The Brisbane Lions have secured their spot in the AFLW preliminary final, beating the Melbourne Demons by 13 points at Princes Park. This marks the first time the Lions have triumphed over Melbourne in the finals, showcasing their resilience and strategic prowess. The match was a hard-fought battle, with the Lions initially struggling but ultimately dominating in the clearances. The Demons faced a setback early on when key tall forward Eden Zanker was ruled out due to a collision with a Lions player, impacting their scoring opportunities. The Lions' strategy paid off, with a dominant third quarter that saw them take a 14-point lead into the final change. Despite Ryleigh Wotherspoon's goal for Melbourne, the Lions' Ally Anderson and Lily Postlethwaite secured back-to-back majors, ultimately leading to a 9.2 (56) to 6.7 (43) victory. The Lions now advance to the preliminary final, while Melbourne faces an elimination semi-final against the winner of the Adelaide Crows and St Kilda match.
