Our photographer went behind closed doors throughout the inaugural AFLW Grand Final to capture the raw emotion on players and staff from beginning to end.
All photos are by Brad Walker Photography.
Saturday 25 March 2017
Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
09:55am: Clouds overshadow Metricon Stadium ahead of a big day of football.
10:01am: Crowds wait patiently for the gates to open.
10:05am: Megan Washington undergoes a soundcheck before gates open.
10:36am: Assistant Coach Daniel Merrett takes a moment to look across the oval before the team arrives.
10:50am: Captain Emma Zielke looks on as the team unload from the bus.
10:51am: The team changerooms ready to go.
10:53am: Jade Ransfield and Delissa Kimmince look across the oval.
10:55am: Support team set-up GPS equipment pre-game.
10:56am: Assistant Coach Dan Merrett, Assistant Coach David Lake and Women's CEO Breeanna Brock take a moment.
10:57am: Sam Virgo stretches pre-game.
10:57am: Bre Koenen and Jessica Wuetschner prepare ahead of the game.
11:04am: Bre Koenen with Coach Craig Starcevich chat pre-game.
11:07am: Players prepare in the locker rooms pre-game.
11:07am: Players prepare in the locker rooms pre-game.
11:10am: Kaitlyn Ashmore has her hair braided pre-game.
11:11am: Megan Hunt speaks with Assistant Coach David Lake pre-game
11:15am: Senior Coach Craig Starcevich speaks with Sharni Webb.
11:17am: Players prepare in the rooms.
11:22am: Jamie Stanton takes a moment in the rooms.
11:26am: Assistant Coach Brent Staker and Senior Coach Craig Starcevich prepare pre-game.
11:28am: Game plan and timings in the rooms.
11:30am: Fans run through as gates open.
11:39am: Sam Virgo walks back down the race.
11:47am: Players warm-up in the kick room pre-game.
11:58am: Tahlia Randall and Sam Virgo embrace.
12:01pm: Alexandra Anderson during inside warm-up.
12:05pm: Sabrina Frederick-Traub smiles during main warm-up.
12:06pm: Fans in the crowd pre-game.
12:10pm: Alexandra Anderson and Jamie Stanton during main warm-up.
12:25pm: Players exit the ground following main warm-up.
12:27pm: Emma Zielke looks on in the rooms.
12:27pm: Jessica Wuetschner speaks with Assistant Coach Brent Staker pre-game.
12:31pm: Players prepare in the rooms pre-game.
12:31pm: Kaitlyn Ashmore warms up in the rooms pre-game.
12:35pm: Players prepare in the rooms.
12:39pm: Senior Coach Craig Starcevich addresses the playing group for the final time pre-game.
12:40pm: The crowd at Metricon Stadium.
12:41pm: Megan Washington performs pre-game.
12:41pm: The inaugural AFL Women's Premiership Cup.
12:55pm: The first touch of the inaugural AFL Women's Grand Final.
1/4: Jessica Wuetschner with the ball.
1/4: Fans cheer on the Brisbane Lions women's team from the stands.
1:40pm: The players walk down the race at half time.
1:42pm: Tayla Harris looks on during half time.
1:42pm: Nic Hildebrand, Kaitlyn Ashmore and Sharni Webb at half time.
1:43pm: Shannon Campbell takes a moment during half time.
1:55pm: Players head back to the field for the final half.
1:56pm: Assistant Coach Daniel Merrett walks across the oval.
1:59pm: The team huddle to begin the final term.
3/4: Nic Hildebrand runs with the ball.
2:14pm: Sabrina Frederick-Traub celebrates a goal with team mates in the third quarter.
2:14pm: Sabrina Frederick-Traub and Kate McCarthy celebrate a goal in the third quarter.
2:17pm: Bre Koenen is assisted from the field with an injury.
2:19pm: Nic Hildebrand kicks the ball to a team mate.
2:20pm: Players check on Tayla Harris after taking a pack mark.
2:22pm: Brittany Gibson kicks the ball in our forward pocket in the third quarter.
2:25pm: Tayla Harris looks on at 3/4 time.
2:27pm: Craig Starcevich addresses the team during the final break.
2:28pm: Players look on during the final break.
2:33pm: Emily Bates runs with the ball in the final quarter.
2:35pm: Assistant Coach Daniel Merrett on the sidelines.
2:39pm: Emily Bates takes a mark during the final term.
2:44pm: Shannon Campbell on the ground in the final term.
2:50pm: Players as the final siren sounds.
2:50pm: Jessica Wuetschner reacts as the final siren is sounded.
2:51pm: Bre Koenen and Jamie Stantion embrace after the game.
2:51pm: Nic Hildebrand reacts after the final siren.
2:54pm: Kate McCarthy, Jamie Stanton and Shannon Campbell react following the siren.
2:56pm: Brisbane Lions Women's CEO Breeanna Brock embraces Tahlia Randall.
2:58pm: Bre Koenen looks on during the post-match presentation.
2:59pm: Tayla Harris looks on during the post-match presentation.
2:59pm: Players react after the siren.
3:01pm: Women's CEO Breeanna Brock following the game.
3:02pm: Players react on field following the game.
3:02pm: Coach Craig Starcevich looks on during the post-match presentation.
3:04pm: Captain Emma Zielke speaks on stage.
3:05pm: Players on field following the game.
3:06pm: Sam Virgo thanks fans as she exists the field.
3:06pm: Fans congratulate the players as they exit the field.
