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Part of the pre-match entertainment at the 2006 AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Giant banners were unfurled featuring the colours and emblems of all 16 AFL clubs.
Part of the pre-match entertainment at the 2006 AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. See also 2006 AFL Finals Series The 2006 AFL Grand Final was contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles at the Melbourne Giant banners were unfurled featuring the colours and emblems of all 16 AFL clubs. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest

The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions. A Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sporting term used to describe a final that decides a league champion Australian (rules football, or simply known as football, footy or Aussie rules, is a Team sport played between two teams of 18 players The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest

The game has become culturally significant to Australia, spawning a number of traditions and surrounding activities which have grown in popularity since the VFL/AFL went national in the 1980s. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest In 2006, the Sweeney Sports Report concluded that the AFL Grand Final became Australia's most important sporting event,[1] with the largest attendance, television audience and overall interest of any annual Australian sporting event.

With an official attendance of 97,302 at the 2007 AFL Grand Final,[2] it is currently the best attended domestic club championship event in the world. This article lists the attendances of many sports competitions around the world with the exception of those for Domestic Professional Leagues such as the NFL

Contents

Audience

The event has been sold out every year for decades, and once drew a crowd of 121,696 spectators at Collingwood vs Carlton in 1970, primarily due to the presence of standing room (areas of the stadium without seats). A modern stadium (plural stadiums or stadia in English is a place or venue for (mostly outdoor Sports Concerts or other events consisting However attendances have wavered due to re-development and reduced capacity of the main venue, the Melbourne Cricket Ground; being favoured by increased seating of approximately 100,000. [3] AFL members and nominated members of the participating clubs are given first rights to tickets, as are Melbourne Cricket Club members. The Melbourne Cricket Club ( MCC) is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia.

The 2005 AFL Grand Final was watched by a television audience of more than 3. 3 million people across five of Australia's most highly populated cities, including 1. 2 million in Melbourne and 991,000 in Sydney. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 [4] The worldwide audience has grown substantially to a potential 170 million viewers from 72 countries. [5], although the actual audience is likely to be around 30 million.

The AFL Grand Final has been in the top 5 TV programmes across the five Australian mainland state capitals in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, and was the top-rating sports programme in both 2004 and 2005 and in 2005, AFL Grand Final related shows (Final, wrap up and pre-match) were the top 3 rating television programmes for the year. The following is a list of Australian television ratings for the year 2002. The following is a list of Australian television ratings for the year 2003. The following is a list of Australian television ratings for the year 2004. The following is a list of METROPOLITAN Australian television ratings for the year 2005. The following is a list of Australian television ratings for the year 2004. The following is a list of METROPOLITAN Australian television ratings for the year 2005. As of October the program is second in the 2006 ratings after the coverage of the 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. The following is a list of METROPOLITAN Australian television ratings for the year 2006 ( Metro Areas) The Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games was held on March 15, 2006 at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Victoria

Qualification and Prize

The two Grand Finalists qualify via finals series play-offs at the end of the season. The current AFL finals system was devised by the Australian Football League in 2000 as its end-of-season championship Playoff Tournament. In the current system, the eight teams finishing highest on the ladder after all the home and away rounds qualify for the four-week long finals series culminating in the Grand Final. The team that finishes the regular season at the top of the ladder is said to have won the minor premiership and is awarded the McClelland Trophy. The Dr Wm C McClelland Trophy is an Australian rules football Trophy, instituted in 1951 that was given to a VFL Football Club on the basis of the combined performance The winner is presented with the AFL premiership cup and each victorious player is presented with a premiership medallion. The premiers are also awarded the premiership flag, a large pennant which is unfurled at the premiers' first home game of the following season. Although the cup features much more prominently in celebrations immediately following the Grand Final, the flag has far greater symbolic significance. This is particularly reflected in football parlance, in which one always speaks of a team winning the flag, rather than the cup. This is possibly the result of history. The presentation of the flag first occurred in 1895, when the old VFA recognised Fitzroy's first premiership win. History The Victorian Football Association (VFA was founded in 1877 on 17 May. The cup was not instituted until 1959.

Rather than cash, the main incentive for winning the Grand Final is what is referred to rather vaguely in sporting terms as glory. As a result, the cash prize is probably not reflective of the magnitude of participating in the event. The current cash prize for the winning club is AUD$1 million. The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Before 2006, a cash prize to the winning club of AUD$250,000 was awarded (In contrast, the winner of the NAB Cup, the far less important pre-season competition, is currently awarded a similar amount, AUD$220,000). The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas The Australian Football League pre-season competition, which is known at present as the NAB Cup, is a competition held before the beginning of the Australian The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Following the Sydney Swans premiership in 2005, many clubs publicly questioned the prize money [1], which has not increased for many years and barely covers the cost of participation in the finals series. The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales.

