Brisbane Lions forward Dakota Davidson has shaken off her injury concerns to boot two final-quarter goals and help deliver the Lions a stunning AFLW premiership at Ikon Park.
After trailing by seven points at three-quarter time, the Lions were able to avenge last year’s defeat in the decider by storming home to down North Melbourne by 17 points and claim their second piece AFLW silverware.
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Davidson was under an injury cloud all week after hurting her knee in the preliminary final win over Geelong, but stepped up when it mattered after struggling to have an impact in the first three quarters against the Kangaroos.
Last week she was inconsolable when she was on the bench and she revealed to Seven after the grand final that she had been very worried about getting up for the decider.
“It was a scary 24 hours (after the injury), I’m not going to lie,” she said.
“Obviously scans came back clear and (and now I’ve lived out) every child’s dream of playing in a premiership.
“So I did everything I could to make it to this day. God, I’m so glad I did because this is unreal.”
After winning 7.2 (44) to 4.3 (27), she said the belief the team had in themselves was immense and they always knew they were in it.
“It’s unreal (that belief), isn’t it?” she said.
“What these girls are capable of and the season we’ve been through, there’s so many people that doubt us every year. We all somehow compete and play our roles and everyone knows what to do. It all comes out on the end here.
Davidson was also asked about a “petrol can” that featured in the celebrations and appeared on the bench during the game.
“What is the story behind the petrol can?” commentator Nat Edwards asked.
Davidson said it all started at a pre-season boot-camp at the start of the year.
“We had to carry them for 20km through a trek,” she said..
“So, every time times get tough we always throw up the jerry can.
“(And that’s when) everyone knows it’s time to work hard like we did in the pre-season.”
Ellie Hampson’s second goal with three minutes remaining sealed the match, but Lions captain Bre Koenen added an exclamation mark with a major in the dying seconds.
Koenen was awarded the best-on-ground medal by recently retired legend Erin Phillips after finishing with 19 possessions and 10 tackles.
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The 28-year-old was part of an outstanding Lions defence, along with Nat Grider, and Shannon Campbell, that helped quell North’s midfield dominance.
North won the inside-50 count 34-21 and dominated clearances 41-25 but the Lions’ big-game experience proved to be too much.
Brisbane kicked just three goals up to three-quarter-time but managed four straight and kept North goalless in the final term as their fitness and tackling pressure won out.
It was the Lions’ fifth grand final appearance from seven completed AFLW seasons to certify themselves as genuine powerhouses of the competition, along with triple-premiership winners Adelaide.
North, playing in the club’s first grand final – men or women – since 1999, were led superbly by superstar midfielder Jasmine Garner.
– With AAP
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