After another unforgettable season, we sit together in the Roar Deal studios for the very last time in 2025 to review the highs, the lows, and all that is still to come. It's been an emotional rollercoaster of a weekend to close out the Roar Deal's 2025, with the joy of Friday night's event with Chris Fagan quickly being replaced with disappointment after an emphatic AFLW Grand Final loss to North Melbourne.Despite the sadness of that final chapter, 2025 has given us so much to remember. Before we sail off into the Christmas holidays, we take a moment to reflect on all that the ride has been. Also this week:-Recapping our backstage conversation with Chris & Ursula Fagan-A look back at our 2025 pre-season predictions-The path ahead for the Roar Deal into 2026And much more!
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#139: Seven Grand Finals
Another season, another grand final - it seems to be the formula for the Lions at the moment, as the golden days continue. Following a dominant prelim final win over Carlton, the Lions women are into their fourth straight grand final, looking to make amends for last year’s loss and go 2-1 up in what is now a trilogy of North Melbourne/Brisbane deciders.It’s about as tough an ask as there is in sports at the moment though, but this Lions group have been setting themselves for it for twelve months now, as they look to make 2025 the perfect year.Also this week:-Storms and spilt tea nearly derail the podcast-The men’s draft is done with four new Lions joining the club-Powerhouse week is hereAnd much more!
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#138: A Disrespectful Draw
With seven years of finals, three grand finals, and two premierships, the Lions have been the most exciting and successful team of the 2020’s by far in every possible metric, setting attendance and ratings records across the country along the way too with their exciting and dynamic style of footy.And now, with the release of the 2026 fixture, we get our reward: an 11:30am clash with the Saints, a trip out to the Barossa for another blockbuster against North Melbourne, and just the three prime time fixtures in the first chunk of the season, compared to the likes of Carlton who have seven.This week on the Roar Deal, we’re trying to figure out what we’ve done to put the AFL’s fixturing department offside to such an enormous extent, while placing a bulk sunscreen order to get us through all of next year’s day games.Also this week:-We preview the massive AFLW Prelim Final against Carlton-We’re only a couple of days away from the 2025 AFL Draft-The Lions are now $1 million richerAnd much more!
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#137: Two Wins To Go
For the sixth season in a row, the Lions women are off to the prelim final after another strong away win over the Demons down in Melbourne. Remarkably, when combined with the men’s team, it means that the Lions have featured on prelim final weekend in the last nine consecutive seasons across both the AFL & AFLW.  The success keeps on flowing, with the ultimate glory now only two more wins away for the women, four of who also had the honour of being named in the AFLW All-Australian squad in the last week. Meanwhile, as we prepare for the men’s 2026 fixture to drop, the news is out about a September shake-up in the AFL. Wildcard round is here, but maybe not to the widespread acclaim the AFL had hoped for.Also this week:-Mike takes us inside the AFLW All Australian selection meeting-We explore the premiership journeys of Darcy Fort, Zac Bailey and Ryan Lester-How you can follow along with Dom’s running journeyAnd much more!
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#136: The Road To Redemption
Two months ago, the men began their premiership challenge from third on the ladder. Now, the Lions women prepare to do exactly the same, with a strong - if inaccurate - win over Collingwood setting up a qualifying final clash against the Demons, with hopes of a November that ends with just as much joy as September did.It’s the ninth time in ten seasons that the Lions women have made the finals, hunting a fourth-straight grand final and a third premiership. Today on the Roar Deal, we’ll preview the massive clash against Melbourne, with the path to completing the year of dreams for Brisbane sporting teams now paved in front of us.Also this week:-Some more Irish blood with Gaelic star Ben Murphy joining the Lions -A big departure with Andrew Crowell leaving the club -We talk about Charlie Cameron, Darcy Gardiner and Harris Andrews as our 2025 Premiership team rundown continues And much more!
Australia