Glenn McFarlane and Jon Ralph rank every Grand Final since 2001
FROM draws to drought breakers, AFL Grand Final day continues to provide amazing moments. Our experts rank every decider this century.
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IT’S the ultimate tribute to 21st century footy.
Herald Sun football reporters Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane have worked through every jaw-dropping, fist-pumping moment of the past 17 seasons — from 2001 to 2016.
Today, they look at the best and worst Grand Finals from 2001 to 2016.
Also, stay tuned throughout the week as Ralphy and Macca rate, dud deals and more — including their ultimate starting 22.
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THE BEST AND WORST OF THE GRAND FINALS, 2001 to 2016
1. THE LAST DRAW, 2010
Collingwood 9.14 (68) drew with St Kilda 10.8 (68)
The ‘hamburger with the lot’ Grand Final — it had everything. The highlights are etched in folklore — Lenny Hayes’ long goal; Brendon Goddard’s towering mark/goal; Nick Maxwell’s full-stretch dive to save a goal and his instinctive mark and play on late in the game; and most telling of all, the bounce of the ball past Stephen Milne for the behind that levelled the scores. The last one still haunts Saints fans. This was the third — and final — Grand Final draw.
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2. DOG DAY AFTERNOON, 2016
Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89) d Sydney 10.7 (67)
Even the Brothers Grimm couldn’t have conjured a fairytale as captivating as the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 flag. So often portrayed as ugly ducklings, the Bulldogs overcame significant odds to break a 62-year premiership drought. They lost key personnel; won two finals interstate; and were the first team to win the flag from seventh. There was Dale Morris’ game-defining tackle on Lance Franklin; Tom Boyd 60m last-quarter goal; Jason Johannisen’s hard-running; the tears of long-suffering fans; and Luke Beveridge’s post-game gesture in handing his Jock McHale Medal to injured skipper Bob Murphy.
3. LONGEST DROUGHT BREAKS, 2005
Sydney 8.10 (58) d West Coast 7.12 (54)
A nail-bitting, bone-jarring classic that ended the longest premiership drought in football history. What this game lacked in aesthetics, it made up for in tension. The Swans held sway early before the Chris Judd-inspired Eagles fought back magnificently. When Dean Cox kicked long in the dying seconds, it looked as if West Coast might pinch the game. Enter Leo Barry, who came in from the side to take the most significant mark in Grand Final history, sealing the Swans’ first flag in 72 years.
4. TOE-POKE TRIUMPH, 2009
Geelong 12.8 (80) d St Kilda 9.14 (68)
Sometimes simple acts of ingenuity can change the course of history. With scores level and time running out, Zac Dawson spoiled a mark to Gary Ablett in the middle of the ground and the Saints looked like stealing the ball away. Matthew Scarlett chose to give the Sherrin a toe-poke rather than pick it up. It landed in Ablett’s arms and he launched the ball long into attack. The ball came off a pack and Travis Varcoe handballed to Paul Chapman who snapped the most important goal of his career. It was spine-tingling stuff.
5. SPEED THRILLS, 2012
Sydney 14.7 (91) d Hawthorn 11.15 (81)
Hawthorn dominated the outset, with four goals to one, but Sydney fought their way back with a six-goal to nil second term. It was a thrilling encounter, with the high-octane pace of the game highlighted by a sprint down the wing from Lewis Jetta with Cyril Rioli chasing. The Swans led by four points with 40 seconds remaining before a snapped shot from Nick Malceski provided the sealing goal. Adding to the pain for the Hawks was the fact that Norm Smith Medallist Ryan O’Keefe had wanted to join the club in the 2008 trade period.
6. THE POINT OF IT ALL, 2006
West Coast 12.13 (85) d Sydney 12.12 (84)
Another Eagles-Swans arm-wrestle — the fifth consecutive contest decided by less than a goal. Not the most attractive of contests but it had hearts pumping and blood pressure rising. Who could forget the desperate Daniel Chick smother? Or Andrew Embley’s dominance? It was the first one-point game since the 1966 Grand Final. It also led to a change following West Coast’s over-the-top behaviour on the podium leading to clubs being more respectful.
7. PIES’ TEARS, 2002
Brisbane Lions 10.15 (75) d Collingwood 9.12 (66)
Collingwood was massive underdogs but led superbly by Nathan Buckley almost pinched the match. There is still debate over whether Anthony Rocca’s last quarter “behind” was actually a goal (he insists it was), or who was better out of Nathan Buckley and Michael Voss? A late goal from Jason Akermanis proved the telling moment for the Lions. The tears from Mick Malthouse and Paul Licuria were as stark as the celebrations from the back-to-back Lions.
8. THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, 2008
Hawthorn 18.7 (115) d Geelong 11.23 (89)
One of the big Grand Final boilovers as Geelong kicked itself out of the contest and Hawthorn came of age. So many noteworthy moments — Alastair Clarkson’s “Kill the Shark” pre-game address; Cam Mooney’s halftime miss; Stuart Dew and Cyril Rioli’s third term cameos; Luke Hodge’s courage in playing with a rib injury to win his first Norm Smith Medal; and Shane Crawford’s “That’s What I’m Talking About” comment as he received his long-awaited premiership medal. A cracking contest.
