3 minute read

Midfielder Sophie Conway says Brisbane took valuable learnings from their round one belting by North Melbourne and are ready for the Roos in the grand final.

Gun Brisbane midfielder Sophie Conway was relatively quiet, statistically speaking, in Saturday night's 18-point AFLW preliminary final win over Adelaide.

But she impacted just when the Lions desperately needed a spark.

Midway through the third quarter, Crows fullback Chelsea Biddell took an intercept grab inside her defensive goalsquare, before deviating ever so slightly off her mark.

That's when Conway pounced, applying a ferocious tackle on the unsuspecting Biddell, which ended in a goal to Jade Ellenger, giving the Lions their first lead of the game.

From that moment on, the reigning premiers didn't look back.

"It's all about taking our moments," said Conway, who had 12 touches and the biggest tackle of the evening to help set up a grand final date with North Melbourne at Ikon Park on Saturday night.

"And I felt like that was my moment to take and get the group going.

"I saw that she (Biddell) shifted off her mark a tiny bit, I heard the play-on call and I pounced.

"Jade was active and in the right place at the right time."

The win was the Lions' sixth consecutive against the Crows, setting up a rematch of last year's grand final against the Kangaroos.

North lost that 2023 decider by 17 points but are undefeated this season, beginning their flawless campaign with a 44-point trouncing of Brisbane in the opening round.

"They're a phenomenal team across all lines, personnel-wise," said Conway, who shrugged off a shoulder scare on the eve of the finals to again take her place in the Lions' onball engine room.

"We learnt a lot from when we played them in round one.

"We've been able to clean up a few areas and get our brand going.

"I think it's going to be an unbelievable game.

"I really can't wait to go up against them again, especially after what we dished out in round one."

Brisbane will be underdogs in their bid to become the first club to win AFL and AFLW flags in the same year, but Conway senses her team won't be short of determination or desire.

"I feel we've got a really steely group that wants to make each other great and succeed," the 2023 All-Australian said.

"Whatever happens, I'm just really proud of how the group's going.

"I'm really excited for us to be in this position and get this opportunity to play in another grand final.

"It's pretty amazing."