The winner of the premiership typically experiences an increase in membership and sale of merchandise.

The player judged by a panel of experts to be the best afield during the Grand Final is awarded the Norm Smith Medal, named after the great Melbourne Demons coach of the 50's and 60's and player of the 40's Norm Smith. The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match This article is about the Australian rules club for the Football (soccer club see Melbourne Victory FC. Norman Walter "Norm" Smith (born 21 November 1915 at Clifton Hill Victoria died 29 July 1973 at Pascoe Vale Victoria was an Australian rules footballer and The winning coach receives the Jock McHale Medal, named after the coach of Collingwood Magpies from 1912-1949. James Francis "Jock" McHale, (Born 12 December 1881 died 4 October 1953 was an Australian rules football player and coach for the Collingwood Football Club Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League.

History

Early Experimentation

The concept of a "grand" final gradually evolved from experimentation by the Victorian Football League (VFL) in the initial years of competition following its inception in 1897. During the nineteenth century, Australian football competition adopted the approach used by the Football Association in England - that is, the team on top of the table (or "ladder" in the Australian vernacular) was declared the premiers. The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey However, the fledgling VFL decided that a finals series played between the top four teams at the end of the season would generate more interest and gate money. For 1897, the VFL scheduled a round robin tournament whereby the top four played each other once and the team that won the most matches was declared the winner. Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1897.

However, this method had flaws, so the VFL continued to experiment, playing "section" matches after the regular season and then a finals series where first on the ladder played the third team and second met fourth. The winners of these "semi" finals then met in a final to decide the premiership. This system caused problems in 1901 when Geelong finished on top of the ladder but was immediately eliminated when defeated in the semi final. Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1901. A "right of challenge" was introduced, giving the team that finished on top at the end of the regular season (the minor premier) the right to challenge if they lost the semi final or the final. This challenge match came to be called the "grand final". The early finals were scattered around various Melbourne venues: Albert Park, St Kilda's Junction Oval and the now defunct East Melbourne Cricket Ground. The selection of the venue could depend on the portion of the gate demanded by the ground's landlords.

The Move To the MCG

The public remained ambivalent to the concept of finals football until the VFL pulled off a coup in 1902. Previously, the MCG was unavailable to football in the early spring months as it was being prepared for the coming cricket season. The VFL convinced the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) to rent the ground for the finals series and the first grand final at what is today considered the home of the game attracted more than 35,000 people to watch Collingwood down Essendon. The Melbourne Cricket Club ( MCC) is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia. Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League. The success of the finals at the MCG was proven with big attendances every year, and soon all the major competitions around Australia were employing what was known as the "amended Argus system" of finals. The perceived need for a structured final system was perhaps the most important single reason that eight senior clubs broke away from the Victorian Football Association (VFA in 1896 The "original Argus system" had been instituted by the VFL in 1901, the amended system was instituted by the VFL in 1902. The perceived need for a structured final system was perhaps the most important single reason that eight senior clubs broke away from the Victorian Football Association (VFA in 1896 The 1907 Grand Final attracted an Australian record sporting attendance of 45,477. Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1907.

By 1908, a new record attendance of 50,261 was set, on a day when the crowd was so huge that they broke through the fence and filed onto the ground, sitting around the boundary line to watch the action. Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1908. This figure was beaten in 1912 when 54,463 saw Essendon defeat South Melbourne. The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. The big finals crowds (and increasing cricket attendances) prompted the MCC to cut down the eleven fifty-year old elm trees inside the ground and turn the stadium into a concrete bowl, complete with extra stands and standing room. The record fell again in the last grand final before World War I, when the excitement of St Kilda's first premiership attempt drew 59,479 spectators. The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian Football League club based in Melbourne Victoria Australia

Problems With the System

Obviously, the war had a big effect on the impact of the grand final and attendances plummeted. One critic called for the Carlton team to receive the Iron Cross after they defeated Collingwood in the thrilling 1915 Grand Final, ironically dubbed a "glorious contest" by famous coach Jack Worrall. For other meanings please see Iron Cross (disambiguation The Iron Cross ( was a Military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia But many diggers supported the continuance of the game, and both the 1918 and 1919 Grand Finals were notable for the large number of Australian servicemen in attendance, many of whom wore uniform. During the 1920s, the VFL grappled with the problems associated with the "amended Argus system", specifically that a true "grand" final was not played if the minor premier won both the semi final and the final. Although new attendance records were set in 1920 and 1922, these were for the semi finals, which often drew bigger crowds than the Grand Final. The VFL reverted to the round robin system in 1924, which was a disaster, then went back to the "amended Argus system" for 1925, when the Grand Final attracted a new record crowd of 64,288. Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1924. This bumper attendance was the result of Geelong's first VFL premiership win, when a huge contingent from Victoria's second city descended on the MCG to watch their team make history. Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong.

