Brisbane is determined not to dwell on its recent setback. Despite a crushing 40-point defeat by North Melbourne in the 2025 AFLW Grand Final, Lions coach Craig Starcevich insists his team will “refuse to be upset about life.” The loss marks the fifth time Brisbane has fallen short in the premiership decider under Starcevich, with Saturday night’s outcome being the second-heaviest defeat in AFLW grand final history.
The announcement comes as the Lions continue to enjoy a golden era, having played in the last seven grand finals across both AFLW and AFL programs. Starcevich, while acknowledging some “monumental blunders” that will linger in the team’s memory, remains confident in their ability to regroup and aim for success in 2026.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
In a post-match interview, Starcevich expressed his belief in the team’s resilience. “This is going to hurt and it’s going to hurt some individuals more than others. But as a group and a collective, our footy club is super strong and a great place to work,” he stated. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, saying, “We just refuse to be upset about life tonight. Just refuse to be too annoyed with things. Just get on with life and be happy and move onto the next challenge.”
Starcevich’s message to the team was clear: face the future with determination. “That’s easier said than done, but that’s your only way forward, really. Just to put on a brave face and move forward. That’s your only choice,” he added.
Crucial Moments and Lessons Learned
The game featured a pivotal moment that will be particularly difficult for Shannon Campbell to revisit. During the second quarter, Campbell conceded a costly 100-meter penalty to Kate Shierlaw, allowing North Melbourne to extend their lead to 10 points after a competitive first quarter. The Kangaroos capitalized on this momentum, adding two more goals by halftime.
“(Campbell is) OK. Watching the game back is going to be painful viewing for a couple of them, because there were some monumental sort of blunders there along the way, with giving away 50s and so forth,” Starcevich commented. “But that happens in a footy person’s career. You just don’t want it to happen in the really big game.”
“They’re great people, our people, so they’ll absorb it, and it’ll be really hard. You’ll have to sit with it for months before you can get back and rectify things. That’s just life as a footballer.”
North Melbourne’s Dominance
The victory extended North Melbourne’s impressive winning streak to 27 games and marked their second consecutive grand final triumph over Brisbane. Starcevich praised North’s ability to handle pressure and elevate their performance, highlighting the strategic prowess of coach Darren Crocker’s team.
“(The Kangaroos) were really, really good with absorbing pressure. We threw the kitchen sink at them from a pressure point of view,” Starcevich noted. “Then they ramped that up again in the second quarter, and it was like, ‘whoa’, the level just kept going up and up.”
He further elaborated on North Melbourne’s tactical execution, stating, “Their ability to get from something that looks like a really nasty, contested situation, and then get it quickly out by hand, and then someone out in space and they’re gone is elite. Like, seriously elite.”
“So, full credit to them, because there’s always someone there waiting for it, and they trust each other … that’s really hard to counter.”
Looking Ahead
As the Lions reflect on their performance and prepare for the next season, the focus remains on resilience and growth. The team’s commitment to bouncing back stronger is unwavering, with Starcevich and his players ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead in 2026.
This development follows a period of intense competition and high expectations for the Lions, who remain a formidable force in the AFLW landscape. The lessons learned from this grand final will undoubtedly shape their strategy and resolve in the coming seasons.
