North Melbourne v Brisbane: 2025 AFLW grand final – live
The AFLW grand final is a sell-out for the third straight year – and the second consecutive season under lights at Ikon Park – with more than 12,500 fans set to watch North Melbourne and Brisbane lock horns yet again.Let’s hope the AFL can find a solution over the next 12 months for a suitable venue that would allow even more fans to be part of what should be a celebration of women’s football as much as the season decider between the competing clubs.The best things come in threes.Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2025 AFLW grand final between North Melbourne and Brisbane as the pair of powerhouse sides meet in the decider for a third straight season.The premiership ledger over that time stands at one-all, which gives each team an opportunity to claim to be the ‘best of three’ and the standout of the stretch.
Though, in truth, the Kangaroos have already raised the bar to lofty new heights while embarking on an undefeated run since stumbling at the last hurdle against the Lions in 2023,The all-conquering North Melbourne are now on the verge of etching their name in the record books as the first side in VFL/AFL/AFLW history to win every game in a season on their way to the premiership crown,The Kangaroos have got used to breaking records over the past two years as the reigning premiers have won 26 consecutive matches since their only blemish of a draw against the Cats in round two last year,Perhaps most importantly for the Roos in their season for the ages, they are now just one win away from becoming the AFLW’s first back-to-back premiers after their breakthrough triumph against the Lions last season,The perennial contenders Brisbane are in the unusual position of being the underdogs at Ikon Park despite playing in a fourth successive grand final.
This is also their seventh AFLW decider out of the nine that have been staged.The Lions have their own slice – or two – of history within reach as their third women’s flag would equal the Crows’ tally.It would also ensure the club becomes the first to win both the AFL and AFLW premierships in the same year.But a victory for the Lions tonight, let’s face it, would be most memorable for being one of the all-time great upsets over an otherwise dominant side that has barely been challenged for two years.We’ll find out whether the Kangaroos can finish writing their own fairytale, or the Lions script a stunning plot twist, from the first bounce at Ikon Park in Melbourne at 7.
45pm AEDT.In the meantime, get in touch with any comments, questions, thoughts and predictions for the AFLW grand final – shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan onBluesky orX.Let’s get into it!Bring.It.On.
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Oh yes he is! Kiefer Sutherland dives into the world of panto
Hollywood megastars hit Leeds this year to make Tinsel Town, a feelgood festive comedy about panto. The 24 star, Rebel Wilson and more talk about their addiction to Greggs sausage rolls – and epic brawls with Danny DyerTwenty-odd years ago, I binged a TV series on DVD for the first time. At my mate’s house in a village outside Harrogate, I was glued to Jack Bauer shooting his way through 24. We probably only made it to episode six before surrendering to sleep for school the next day.Fast forward to the start of this year, and photos are all over the local news of Kiefer Sutherland out and about in nearby market towns Knaresborough and Wetherby
O come out ye faithful: a joyful roundup of UK culture this Christmas
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Nominate your favourite Australian children’s picture book of all time
A good picture book is pure magic – and Australia has produced some of the best. Nominate your favourite hereThe best children’s picture books can be pure magic for adults, too: witty and wise prose or poetry that is a joy to read aloud, coupled with vivid, evocative illustrations that live on in the memory – and the culture – for decades.Australia has produced more than its fair share of classics, from the effortlessly educational to the cheekily irreverent, and we want you to nominate your favourite for a major reader’s poll we will run in late January: the best Australian children’s picture book of all time.To be eligible a book must be:Primarily intended to be read aloud to children who don’t yet read independently;Able to be read in a few minutes – we’re looking for a child’s picture book, rather than a graphic novel or illustrated chapter book;Written by an Australian (or someone we’ve claimed);Published in Australia.If the respondent is under 18, a parent or guardian must complete the form on their behalf
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Late-night hosts recapped Donald Trump’s especially weird address at the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon.On his final show before the Thanksgiving holiday, Jimmy Kimmel counted his blessings. “This year, I am most thankful that we only have five weeks left in this year,” he joked on Tuesday evening.Meanwhile at the White House “the presidential ketchup boat is filled to the brim and ready to go.” On Tuesday, at the “freshly paved over Rose Garden”, the president presided over the annual pardon of the turkeys, “which at this point are the only thing that Trump hasn’t pardoned this year”
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Graham Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but convicted of damaging phone
The Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a transgender activist on social media but found guilty of criminal damage of their mobile phone outside a conference in London last year.The 57-year-old flew from Arizona to appear at Westminster magistrates court in person on Tuesday, where the judgment was delivered.Linehan denied harassing Sophia Brooks on social media between 11 and 27 October 2024, and a charge of criminal damage of their mobile phone on 19 October last year outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster.Judge Clarke fined Linehan £500 and ordered him to pay costs of £650 and a statutory surcharge of £200. Linehan’s lawyer, Sarah Vine KC, asked that he be given 28 days to pay the full amount
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