the first quarter, the Lions were finding ways to force turnover and break quickly. In this term the wall is up, and there is no way through for Brisbane even if the Lions do manage to force a North error.

Six minutes to play in the second, North by 17 points.

It was North Melbourne at its best as the Roos picked their way through the centre of Princes Park, but there was a stroke of luck in the final kick that hacked forward and found Wall’s chest.

No luck needed with the finish though, she was never likely to miss from 20 out, directly in front. The game is getting more and more on North Melbourne’s terms in this quarter.

The question all night will be can Brisbane force enough errors out of North Melbourne as the Roos try to pick their way through the Lions’ defence.

It’s pressure vs precision, and it could go either way.

We’ve seen a bit of the best of both sides there, the Lions with their frenetic pressure and ability to lock the ball into their attacking 50 and North’s slick hands and run in waves from defence to attack.

The Roos banged on the first three goals of the game and already threatened to make a game-breaking run, but that settling goal for Brisbane through Hampson just calms things down a little for the Lions.

Plenty of footy yet to play.

And they needed that too, on the cusp of quarter-time. Emma King wiped Bre Koenen out far too late after she kicked, so the down field free kick gave Hampson the chance to respond.

It was a thumping kick, and a critical goal for Brisbane. Game on.

O’Loughlin had to be careful with that tackle because the line between a sling and a perfect, holding the ball worthy effort is so fine.

She nailed it. Boltz was dead to rights. And she nailed the goal as well. Roos are flying now.

So the trend of the game has emerged already. The Lions are owning most of the territory but are struggling to score on the Roos’ defence, with the best they can manage a series of stoppages.

But when North do break, they look so dangerous. O’Loughlin got on the end of a patient but precise chain, snapping from the top of the square after receiving the handball from Randall.

Five minutes to play in the first quarter, lots to like for North.

The North Melbourne winger floated forward out the back of the pack and was in the right place to mark a rushed kick forward from Garner.

From 30 out and directly in front, the kick was never in doubt. North score with their first meaningful attack of the game.

The Lions make the early running to put the Roos’ defence under pressure, but a strong tackle from Sarah Wright and an intercept grab from Emma King floating back in defence hold things up.

The first behind of the grand final is rushed, and to Brisbane.

A hot mic in the North Melbourne team huddle makes clear there is no love lost between these teams.

The flag is up for grabs, and the grand final is underway. Let’s go.

All smiles here, but it’s all business now.

We are just a Welcome to Country and the national anthem away from the first contest of the 2024 AFLW grand final.

A year’s worth of work is about to be put on the line. Will it be redemption or a repeat?

North Melbourne is in the midst of an historic season, and could become the first team to go through an entire AFLW season undefeated should they lift the cup tonight. The Roos have only one semi-blemish on their record was a draw against Geelong, but their performances in two finals against Adelaide and Port Adelaide were first class.

Brisbane finished third after the home and away season, with its two defeats coming to North in round one and Geelong deeper in the season. That defeat to the Roos in the grand final rematch was chastening, but swiftly shrugged off by the most relentless and professional team in the league. The Lions knocked off Hawthorn and Adelaide in their two finals, coming from behind last week against the Crows to fully earn their place in the decider.

North Melbourne is the favourite tonight, and justifiably so, but Brisbane relishes the role of the underdog and has form in flipping the script on the biggest stage of all. Should be a cracker, in other words.

It goes without saying that tonight means a lot for these clubs, their players, their fans and everyone associated with the women’s game. But for the athletes who are taking to the field, part of the challenge is overcoming the emotion of the occasion as much as the opposition.

Here’s Marnie Vinall with more:

“The main narrative for the Kangaroos is whether they can get revenge on the Lions who delivered them devastation and heartbreak a year ago. And for Brisbane: will they be able to get the first back-to-back premierships in AFLW history?

“And how will each side manage the added emotions that come into play during a decider?

“Whichever way the teams, and players within them, approach the biggest game of the year, one thing is almost certain: there will be tears following the final siren, whether that be Dawes and Grider or Eddey and King lifting the cup in elation or walking off in the heartbreak that balances out the story of football.”

Read Marnie’s full piece below: