MCG historians pick the 14 greatest AFL/VFL Grand Finals
Footy historians have trawled through the 100-plus AFL/VFL Grand Finals played at the MCG to pick the cream of the crop. Have your say on their list.
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From Alex Jesaulenko and Leo Barry’s screamers to Gary Ablett Snr’s nine-goal haul, devastating draws to goal-line smothers and decisive toe-pokes – AFL/VFL history is littered with great Grand Final moments.
Melbourne Cricket Club historians Trevor Ruddell and David Studham – who boast a combined 48 years in the MCC Library – have trawled through more than 100 AFL/VFL Grand Finals played at the MCG to select the 14 they rate the highest.
They’ve done so in celebration of the MCG’s 170th anniversary, and the MCC Library’s 150th.
Mr Ruddell said influential footy writer J.J. Healy’s description of the classic 1907 granny between Carlton and South Melbourne was their guide.
“He regarded it as … ‘a fast, determined, and extremely skilful game, (that) was so evenly fought-out that right up to the final bell, the outcome was in doubt’,” Mr Ruddell said.
Here are their picks for the most iconic Grand Finals of all time, in chronological order.
Do you agree with this list? Have your say below.
1. 1907 Grand Final
Carlton (6.14.50) def. South Melbourne (6.9.45), attendance: 45,477
“J.J. Healy regarded it as the ‘finest final contest that has been played since the league was established. From start to finish it was a fast, determined, and extremely skilful game, and it was so evenly fought-out that right up to the final bell, the outcome was in doubt’,” Mr Ruddell said.
2. 1937 Grand Final
Geelong (18.14.122) def. Collingwood (12.18.90), attendance: 88,540
This match was all tied up at three-quarter time, after which Geelong booted six goals and six behinds to Collingwood’s one goal, four behinds to run over the top of the Pies and win by 32 points.
“(This was a great game) in terms of skill, the play, the excitement. And the way Geelong was able to limit Collingwood’s scoring made their performance particularly impressive,” Mr Ruddell said.
3. 1948 Grand Final
Melbourne (10.9.69) drew with Essendon (7.27.69), attendance: 86,198
“This was not the most skilful game,” Mr Ruddell said. “But the excitement of it (lands it on this list) – it really was a game Essendon should have won.
“But through Melbourne’s play and some ill fortune for Essendon, Melbourne managed to tie the game in time-on and win the following week (in a replay),”
4. 1966 Grand Final
St Kilda (10.14.74) def. Collingwood (10.13.73), attendance: 102,055
“This is St Kilda’s only premiership, and there was one point separating both teams,” Mr Ruddell said.
“It’s become almost folkloric in the St Kilda Football Club. Jules Feldmann and Russell Holmesby wrote a book on the history on the call called ‘The Point of It All’.”
The match was neck-and-neck from start to finish, with the margin not exceeding four points at each quarter break.
5. 1967 Grand Final
Richmond (16.18.114) def. Geelong (15.15.105), attendance: 109,396
“Right up until the siren, the outcome was in doubt,” Mr Ruddell said, noting Richmond led by two at the final break before running home nine-point winners.
“It was a highly skilled game. Royce Hart at centre-half forward took one of the great Grand Final marks.
“There was also a controversial element, with Fred Swift’s mark on the goal line preventing a Geelong goal in the last quarter. Geelong supporters would say it’s over the goal line – it’s a bit like Wayne Harmes (on the boundary line in Carlton’s 1979 Grand Final win).”
6. 1970 Grand Final
Carlton (17.9.111) def. Collingwood (14.17.101), attendance: 121,696
“This is a classic. Books have been written about this Grand Final, in which Carlton came from behind to defeat Collingwood,” Mr Ruddell said.
“Not only do you have Alex Jesaulenko’s mark with the ‘Jesaulenko, you beauty!’ commentary, you’ve also got the instruction from Ron Barassi to the Carlton team to handball. And you’ve got the reserve, Ted Hopkins who was brought on to the ground and kicked four goals to be the top goal kicker for Carlton and help invigorate the Carlton comeback.”
The biggest VFL/AFL crowd in history, 121,696 people, packed the MCG for this blockbuster.