Collingwood's famous four premierships in a row between 1927 and 1930 became the catalyst for change to the system. The other clubs felt that the Magpies had an unfair advantage from finishing all four seasons on top of the ladder when the right of challenge saved them on a number of occasions. In 1927, 1928 and 1930, the biggest crowd of the year was drawn to the semi final and not the Grand Final. The Page-McIntyre system (or 'final four") was introduced for 1931, whereby the semi finals (1 v 2 and 3 v 4) were followed by the preliminary final and then the grand final, with the right of challenge abolished. The Page playoff system is a Playoff format used primarily in Softball and Curling at the championship level This proved satisfactory to all, and the new system ushered in a golden age for the Grand Final.

The Golden Age: the 1930s

New records were constantly set and when 75,754 attended the 1933 grand final between South Melbourne and Richmond, it started the MCC thinking of expansion again. Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, competes in the Australian Football League. Just months earlier, cricket attendance records were shattered during the "bodyline" series between Australia and England. For information about the British code name "Bodyline" for the WWII V-2 rocket, see Operation Crossbow. The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. The England cricket team is the national cricket team which represents England and Wales. The MCC decided to build the southern stand, which enclosed almost half the ground and was completed in 1937. That year, the Geelong-Collingwood grand final attracted 88,540 and the spectators were sitting five deep along the boundary line. Somehow, the following year, 96,834 people turned up and squashed in to watch the Magpies take on Carlton. Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the third oldest club in the Australian Football League and one of the oldest Australian rules football At the time, Melbourne's population was about one million, which meant that on Grand Final day, almost one-tenth of the city were at the game.

The War and After

Football served as a distraction for people on the homefront during the war, particularly during the darkest days between 1941 and 1943. The Australian government requisitioned a number of VFL grounds, including the MCG. Therefore, the Grand Final was staged at Princes Park (Carlton) in 1942, 1943 and 1945, and at St Kilda's Junction Oval in 1944 when Fitzroy won its last premiership on the hottest Grand Final day on record. The 1943 clash was a thrilling contest, Richmond defeating Essendon by five points. The 1942 and 1945 matches were marred by violence, and the latter game has gone down in history as the "Bloodbath". An amazing crowd of 62,986 crammed into the Carlton ground for this game, which was played just weeks after the armistice with Japan was declared. Clearly, the people of Melbourne were keen to normalise their lives again and football was central to this desire.

So when the MCG was finally relinquished by the government in August 1946, there was great expectation in the build up to the Grand Final, where Essendon booted a record score to defeat Melbourne. Attendances were back to 1930s levels by 1947 and 85,815 turned up to see Carlton beat Essendon by a solitary point; a similar crowd a year later watched the Bombers play the first draw in Grand Final history. However, they lost a replay with Melbourne the following week. The sight of thousands sitting between the fence and the boundary line, first seen in the late 1930s, was now usual at the Grand Final. Spectators were admitted on a first-come basis, and thousands took to lining up outside the stadium in the days before the match to gain the best vantage point when the gates opened on the morning of the match. Some reservations were raised about spectator safety as the MCG was clearly being filled above its capacity.

The Olympic Year and Ticketing

As the MCG would be used as the main stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games, the ground was upgraded again with a new stand and extra capacity. The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne Construction work restricted the crowd at the 1954 Grand Final when 80,897 people saw Footscray win their historic first (and only) flag. Eight thousand more witnessed the Grand Final the following year, before the stand was fully completed. The 1956 Grand Final was seen as a dry run for the opening ceremony of the games two months later, but no one was prepared for the outcome. Officially, 115,802 fans turned out to see Melbourne take on Collingwood for the second year in a row, but contemporary reports state that anywhere between twenty and thirty thousand people were turned away. Some gained admittance by storming the gates, while others perched precariously on the roof of the southern stand. The old record had been shattered by almost 19,000 but the chaos outside the ground prompted the VFL to introduce a ticketing system for the first time.

Attendances now hovered around the 100,000 mark during the coming years. Melbourne dominated the era with seven straight Grand Final appearances (for five flags), playing Collingwood three times and Essendon twice. The 1958 Grand Final, when Collingwood upset a Melbourne team attempting to equal the Magpies' proud record of four consecutive premierships, was arguably the greatest upset recorded in the biggest game of all. The Demons made amends by winning the next year, when the premiership cup was presented for the first time. Previously, the crowd descended on the arena at the end of the game, and the players were variously chaired off the ground or walked to the dressing room. The presentation of the cup gave the after-match a ceremonial focus and allowed the attention to settle on the premier team.

