THE GRAND Final is set, and it is the top two sides on the ladder, Brisbane and Melbourne, who will feature on the last day of the season. Separated by just 0.3 per cent on the ladder at the end of the home and away season, the Lions and Demons beat challengers Adelaide and North Melbourne respectively in a tough preliminary final weekend.

Each week Gemma Bastiani will look at a key talking point in each game in this handy wrap up, just in case you missed it.

All it takes is a quarter

Adelaide's defence started well and were making life particularly difficult for the Lions early on Friday night, even rebounding out of defence with an ease not seen against Brisbane this season. But the home side got going in the second quarter, piling on four goals to none in that term, which ultimately proved the difference. From there, even when the Crows did get going, they were simply too far back to realistically challenge for the win. In the process, Jesse Wardlaw broke the record for most goals kicked in an AFLW season, bringing up her season tally to 22, while both Courtney Hodder and Dakota Davidson proved too hard to contain, kicking a couple of goals each.

Shut down Ebony, shut down Adelaide's drive

For the first time since 2018, Ebony Marinoff was held to fewer than 20 disposals over three consecutive games, and it went a long way to Adelaide's spluttering exit from finals. Throughout the home and away season, Marinoff averaged 26.5 disposals at 54.3 per cent efficiency, 5.6 inside 50s and 5.1 clearances. But those numbers dropped significantly during the finals to 15.7 disposals at 25.5 per cent efficiency, 0.7 inside 50s and three clearances. The Crows really struggled to play their dominant game style without the drive of their midfield leader and while Adelaide has stars across the park, limiting Marinoff's impact goes a long way to beating them.

Persistence is key

Throughout the season and especially in the finals series, Melbourne has proven that its willingness to dig in when things are tough and turn things around is a winning attitude. Against North Melbourne, the Demons never really looked in control, but came away with a 17-point victory and second Grand Final berth in a single calendar year. Throughout the third quarter as the Kangaroos pressed, sending the ball forward a whopping 18 times, the Demons' stuck fat, worked hard with and for one another and limited the damage to a measly two points. Then, once they won back momentum, they made it count on the scoreboard. Melbourne's ability to weather the storm then hit back is almost unmatched this season, and bodes well for Sunday's Grand Final.

From the clouds

North Melbourne has had one of the toughest seasons in the competition. After significant player turnover in the shortest off-season in AFLW history, the Roos debuted eight players, played every fellow finalist - something no other team had to do - and reached a preliminary final from eighth position. They are a side who have shown impressive growth as the season has progressed, and challenged the best teams in the competition. While they will be hurting right now, the Kangaroos will be better for this season, will hit 2023 with added experience, and will have steeled themselves to go one better.