The MCG came alive with a mighty roar across the 2025 AFL Finals Series – which saw a total of 382,006 fans pack the stands across four massive matches, culminating in the Brisbane Lions claiming back-to-back premierships on AFL Grand Final Day.
The MCG’s Finals Series kicked off with a Qualifying Final between eventual Grand Finalists the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions. The Cats, on a seven-game winning streak, dominated majority of the match, leading from the fifth minute of the first quarter to book a spot in the Preliminary Finals two weeks later.
The Lions on the other hand, would need to travel the long way back to the ‘G, eventually meeting Collingwood in a 2023 Grand Final rematch in the Preliminary Finals after defeating the Gold Coast SUNS in their maiden Finals appearance.
Across the two Preliminary Final matches, which saw three Victorian teams take part, 195,620 hopeful fans attended the ‘G to cheer on their team to a Grand Final appearance.
Friday night saw the Cats host a fast-starting Hawthorn, who led 22-1 during the first quarter before Geelong took a one-point lead into the main break.
A dominating seven-goal to three third term put the Cats in a strong position to make their second Grand Final in four years in front of a record-breaking crowd of over 99,597 – the biggest non-Grand Final crowd for a V/AFL match since 1971.
This crowd was backed-up by an impressive 96,023 the following day as a see-sawing match saw the Lions take revenge for the 2023 Grand Final heartbreak and defeat the Pies by 29 points to secure a spot in their third Grand Final in as many years.
Anticipation built in the lead-up to the final AFL match at the MCG for the year – as selection calls, injury comebacks and premiership predictions ramped-up.
As fans flocked to the MCG precinct for the Footy Fest and Grand Final Parade, inside the stadium the final preparations were made ahead of one of the stadium’s biggest days of the year.
For the seventh consecutive MCG-hosted Grand Final – not including the two played interstate during the COVID-19 pandemic – a crowd of over 100,000 again witnessed premiers crowned.
US rapper Snoop Dogg headlined the pre-match entertainment, which also featured home-grown talent Jessica Mauboy, Baker Boy, Tash Sultana and of course, Mike Brady performing Up There Cazaly.
The match was close for the first half, with neither team able to get a solid lead over the other.
However back-to-back goals by the Lions’ Charlie Cameron mid-way through the third quarter spurred the Lions into a 19-point lead at the final break – a lead that blew out to a maximum of 65-points during the final quarter.
The 47-point victory saw Brisbane claim back-to-back premierships, with Lions’ midfielder Will Ashcroft claiming a second consecutive Norm Smith Medal, finishing the match with 32 disposals and a goal.
The crowd of 100,022 – just two shy of the MCG’s official capacity – saw the total attendance at the ‘G for football in 2025 reach over 3.5 million across 51 games.
2025 AFL Finals Series matches at the MCG
Qualifying Final – Geelong Cats v Brisbane LionsFriday September 5
Geelong Cats 16.16 (112) defeated Brisbane Lions 11.8 (74)
Crowd: 86,364
Preliminary Final – Geelong Cats v Hawthorn
Friday September 19
Geelong Cats 17.13 (115) defeated Hawthorn 13.7 (85)
Crowd: 99,597
Preliminary Final – Collingwood v Brisbane Lions
Saturday September 20
Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100) defeated Collingwood 11.5 (71)
Crowd: 96,023
Grand Final – Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions
Saturday September 27
Brisbane Lions 18.14 (122) defeated Geelong Cats 11.9 (75)
Crowd: 100,022
Recent AFL Grand Final attendances at the MCG (100,000+)
2025, Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats – 100,0222024, Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans – 100,013
2023, Collingwood v Brisbane Lions – 100,024 – capacity crowd
2022, Geelong Cats v Sydney Swans – 100,024 - capacity crowd
2019, Richmond v GWS GIANTS – 100,014
2018, West Coast Eagles v Collingwood – 100,022
2017, Richmond v Adelaide Crows – 100,021