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AFL Grand Final First Goalscorer- Which player kicks the first goal in the AFL Grand Final?

Adam Cusworth

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Last updated: Sun 21 Sep 2025 21:27

Adam Cusworth 21 Sep 2025

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Jeremy Cameron is the top pick for first goal scorer, supported by strong season stats.
Midfielders have scored the first Grand Final goal in 10 of the last 15 years.
Recommended staking plan: 4 units Cameron, 3 Bailey, 2 Dempsey, 1 Dunkley.

Expired

Charlie Cameron kicked the first goal in the Qualifying Final between Geelong and Brisbane (Getty Images)

AFL Grand Final First Goal Scorer Preview

AFL Grand Final First Goal Scorer Preview
Geelong vs Brisbane 2025 Leading Goalscorers
Geelong Cats vs Brisbane Lions First Goalscorers Head to Head
Geelong Cats First Goalscorers
Brisbane Lions First Goalscorers
Previous Grand Final First Goalscorers
AFL Grand Final First Goalscorer- Best Bets

Who will set the scene in the AFL Grand Final by snagging the much sought after first goal?

Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron is favourite in the First Goalscorer market with dabble at the $7.50 quote, ahead of Logan Morris, who is a $10.50 chance. Tyson Stengle, Patrick Dangerfield, Cam Rayner, Zac Bailey, Shannon Neale, Kai Lohmann, Shaun Mannagh and Charlie Cameron are all in the $13-$16 bracket.

Finding the first goalscorer in any match really is a lottery, but for those looking for an edge based on stats, the following might help.

Geelong vs Brisbane 2025 Leading Goalscorers

Geelong

Jeremy Cameron 88

Shannon Neale 43

Tyson Stengle 34

Ollie Dempsey 31

Shaun Mannagh 30

Patrick Dangerfield 30

Brisbane

Logan Morris 52

Zac Bailey 39

Cam Rayner 35

Charlie Cameron 28

Eric Hipwood 25

Callum Ah Chee 24

Geelong Cats vs Brisbane Lions First Goalscorers Head to Head

Brisbane got off to a flyer in the Round 15 match when winning in Geelong, while Charlie Cameron got the Lions off to a good start in the Qualifying Final before Geelong took over. He has featured early in recent contests, as well as Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron. Cam Rayner has also had an impact for the Lions, as has Oliver Dempsey for the Cats,.

QF 2025- Charlie Cameron (Brisbane), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong), Oliver Dempsey (Geelong), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)
R15 2025 – Levi Ashcroft, Kai Lohmann, Darcy Wilmot, Cam Rayner (all Brisbane)
R7, 2025 – Oliver Henry (Geelong), Oliver Dempsey (Geelong), Charlie Cameron (Brisbane), Cam Rayner (Brisbane)

Geelong Cats First Goalscorers

Geelong conceded the first three goals in the Preiliminary Final before Patrick Dangerfield snagged a confidence booster just before quarter time. Jeremy Cameron has hit the board early in recent matches.

PF, 2025 – Mitch Lewis, Jack Ginnivan, Conor Nash (all Hawthorn), Patrick Dangerfield
QF, 2025 – Charlie Cameron (Brisbane), Jeremy Cameron, Oliver Dempsey, Jeremy Cameron
R24, 2025 – Jeremy Cameron, Jack Bowes, Tom Lynch (Richmond), Shaun Mannagh

Brisbane Lions First Goalscorers

Brisbane have scored the first goal just once in their past three matches with Charlie Cameron scoring the first against Geelong. Logan Morris has had early scoreboard impact in his past two matches.

PF, 2025 – Mason Cox (Collingwood), Josh Dunkley, Zac Bailey, Logan Morris
SF, 2025 – Ben King (Gold Coast), Noah Anderson (Gold Coast), Logan Morris, Callum Ah-Chee
QF 2025- Charlie Cameron, Jeremy Cameron (Geelong), Oliver Dempsey (Geelong), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)

Previous Grand Final First Goalscorers

Brisbane conceded the first goal in the past two Grand Finals, while Tom Hawkins opened Geelong’s account in 2023. An interesting stat is that in the past 15 seasons, the first goal in the Grand Final has come from a midfielder on 10 occasions and a ruckman once (Darren Jolly 2010). Forwards have broken through five times, including Jeremy Cameron when he played for GWS against Richmond in the 2019 Grand Final.

2024- Will Hayward (Sydney)
2023- Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
2022- Tom Hawkins (Geelong)

AFL Grand Final First Goalscorer- Best Bets

Take a staking plan into this one with a 4,3,2 and 1 unit on the following.

Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)- While history is surprisingly against forwards, Jeremy Cameron knows how to find the goals with 88 for the season and has featured regularly early on for his side this year. He kicked the first goal in the 2019 Grand Final and Geelong’s first in their recent matchup against Brisbane in the Qualifying Final.

Zac Bailey (Brisbane)- Given the success of those that play further up the ground in recent Grand Finals when it comes to kicking the first goal, Zac Bailey from Brisbane is definitely one to consider. He kicked the Lions first goal in the 2023 Grand Final and had two of their first three.

Ollie Dempsey (Geelong)- The 2024 Rising Star winner was all over the Lions in the Qualifying Final with three goals and 25 disposals, while he has featured early in two of the past three head to head matches between the two sides.

Josh Dunkley (Brisbane) - For those keen on an out and out roughie, Josh Dunkley is your man. Not known for his goalkicking prowess, the Lion has a great record against Geelong on the disposals front and with plenty of attention to be on the likes of Cam Rayner and Hugh McCluggage, he is one that can bob up again after he kicked Brisbane’s first against Collingwood last weekend.

Verdict

AFL Grand Final- First Goalscorer

Take a 4, 3, 2, 1 staking plan for Jeremy Cameron, Zac Bailey, Oliie Dempsey and Josh Dunkley

Jeremy Cameron

First Goalscorer

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Zac Bailey

First Goalscorer

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Ollie Dempsey

First Goalscorer

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Josh Dunkley

First Goalscorer

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One of Australia's top tipsters, Adam provides tips for horse racing every day of the week as well as AFL previews. He is one of the top ranked experts on the Great Tip Off each month and has featured on Blackbook, Punters, Racingbase and many more.

Based in Melbourne, Adam is an avid sporting fan that loves a day at the MCG to follow his team, Hawthorn, in the AFL and the Aussies in the cricket, while he doesn't mind a day out at Moonee Valley, Flemington and Caulfield from time to time.