Following the 1956 introduction of television to Australia, there were repeated calls for the Grand Final to be telecast live, but the VFL refused on the basis that the crowd numbers might be affected. A delayed telecast was allowed for 1961, when Hawthorn won for the first time, but thereafter only a videotaped replay was shown.

Second Golden Era: the 1960s and 1970s

In contrast to the 1950s when a few teams were monopolising Grand Final places, the 1960s were a decade of variety. Between 1961 and 1968, seven teams won the flag and a number of classic encounters were played. In 1964, a thrilling finish enabled Melbourne to win their last premiership by four points. Two years later, in arguably the most famous Grand Final of them all, St Kilda won their only premiership by one point, and their players went for an impromptu lap of honour with the cup, a tradition that endures. In 1967, Geelong and Richmond played a match of the highest standard, with the Tigers winning in the last minutes to end a long premiership drought. The next season, Carlton also ended a long run without success and set a record as the only winning team to score less goals than the opposition as they defeated Essendon by three points.

By now, the MCG had been expanded again so that record crowds were set in 1968, 1969 and 1970. The epic Grand Final of 1970, when Carlton came back from a 44-point half time deficit to beat Collingwood, was watched by an all-time record crowd of 121,696 people. The 1970 Victorian Football League Grand Final was held on 26 September 1970 between Carlton and Collingwood. Most of the matches during this period had something to remember: Hawthorn's comeback to win in 1971, Carlton's record score in the highest scoring game ever played in 1972, Richmond's two wins over Carlton in 1969 and 1973 in very physical encounters, and North Melbourne's first Grand Final victory in 1975.

The Modern Era: 1990-2007

Since Collingwood's drought breaking 41-point triumph over Essendon in the 1990 Grand Final, interstate clubs have won the ultimate prize on 10 occasions, with Fremantle the only club not to achieve this feat. West Coast and North Melbourne vied for the unofficial title of Team of the Decade, winning two flags apiece, as well as stumbling at the final hurdle, in 1991 and 1998 respectively.

Throughout the 90s, the standards of the Grand Finals never reached sensational heights, or concluded with nailbiting finishes. Collingwood walked over the Bombers in the '90 decider (which was played in October, due to the Magpies draw with the Eagles in the Qualifying Final, extending the finals series by a week), an aging Hawthorn unit was too classy for the Eagles, who got their revenge the following season with a come-from-behind victory over Geelong, before going on to record their second flag under coach Mick Malthouse and captain John Worsfold two years later over the same opponent. Michael "Mick" Malthouse (born 17 August 1953 is a former Australian rules footballer and current coach of Collingwood Football Club. John Worsfold (born 25 September 1968 known affectionately as Woosha, is the current Coach and former Premiership captain of the West Coast Eagles, a team which Wedged in between was Essendon's 'Baby Bombers', Kevin Sheedy molding a group of talented youngsters, including James Hird, Dustin Fletcher, Mark Mercuri, Joe Misiti, Ricky Olarenshaw, David Calthorpe and Paul Hills into a premiership winning combination, overrunning their older Carlton counterparts. Kevin John Sheedy AM (born 24 December 1947 was the coach of AFL club Essendon, and a former player for Richmond. James Alan Hird (born 4 February 1973 is a retired Australian rules footballer and the former captain of the Essendon Football Club. Dustin Fletcher (born 7 May 1975 is an Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club. Mark Mercuri (born 21 February 1974 is a professional Australian rules football player for Essendon he played in the 1993 Grand final winning team which defeated "Smokin'" Joe Misiti (born 9 November 1974 was an Australian rules football player of Italian descent who played for Essendon. Rick Olarenshaw (born 1 February 1973 is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. David Calthorpe (born 17 August 1973 is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon, the Brisbane Lions and the Kangaroos in Paul Hills (born 20 September 1972 is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the AFL during the 1990s The Blues, though, were not yet a spent forced, trouncing the hapless Cats by 61-points in 1995. Greg Williams starred, winning the Norm Smith Medal with his 32-disposals and five goals. Greg "Diesel" Williams (born 30 September 1963 is a former champion Australian rules footballer with the Sydney Swans, Geelong Football Club

1996 saw North Melbourne make up for their many years of near misses, downing Sydney with ease, to take home the only golden premiership cup yet to be used. The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. Adelaide, under new coach Malcolm Blight, stunned the football world with two premierships in succession, defeating St Kilda in 1997, and the Kangaroos in 1998. This page is for the Australian Rules Football Club in Adelaide Malcolm Jack Blight AM (16 February 1950 - is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach and current television commentator The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian Football League club based in Melbourne Victoria Australia On both occasions, Andrew McLeod did as he pleased at halfback to take home the Norm Smith Medal, whilst forward pocket Darren Jarman was a match winner in attack. Andrew Luke McLeod (born 4 August 1976 is an Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League of Aboriginal descent and is number 23 of the Darren Jarman (born 28 January 1967 is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League. The Kangaroos should arguably have been more than four goals ahead at the halftime break, an inaccurate 8. 22 puncturing any hopes of a second flag in three years.

