Aside from which team wins, the recipient of the Norm Smith medal will just about be the most intriguing part of Grand Final day (sorry, Snoop).
The Cats won the flag just three years ago, but have since farewelled that year's Norm winner in Isaac Smith.
Meanwhile, the Lions' winner last year was Will Ashcroft, whose career is only just getting started. Will he go back-to-back?
The Sporting News looks at the favourites for the Norm Smith medal in 2025, as well as some smokies and outsiders.
MORE: The matchups that will define the 2025 AFL Grand Final
Geelong
Favourites
Bailey Smith
Was a hot chance for the Brownlow on Monday, ultimately finishing in third place, and it will likely be in contention again on Saturday. Finished with the most disposals in last Friday's prelim, and is always a chance to push forward and hit the scoreboard. Will be impossible to miss in his now-iconic headband, which can only help his chances.
Patrick Dangerfield
There's just about nothing else left for Patrick Dangerfield to add to his impressive legacy other than a Norm Smith medal. He couldn't be entering the decider in better form, coming off a best-on preliminary final performance in which he dominated with 31 disposals and three goals. Always rises to the occasion, and it's within reason to think he could again on Saturday.
Max Holmes
The hard-luck story of the Cats' 2022 triumph, and the Cats could well argue that if he didn't injure his hamstring in last year's prelim, they would've taken the Lions' spot in the Grand Final. Would be a fairytale for him to finally get his chance on the biggest stage, and make the most of it with a Norm Smith medal. Always one of the Cats' top ball-winners and typically uses it well.
Ollie Dempsey
If you haven't been paying attention, Ollie Dempsey has been pushing the limits for what a wingman can do, and a Norm Smith medal would make that well-known to all. Pushes forward hard to make his opponent accountable defensively, and when they take their eye off him, he so often pops up in front of the sticks. With three goals in the qualifying final, Brisbane are all too aware of that. Doesn't always finds heaps of the footy, but has his games where he does, and if he combines that with an impact on the scoreboard (like he did a few weeks ago), he'll be in the running come Saturday.
Smokies
Jeremy Cameron
Was easily the best-on for a quarter in the qualifying final. Then Darcy Gardiner was sent to him after the first and that was just about the last we heard from Jezza. But he's almost always the most dangerous man on the ground, and if the Lions give him an inch, he'll go a mile.
Gryan Miers
For all that was made of Dangerfield and Smith in last week's prelim, Miers' performance travelled very under-the-radar. Ended the night with 27 disposals, 14 score involvements, four goal assists, and a goal himself. It was Gryan Miers at his very best, but in all honesty, he's been playing around this level most of the year. If he turns in another similar performance, he'll be right in the mix.
Shaun Mannagh
Was voted the best afield in a losing VFL Grand Final just two years, can he go from Norm Goss medalist to Norm Smith medallist? He might be the youngest 28-year-old ever, but he looks like he's been playing at AFL-level for a decade. Similar to Gryan Miers in many ways; can find a lot of the pill, and uses it well to set up his teammates. Probably threatens the goals himself a bit more than Miers, and when accurate can have the Cats humming.
Tom Atkins
Another Cat that often doesn't get the credit he deserves, but he's exactly the type of player who could shine in a Grand Final. Was very important in the qualifying final, involved in a plethora of Cats' scores and putting the pressure on with his tackling.
Outsiders
Jack Martin
The Cats offered him a lifeline after his delisting from Carlton, and not even 12 months later he's playing in a Grand Final. Carlton, on the other hand, the less said the better right now. Wasn't given a spot in the side until round 13, but after some delicate managing of his body, he's become a real x-factor for Chris Scott. Has kicked a goal in each of the Cats' finals, just weeks after bagging four against Port Adelaide. Brisbane will have their hands full with plenty of other Geelong forwards, which might be enough for Martin to get loose and have a real impact.
Oisin Mullin
Had one of the most influential seven-disposal performances of all-time in the qualifying final, as he completely took Hugh McLuggage out of the contest. Unlikely just doing a tagging role is enough to win over the voters, but if he's able to repeat his efforts, and maybe get on the end of a couple goals, he could have a sneaky shot.
Tyson Stengle
If he pushes up and finds enough of the footy while impacting the scoreboard, it's certainly plausible. Despite no goals in the qualifying final, he has a decent record against the Lions, recording 10 coaches votes against Brisbane early last year.
Brisbane
Favourites
Will Ashcroft
Only once since the turn of the century has someone won back-to-back Norm Smith medals, and it was, of course, Dustin Martin (2019 and 2020). Ashcroft would enter elite company if he could pull it off, joining Martin and Andrew McLeod as the only players ever to do so. He's taken his game to another level in 2025, and will spend plenty of time in the midfield, so he'll no doubt be influential in the result. Can't put it past him.