7. 1977 Grand Final
Collingwood (10.16.76) drew with North Melbourne (9.22.76), attendance: 108224
“Again, a classic. Whenever Channel 7 aired the Grand Final Marathon, they would always play the last quarter of this match,” Mr Ruddell said.
“Deep in time-on, (Collingwood’s) Billy Picken kicked to Ross ‘Twiggy’ Dunne, who kicked a classic goal to tie the match.”
North Melbourne defeated Collingwood by 27 points in the replay the following week.
8. 1989 Grand Final
Hawthorn (21.18.144) def. Geelong (21.12.138), attendance: 94,796
“There’s an iconic start to this game, where you had Dermott Brereton being flattened off the ball at the opening ball up, then pulling himself together in that quarter, refusing to go off the ground and slotting through an inspirational goal, despite his obvious discomfort,” Mr Ruddell said.
“Then, after Hawthorn got a pretty healthy 40-point lead at the end of the first quarter, they were still leading by 37 at halftime and 36 at three-quarter time, before Geelong came back in the final quarter and almost snatched the game.
“Of course, Gary Ablett Snr was the absolute star of that match, with a then-record nine goals. It’s a phenomenal effort and he was a deserved Norm Smith medallist.”
9. 2002 Grand Final
Brisbane Lions (10.15.75) def. Collingwood (9.12.66), attendance: 91,817
“For more than a decade, there were a number of blowouts in Grand Finals. So it was a bit of a relief to have a tight one – and it was tight all day,” Mr Ruddell said.
“Collingwood led by six point at quarter time, Brisbane by eight at half time and four at three-quarter time.
“There was a bit of controversy in the last quarter – Anthony Rocca kicked what he thought was a goal, but was deemed by the goal umpire to be a point. It might have been a different story (if it was a goal).”
A valiant Nathan Buckley took home the Norm Smith medal.
10. 2005 Grand Final
Sydney (8.10.58) def. West Coast (7.12.54), attendance: 91,828
“This was a tight match all day – Sydney led by two, 20 and two (at the breaks) and four at full time,” Mr Ruddell said.
“The Leo Barry mark, deep in time-on, is one of the classic marks in a Grand Final – right up there with Royce Hart and Alex Jesaulenko. It probably did save the match for Sydney.”
The Swans broke a 72-year premiership drought with the win.
11. 2006 Grand Final
West Coast (12.13.85) def. Sydney (12.12.84), attendance: 97,431
“West Coast and Sydney developed a rivalry (and this result) was indicative of just how tightly matched those teams were,” Mr Ruddell said.
“West Coast led at every break – by 16, 25 and 11 – but they just managed to get up. It was an immensely skilled game.”
12. 2009 Grand Final
Geelong (12.8.80) def. St Kilda (9.14.68), attendance: 99,251
“That was one of the classic all-time teams, that Geelong side,” Mr Ruddell said.
“They were a very clever team, and there was a bit of steel in that team.”
Matthew Scarlett’s inventive “toe-poke” in the centre of the MCG to Gary Ablett Jnr, who kicked long to the goalsquare, where Travis Varcoe handballed to Paul Chapman who goaled, effectively won the game for the Cats, he said.
13. 2010 Grand Final
Collingwood (9.14.68) draw with St Kilda (10.8.68), attendance: 100,016
Collingwood led at every change, including by 24 points at halftime, before St Kilda pegged them back ahead of a dramatic finish.
“St Kilda had their chances to snatch the game in time-on – poor old Stephen Milne (had the ball bounce away from him on the goal line),” Mr Ruddell said.
“It was really memorable. Then, the Heath Shaw smother (on Nick Riewoldt in the goalsquare) summed up both teams in the replay the next week. Collingwood dominated St Kilda all day (to win by 56 points).”
14. 2018 Grand Final
West Coast (11.13.79) def. Collingwood (11.8.74), attendance: 100,022
“Collingwood supporters dared to believe they could hold on. But no, Liam Ryan took that classic mark in the last quarter, kicked it to Dom Sheed who kicked a clutch goal to put West Coast in front,” Mr Ruddell said.
“Who would win was it was in doubt until the final siren. Very tense, a brilliant match.”
The MCC Library is open to MCC members on all match days, from the opening of the members’ gates, and on non-match days by appointment. Fans can pick up Fact Sheets on the teams playing that day and ask the librarians questions. Visit: mcc.org.au/mcc-reserve/mcc-library
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