Kreuzer Cup, Scully Scuffle and Deledio Duel: The infamous battles for bottom place in years gone by
Sometimes to win you have to lose and with North Melbourne and Richmond potentially playing for bottom spot this weekend, we’ve recounted a half-dozen games that shaped the No.1 pick.
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The Kreuzer Cup, Deledio Duel, Rayner Rumble, Scully Scuffle and Weitering Wrestle.
Thanks to an even draft pool with no clear standout at No.1, we don’t yet have a name for Saturday’s battle of the bottom two.
Richmond and North Melbourne could well be tussling it out for the rights for the first pick in November’s draft, with West Coast still within striking distance.
A quirk of the AFL’s last-picks-first draft system, the loser of these type of games is often seen as the winner.
But that’s not always the case.
A look back at six famous late-season clashes from the past 20 years that decided the wooden spoon revealed that losing and getting the first pick isn’t always the best result.
In 2004, Richmond lost to Hawthorn but the Hawks walked out of the draft with Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin.
Three years later, Carlton ‘won’ the Kreuzer Cup by losing to Melbourne but it was actually Richmond that emerged the best from the top picks in that draft.
Most recently, the Roos lost the rights to Harley Reid late in the 2023 season, but that was due to a win over Gold Coast rather than a wooden spoon face-off.
Only history will tell us if losing Saturday’s battle helps win the war.
And history will also tell us what that battle should be called.
THE DELEDIO DUEL
Round 21, 2004: Hawthorn 16.13 (109) def Richmond 13.8 (86)
Hawthorn took over bottom spot on the 2004 ladder at round 10 and held it for 11 weeks before winning this game over Richmond.
Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt dominated with 42 hit-outs, 20 disposals and three goals, and the Hawks led all day.
Due to priority picks, both teams would have two choices in the top five.
Richmond got Brett Deledio and, infamously, Richard Tambling.
And the Hawks drafted two forwards who would have decent careers: Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin.
THE MURPHY MATCH
Round 20, 2005: Collingwood 14.10 (94) def by Carlton 19.15 (129)
The rare occasion where the wooden spoon side actually won the bottom-place playoff.
With Marc Murphy looming as the first pick in the upcoming draft and three rounds to go, Carlton sat six points below the Magpies.
The Blues booted seven goals in the first quarter and led all day. Adam Bentick won the three Brownlow votes with a 34-disposal effort.
Carlton beat its rival then promptly got belted by 99 points by Essendon a week after to stay on the bottom.
Collingwood’s loss helped to receive a priority pick and both the Pies and Blues picked twice in the top six.
The Blues got Murphy and Josh Kennedy, the Pies got Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury.
THE KREUZER CUP
Round 22, 2007: Melbourne 21.13 (139) def Carlton 15.18 (108)
The most famous of all is the Kreuzer Cup.
Richmond would finish the 2007 season on the bottom of the ladder but with both the Dees and Blues entering the final game of the season on four wins, the loser of this match would get a priority draft pick and take budding ruck Matthew Kreuzer first.
The story goes that Travis Johnstone and Heath Scotland shook hands before the bounce and then didn’t go near each other again as interim coaches Mark Riley (Melbourne) and Brett Ratten (Carlton) let the boys play.
Johnstone got three Brownlow votes thanks to 42 disposals and one goal, Scotland got two votes after collecting 41 touches.
The Demons kicked the first seven goals of the game and were never headed, with Russell Robertson bagging six majors on the day.
By losing, the Blues got the prized No.1 pick and the Dees would eventually draft Cale Morton at No.4.
Going at No.2 was Kreuzer’s best mate, Trent Cotchin.
THE SCULLY SCUFFLE
Round 18, 2009: Melbourne 12.10 (82) def by Richmond 12.14 (86)
If the Kreuzer Cup is the most famous, this 2009 game is the most infamous.
With three wins on the board, Melbourne could only afford to win once more in the run home to grab a priority pick, while also holding onto bottom spot.
This game kicked off an AFL investigation into tanking, after coach Dean Bailey moved defenders James Frawley and Matthew Warnock forward, centre half-forward Brad Miller went into the ruck and ruck Paul Johnson was at full-back.
The moves almost didn’t work as desired, as late goals to Jack Grimes and Ricky Petterd actually had the Dees in front when the siren went.
But Jordan McMahon would have a shot after the bell and kick truly.
Brilliant late, Ben Cousins was judged best afield by the umpires.
Melbourne finished bottom and secured the priority pick, drafting both Tom Scully and Jack Trengove.
And for second-bottom Richmond?
At No.3, the Tigers took a kid called Dustin Martin.
THE WEITERING WRESTLE
Round 20, 2015: Brisbane 20.11 (131) def Carlton 9.13 (67)
Sitting on just two wins before round 20, Brisbane stunned Carlton at the Gabba, kicking 17 goals to three after quarter-time.
Mitch Robinson was best afield, while Tom Rockliff had 36 disposals.
The loss put Carlton to the bottom of the table and the two sides would swap again in the run home before the Blues finally earnt the wooden spoon.
With the first pick they chose backline pillar and vice-captain Jacob Weitering and the Lions got talented forward Josh Schache, who is now at his third club and languishing in the VFL.
THE RAYNER RUMBLE
Round 23, 2017: Brisbane 11.13 (79) def by North Melbourne 19.16 (130)
Only one round of the 2017 season remained and the Roos and Lions occupied the bottom two spots on the ladder, with the loser of this match to claim the wooden spoon.
Ben Brown blasted seven goals in a dominant display as Brad Scott’s team cruised home in the second half.
As a result, North Melbourne suddenly jumped up two places to finish the year in 15th and would draft midfield dynamo Luke Davies-Uniacke.
Cam Rayner went first to the Lions.
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