Zac Bailey
Has become a genuine mid-forward in the absence of Lachie Neale, and has proven he can play the role better than anyone. Despite Hugh McLuggage's brilliance, Bailey was probably best-on to three-quarter time in Saturday's prelim. Had already accumulated 20 disposals and two goals heading into the final term. Only had the one disposal in the final quarter as the Lions blew the game away, but he laid the ground work for a monster win.
Josh Dunkley
Very familiar with playing on the biggest stage, as he enters his fifth Grand Final. In his past three he's been terrific, averaging 22.3 disposals and 6.7 tackles. Arguably Chris Fagan's most reliable player. One of the few going around that can completely take an opposition star out of the game, while also finding plenty of the Sherrin himself. If he plays to his quintessential best, he'll be a strong chance.
Dayne Zorko
There's hardly a more high-risk player in the AFL, and so he's every chance to either be the best player on the ground by a mile, or cost the Lions the game. His first half in the prelim was just about the only reason Collingwood even had a sniff of making it to the Grand Final. But the Lions have come to live-and-die by Zorko taking the game on out of the back half, and when it works, it's a thing of beauty. Had 35 disposals in the qualifying final, and while that might have overstated his impact just a little bit, it shows he finds the footy with ease.
Hugh McLuggage
Was completely shut out of the game by Oisin Mullin in the qualifying final, and it would appear that's the inevitable matchup for him again on Saturday. But he's bounced back well in the following two weeks, and made Steele Sidebottom look silly when the veteran Pie tried to run with him in the first quarter of the prelim. Mullin presents a much tougher challenge though, but McLuggage and the Lions should be better prepared for it this time around.
Smokies
Lachie Neale
Under normal circumstances, Lachie Neale would likely be the number one favourite for the Norm Smith medal. Was arguably the best on-baller in the qualifying final despite the heavy defeat, finishing with 32 disposals notwithstanding his night being cut short. But it's a miracle he's even set to play on Saturday, and there's no guarantee he'll see out a full game. You'd be one brave person to part with your hard-earned to take him for the Norm Smith, but if there was ever someone that could pull it off, it's him, right?
Cam Rayner
His role in the Grand Final, and the likely rematch with Mark O'Connor, is set to be one of the most fascinating aspects of the decider. Thanks to O'Connor, Rayner didn't get near it in the first half of the qualifying final, before a pair of late, controversial free kicks in the second quarter resulted in a couple of goals and got him going in the third. He was similarly quiet in the first half against Collingwood before another strong third term saw him beat Brayden Maynard. If he's worked out how to beat O'Connor, then he could easily be one of the Lions' most impactful players and perhaps change the result off his own boot.
Darcy Wilmot
One of the Lions' most unheralded stars, but arguably their most consistent. Triggers plenty of Brisbane attacks off half-back, finding the ball with ease and using it incredibly effectively. Has taken his game to another level this September, posting 24, 26 and 25 disposals so far in the finals, and unless Chris Scott decides the Cats need to put some time into him, he seems in line for another big game.
Harris Andrews
It's been 12 years since a key back took home Normie, with Brian Lake voted the best afield in 2013. But if there was ever a player to break the drought, it's Harris Andrews. Enters the decider in the form of his life, and should be licking his lips heading into Saturday, set to matchup on Shannon Neale, just three weeks after pocketing the Cats' tall forward. His chance will likely hinge on how many other players star, given voters have never been known to favour intercept marking and spoils.
Outsiders
Charlie Cameron
Hasn't had the best run-in heading into the decider. In 2025 he's averaged by far the fewest number of goals per game for his Brisbane tenure with 1.2, along with just seven goals from his last eight games, and two goals from three finals appearances. But over the last two weeks, he's played like a volcano ready to erupt. In the semi-final against Gold Coast he tied his season-high for disposals (14), and then set a new season-high against Collingwood in the prelim (15). Had he made the most of his chances on Saturday night, he could've been best-on (one goal from four shots). But if he is indeed able to capitalise on Saturday, you couldn't put the Norm Smith past him.
Kai Lohmann
A similar story to Cameron in many ways. After being the story of last year's Grand Final with four goals, he started 2025 on a six-game goalless drought, in part due to injury. 10 goals in his past five games reads okay, but he hasn't always been clean with his ball use, and has burned teammates at times. If he's able to fix that up though, and repeat his efforts from a year ago, he would have to be right in the running.
Logan Morris
There wouldn't be a better way for the 20-year-old to sign off on his breakout season. The Cats' defence will be undermanned without Tom Stewart, and if they can't sort themselves out in the absence of the five-time All-Australian, then the door is ajar for at least one Brisbane forward to get off the chain. Took home eight coaches votes for his five goals and eight marks in the Lions' 41-point win over the Cats in round 15, and that was with Stewart in the lineup.