It was achieved, however, a year later, when Wayne Carey's Kangaroos were premiers for the fourth time in the final year of the century. Wayne Carey (born 27 May 1971 is a former Australian rules football player who played for North Adelaide in the SANFL, before joining Australian Football The Roos were fortunate to meet Carlton on the day, for the Blues, whilst honest and disciplined, were never going to be any match for the silk of the Kangaroos. Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the third oldest club in the Australian Football League and one of the oldest Australian rules football Carlton only reached the Grand Final on the back of one of the biggest upsets in league history, toppling flag favourites Essendon by a point in the Preliminary Final.

The new millennium was ushered in under a reign of Essendon domination, the Bombers winning all bar one of their home and away matches, before pummelling the Kangaroos by a record 125-points in the Qualifying Final, demoralising Carlton, their enemy of the previous season, by 45-points, before wiping a valiant Melbourne off the park to the tune of 10 goals. This article is about the Australian rules club for the Football (soccer club see Melbourne Victory FC. There has been no other season like Essendon's in 2000, the club, led brilliantly by Norm Smith Medal winning skipper James Hird and master coach Kevin Sheedy, reaching heights never before, nor since scaled. James Alan Hird (born 4 February 1973 is a retired Australian rules footballer and the former captain of the Essendon Football Club. Kevin John Sheedy AM (born 24 December 1947 was the coach of AFL club Essendon, and a former player for Richmond.

The following season, 2001, saw the Brisbane Lions win the first of their three premierships in succession. Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane The Lions overran a tiring Bomber outfit in the second half of the 2001 decider, underrated rover Shaun Hart a surprise yet deserving recipient of the Norm Smith Medal. Shaun Hart (born 17 May 1971 is a three-time Australian Football League premiership-winning Utility player for the Brisbane Lions. The following season saw Collingwood, vast underdogs, push the Lions to the limit in the 2002 decider, the Lions pipping the Magpies at the post by a mere nine points. Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. Collingwood skipper Nathan Buckley was exceptional in winning the Norm Smith Medal, while his Lion counterpart Michael Voss was all but his equal. Nathan Charles Buckley (born 26 July 1972 is a former champion Australian rules football player who played primarily as a Midfielder, for the Brisbane Michael Voss (born 7 July 1975 is the senior coach of the Brisbane Lions and also a former Australian rules footballer usually playing midfield for Australian

Brisbane's third and final premiership in their historic run of success came in 2003, again accounting for Collingwood, though on this occasion by a whopping 50-points, crushing the spirit of the Magpies, who had been favourites going into the match. Simon Black led the romp with a Grand Final record 39-possessions, while Jason Akermanis booted five majors. Simon Black (born 3 April 1979 is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League. Jason "Aka" Akermanis (born 24 February 1977 is an Australian rules footballer who currently plays for the Western Bulldogs.

The Lions' castle finally came tumbling down in 2004, when Port Adelaide rolled them in the second half, running out 40-point victors. Port Adelaide Football Club, often referred to as simply Port or the Power is an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia Byron Pickett, a premiership winning defender with the Kangaroos in 1999, turned into a match winning onballer for the Power, and capped his day with the Norm Smith Medal. Byron Pickett (born 11 August 1977 is a indigenous Australian rules footballer known for his strength hard bumps and tough approach to the game The fairytale of the afternoon was the story behind Josh Mahoney, the until then little-known Port forward pocket had been cast aside by Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in the seven years prior, trying his luck with Essendon's VFL squad in 2001 before switching to Williamstown. Joshua William Paul "Josh" Mahoney (born 31 October 1977 is an Australian rules footballer in the AFL. The Western Bulldogs, formerly referred to as the Footscray Football Club, is an Australian Football League (AFL club based at the Whitten Oval in Williamstown or Williamtown is the name of several places in the world;Australia Williamtown New South Wales RAAF Base Williamtown He belatedly received a third chance at the highest level, and made every post a winner, instrumental in the Power's third quarter charge.

Seasons 2005 and 2006 are best remembered for the classic rivalry forged between Sydney and the West Coast Eagles. The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. The Swans clung on grimly to win the 2005 decider by four points, Leo Barry's epic mark in the dying seconds an image to resound throughout the ages. Leo Barry (born 19 May 1977 is an Australian rules footballer in the AFL with the Sydney Swans. The following year, the same two clubs were at it again, only this time the tables were turned, but only just - the Eagles only one point ahead of the Swans when the final siren blew, the first time only a point had separated two clubs in a Grand Final since St Kilda's nailbiting victory over Collingwood in 1966. The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian Football League club based in Melbourne Victoria Australia Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League.