9. IF IT BLEEDS, YOU CAN KILL IT, 2001
Brisbane Lions 15.18 (108) d Essendon 12.10 (82)
Leigh Matthews made his Brisbane Lions team believe it could stop Essendon’s dominance. All of that panned out beautifully on Grand Final day as the Lions overran the tired and banged-up Bombers with a stunning second half. It was the Lions’ 16th consecutive win. Shaun Hart won the medal, James Hird played hurt and the clinically efficient Lions were only just getting warm.
10. CATS GET THE CREAM ... AGAIN, 2011
Geelong 18.11 (119) d Collingwood 12.9 (81)
Many people wrote Geelong off after Mark Thompson quit as coach in late 2010. But new coach Chris Scott was able to rejuvenate the group in 2011 to the point where they won the club’s third flag in five seasons. This was a seriously good contest until the last quarter blowout — only seven points separated the teams at the last change. But in Mick Malthouse’s last game as coach, the Magpies ran out of steam, and the likes of Jimmy Bartel, coming-of-age forward Tom Hawkins and Steve Johnson (four goals) sealed the deal.
11. PORT WINS, NO CHOKE, 2004
Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) d Brisbane Lions 10.13 (73)
Port Adelaide had been accused of being chokers, squandering consecutive top spots in 2002 and 2003. But after the Lions were forced to play a “home”prelim at the MCG, the Power were fresher and able to overpower them in the second half, denying Matthews’ team what would have been a fourth successive flag. The first non-Victorian Grand Final saw Byron Pickett win the medal, Mark Williams giving a mock choking gesture with his tie and Port Adelaide securing its first AFL premiership.
12. BACK TO THE FUTURE, 2013
Hawthorn 11.11 (77) d Fremantle 8.14 (62)
Defenders aren’t meant to win Norm Smith Medals in modern football. But Brian Lake, who was sinking beers in the MCG car park on Grand Final day a year earlier, played the game of his life against the Dockers in 2013. So, too, did forward Jack Gunston, who kicked four of his team’s nine goals. Fremantle missed some easy shots in the third term which cost them dearly. The Hawks won redemption from the disappointment of the year before. There would be more joy to come.
13. DELICIOUSLY CYRIL, 2015
Hawthorn 16.11 (107) d West Coast 8.13 (61)
There wasn’t a lot to like about this game. West Coast’s web unravelled from the start and some of their stars melted under the Hawks’ heat. The saving grace was the sublime performance from Cyril Rioli, who emulated his uncles Maurice Rioli and Michael Long as Norm Smith Medal winners, and the fact that Alastair Clarkson’s Hawks became the second side of the 21st century to win three consecutive flags.
14. BLACK DAY FOR MAGPIES, 2003
Brisbane Lions 20.14 (134) d Collingwood 12.12 (84)
Collingwood went in as favourites after beating Brisbane in the first final. But having lost Anthony Rocca to suspension, the Magpies were intimidated by the might of the Lions, who despite massive injury concerns, dominated on the day. More vials of painkillers were ordered for the Lions’ rooms than ever before, but the only pain at game’s end was Collingwood’s. Simon Black rounded out his incredible CV with a record 39 Grand Final disposals.
15. GREATEST MARGIN OF ALL, 2007
Geelong 24.19 (163) d Port Adelaide 6.8 (44)
Stinker of a game, unless you barrack for Geelong, but elevated over a few others for the sake of history. This match provided a 119-point blue-and-whitewash, the greatest margin in Grand Final history. Port Adelaide’s embarrassment was only saved by the outpouring of emotion at Geelong’s first flag in 44 years. The tears flowed, the two Ablett brothers celebrated with their father, and Steve Johnson provided the redemption story after being suspended by the club at the start of the season.
16. PIES’ BIGGEST FLAG WIN, 2010 replay
Collingwood 16.12 (108) d St Kilda 7.10 (52)
Two things stand out. Heath Shaw’s ‘smother of the millennium’, an extraordinary run down on an unsuspecting Nick Riewoldt in the goal square in the opening term, and Collingwood winning its first flag in 20 years. The Saints were sluggish; the Magpies were switched on, with Scott Pendlebury making up for a poor performance the week before when he was ill, by winning the Norm Smith Medal.
17. KISS THIS THING GOODBYE, 2014
Hawthorn 21.11 (137) d Sydney 11.8 (74)
The script couldn’t have been more appetising; the game couldn’t have been less palatable. Lance Franklin took on his former club Hawthorn in what was meant to be a mouth-watering contest. But while Buddy kicked four goals and was his team’s best player, the game proved a fizzer. Luke Hodge won a second Norm Smith, and provided one of the most memorable moments of a forgettable match when he landed a mock kiss on Franklin’s cheek.
Originally published as Glenn McFarlane and Jon Ralph rank every Grand Final since 2001
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