2007 belonged to Geelong, who, after 44 years of torment and close finishes, stamped their authority on the competition, losing only one match after round five, and trouncing Port Adelaide in the decider by a record 119-points. Mercurial forward Steve Johnson took home the Norm Smith Medal, completing one of the most dominant seasons by one club on record. Steve Johnson is the name of Steve Johnson (American football, wide receiver playing for the Buffalo Bills Steve Johnson (footballer, Australian

Famous Incidents

Traditions

Many events happen during the week of the Grand Final.

Brownlow Medal

Main article: Brownlow Medal

The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is the medal awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie not including finals matches) as decided upon by umpires. For the list of winners of the award see List of Brownlow Medal winners. A medal is usually a Coin -like sculpted object of metal or other material that has been engraved with an Insignia, Portrait or other artistic rendering Best and Fairest (also known as Fairest and Best in some competitions notably the Australian Football League) is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe It was named after a Geelong player and long-serving administrator who was the main advocate in establishing the Victorian Football League, Charles Brownlow. Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong. History The Victorian Football Association (VFA was founded in 1877 on 17 May. Charles "Chas" Brownlow, (25 July 1861—23 January 1924 was a legendary Australian rules football administrator in the Victorian Football League. It is awarded on the Monday night before the Grand Final, recently at the Crown Casino in Melbourne.

Grand Final Parade

A traditional parade is held in Melbourne city, usually along one of the main thoroughfares such as Collins Street, Swanston Street or Bourke Street ending at the steps outside the Victorian Parliament. Collins Street is a major street in the Melbourne central business district and runs approximately east to west Swanston Street is a major thoroughfare in the centre of Melbourne, Australia. Bourke Street Mall Redevjpg|thumb|200px|Bourke Street Mall during redevelopment]] Bourke Street is a major street in the central business district (CBD of Melbourne The parade, held on the Friday before the Grand Final, features the players from the competing sides and regularly attracts crowds estimated to be over 300,000 people.

Some of the estimated fifty thousand people who lined the streets of Melbourne for the 2006 AFL Grand Final parade
Some of the estimated fifty thousand people who lined the streets of Melbourne for the 2006 AFL Grand Final parade

Grand Final Parties

Grand Final parties are held in Australia and even in remote cities around the world. They typically involve watching the game on television in a group, a barbecue, and a game of kick-to-kick at half-time. barbeque block party Kansas cityjpg|thumb|right|275px|A barbecue on a trailer at a Block party in Kansas City. Kick-to-kick is a Pastime and well-known tradition of Australian rules football fans and a recognised Australian term for kick and catch type games

Venues

The Grand Final is traditionally played in Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 It has been played elsewhere only on a few occasions, being held at Lake Oval and the Junction Oval early in the league's history and Princes Park (Optus Oval) during World War II when the MCG was being used as barracks to house US Troops. The Bob Jane Stadium (also known as Lakeside Stadium) is a Football (soccer Stadium in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia The Junction Oval (officially the St Kilda Cricket Ground) is an historic sports ground in Melbourne, Australia. When the MCG was being redeveloped in 1991, the Grand Final was contested at the AFL-owned Waverley Park. Waverley Park (formerly VFL Park and then AFL Park) was an Australian rules football Stadium in Melbourne, Victoria

The Grand Final has traditionally been played on the final Saturday in September each year and is referred to in popular Australian culture as the One day in September. The only notable exception was during 2000, when the Sydney Olympics forced the season to be played early; in this season, the One day in September was the first Saturday, instead of the last. "I am proud and happy to proclaim that you have presented to the world the best Olympic Games ever

Of the current clubs, only Fremantle has never (as of the 2007 finals) made a Grand Final appearance. Fremantle Football Club, unofficially nicknamed The Dockers and known informally as "Freo" is one of 16 teams in the Australian Football League (AFL Defunct clubs which never made it include University and the Brisbane Bears (although their successor, the Brisbane Lions have won three Grand Finals and lost a fourth. Melbourne University Football Club &ndash often known simply as "University" &ndash is an Australian rules football club Brisbane Bears were an Australian rules football Club and was the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane )

The first interstate (non-Victorian) team to play in the Grand Final was the West Coast Eagles, who lost in 1991 but came back to win their first Premiership in 1992. West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. (The Swans had been in several Grand Finals before their move to Sydney in 1982, but always as South Melbourne: their first Grand Final appearance after their move to Sydney didn't come until 1996. The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. ) The first Grand Final matching two interstate teams was the 2004 contest where the Port Adelaide Power beat the Brisbane Lions 113-73. Port Adelaide Football Club, often referred to as simply Port or the Power is an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane

Since the expansion of the league, the AFL Grand Final has become a truly national event. For six years in a row (2001-2006) the premiership had been won by teams outside of Victoria (where the AFL's precursor competition, the Victorian Football League (VFL) had originated). History The Victorian Football Association (VFA was founded in 1877 on 17 May. An original VFL side, Geelong Football Club won the 2007 grand final by 119 points. MCite/Citephp.--> Geelong (dʒəˈlɔŋ is the second largest city in the state As a result there have been calls for hosting Grand Finals on a national stage, similar to the Super Bowl in the USA. Since the construction of Stadium Australia, Sydney has expressed interest in hosting the final on several occasions. Stadium Australia, presently known as ANZ Stadium, is a multi-purpose Stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush, Sydney Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 So far, the AFL has resisted the temptation of doing so. Another challenge to tradition has been the proposal of a night grand final with anticipated increased television audience.

The 2006 Grand Final was officially regarded as the 110th Grand Final. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Throughout history, Grand Finals were not staged in either of 1897 or 1924, with the premiership instead being awarded after a round robin amongst the top four teams; this accounts for 107 Grand Finals. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The term round-robin describes correspondence to a single Address authored or signed by numerous individuals (as found in a Petition) An additional Grand Final was played in 1948 and 1977, each of which was necessitated by a tied Grand Final. These are generally referred to as Grand Final Replays or "Extra Finals", but count in the official tally of Grand Finals. A Grand Final Replay is necessitated when the Grand Final is drawn Furthermore, under the "amended Argus finals system" which operated from 1902 until 1930, a "Grand Final" match depended upon the minor premiers having not won the previous week's game, known as the Final:[6] each final which decided the premiership had hence been reclassified a Grand Final retrospectively.

Recent History of the AFL Grand Final

Results since 2000
Year Results Crowd Norm Smith Medalist
2000 Essendon 19. The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match The 2000 AFL Grand Final was played on the 2nd of September 2000 between the Essendon and Melbourne Football Clubs in the Australian Football League Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League. 21. (135) def. Melbourne 11. This article is about the Australian rules club for the Football (soccer club see Melbourne Victory FC. 9. (75) 96,249 James Hird
2001 Brisbane Lions 15. James Alan Hird (born 4 February 1973 is a retired Australian rules footballer and the former captain of the Essendon Football Club. Match Summary Brisbane started off the game well getting the first goal for the match from a free kick awarded to Lynch for holding against Fletcher Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane 18. (108) def. Essendon 12. Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League. 10. (82) 91,482 Shaun Hart
2002 Brisbane Lions 10. Shaun Hart (born 17 May 1971 is a three-time Australian Football League premiership-winning Utility player for the Brisbane Lions. Match Summary In a tight and overly enthralling exhibition of AFL football Brisbane withstood a brave challenge from Collingwood to win the 2002 AFL Grand Final by nine points Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane 15. (75) def. Collingwood 9. Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. 12. (66) 91,817 Nathan Buckley (team lost)
2003 Brisbane Lions 20. Nathan Charles Buckley (born 26 July 1972 is a former champion Australian rules football player who played primarily as a Midfielder, for the Brisbane Build-Up The 2003 Grand Final had a unique build-up History certainly repeated itself this year as Anthony Rocca, a Collingwood forward and thought to be one of the most Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane 14. (134) def. Collingwood 12. Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. 12. (84) 79,451* Simon Black
2004 Port Adelaide 17. Simon Black (born 3 April 1979 is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League. Lead Up Port Adelaide defeated Geelong Cats by 55 points in the Qualifying Final at AAMI Stadium, which gave them a week off and a place in the Preliminary Port Adelaide Football Club, often referred to as simply Port or the Power is an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia 11. (113) def. Brisbane Lions 10. Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane 13. (73) 77,671* Byron Pickett
2005 Sydney 8. Byron Pickett (born 11 August 1977 is a indigenous Australian rules footballer known for his strength hard bumps and tough approach to the game See also 2005 AFL Finals Series The 2005 AFL Grand Final took place on September 24 2005 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. 10. (58) def. West Coast 7. West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. 12. (54) 91,828* Chris Judd (team lost)
2006 West Coast 12. Christopher Dylan Judd (born 8 September 1983 is an Australian professional Australian rules footballer for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian See also 2006 AFL Finals Series The 2006 AFL Grand Final was contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles at the Melbourne West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. 13. (85) def. Sydney 12. The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. 12. (84) 97,431 Andrew Embley
2007 Geelong 24. Andrew Embley (born 27 June 1981 is an Australian rules football player for AFL team the West Coast Eagles. See also 2007 AFL Finals Series The 2007 AFL Grand Final was the 111th VFL/AFL Grand Final and was contested between the Geelong Football Club Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong. 19. (163) def. Port Adelaide 6. Port Adelaide Football Club, often referred to as simply Port or the Power is an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia 8. (44) 97,302 Steve Johnson

(* Capacity of ground reduced due to redevelopment for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games)
For all Grand Final winners in the VFL/AFL, see List of Australian Football League premiers. Steve "Stevie J" Johnson (born 4 July 1983 is an Australian Rules Football player for the Geelong Football Club. The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006 This page is a chronological listing of Australian Football League premiers.

Grand Final Records

This section refers to individual grand finals. For VFL/AFL premiership trivia, see AFL Premiers - Trivia. This page is a chronological listing of Australian Football League premiers.

AFL Grand Final Sprint

A running race takes place on the day of the Grand Final, between players that are not taking part in the Grand Final. It is conducted over several heats run before the game and a final run at half time. In recent years, a handicapping system has been introduced. For "handicap" as it refers to disabled persons see Disability. The traditional sprint was revived in 2002 (along with a short-lived goal kicking competition) after years in the wilderness.

Results since 2002
2002 Jared Crouch Sydney Swans Football Club
2003 James Walker Fremantle Football Club
2004 James Walker Fremantle Football Club
2005 Brett Deledio Richmond Football Club
2006 Brendan Fevola Carlton Football Club
2007 Jake King Richmond Football Club

Norm Smith Medallist

The medal, given to the player judged as best on the ground during the match, was named after famed Melbourne premiership player and coach Norman Smith, who died in 1973. Jared Crouch (born 5 March 1978 is a South Australian Australian football player with the Sydney Swans of the AFL, who is colloquially known The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. James Walker (born 15 January 1979 is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League who played for the Fremantle Football Club. Fremantle Football Club, unofficially nicknamed The Dockers and known informally as "Freo" is one of 16 teams in the Australian Football League (AFL James Walker (born 15 January 1979 is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League who played for the Fremantle Football Club. Brett Deledio (born 18 April 1987 in Kyabram Victoria) is an Australian rules football player currently playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, competes in the Australian Football League. Brendan 'Fev' Fevola (born 20 January 1981 is an Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the third oldest club in the Australian Football League and one of the oldest Australian rules football Jacob 'Jake' King (born 26 March 1984 is an Australian rules football player for the Richmond Football Club. It was first awarded in 1979 when the winner was Wayne Harmes, a great nephew of Smith. In time the award has come to be seen as second only to the Brownlow medal as an individual prize and carries great prestige. There has been some minor criticism that the judging panel (appointed by the AFL and comprising ex-players and media people) must make its decision during the last quarter, before the game has ended, to fit into the post-game ceremonies. Therefore, the last minutes of the game are not taken into consideration when voting takes place.

Norm Smith Medallists
Year Winner Club Notes
1979 Wayne Harmes Carlton Great-nephew of Norm Smith, inaugural winner
1980 Kevin Bartlett Richmond
1981 Bruce Doull Carlton
1982 Maurice Rioli Richmond First winner from losing team; First aboriginal winner
1983 Colin Robertson Hawthorn
1984 Billy Duckworth Essendon
1985 Simon Madden Essendon
1986 Gary Ayres Hawthorn
1987 David Rhys-Jones Carlton
1988 Gary Ayres Hawthorn First multiple winner
1989 Gary Ablett Geelong Won in a losing team; equalled record for most goals (9)
1990 Tony Shaw Collingwood First captain to win
1991 Paul Dear Hawthorn
1992 Peter Matera West Coast First winner from a non-Victorian club
1993 Michael Long Essendon
1994 Dean Kemp West Coast
1995 Greg Williams Carlton First Brownlow medallist to win, Collected 32 possessions on his 32nd birthday the day of the Grand Final
1996 Glen Archer North Melbourne
1997 Andrew McLeod Adelaide
1998 Andrew McLeod Adelaide First consecutive winner
1999 Shannon Grant Kangaroos
2000 James Hird Essendon Captain
2001 Shaun Hart Brisbane
2002 Nathan Buckley Collingwood Team lost, captain
2003 Simon Black Brisbane Most possessions ever recorded in Grand Final
2004 Byron Pickett Port Adelaide
2005 Chris Judd West Coast Team lost
2006 Andrew Embley West Coast
2007 Steve Johnson Geelong

VFL/AFL Grand Final Records

Individual Records
Most Matches (Player) 11: Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

10: Gordon Coventry (Collingwood), Albert Collier (Collingwood), Dick Reynolds (Essendon), Bill Hutchison (Essendon)
Most Matches (Captain) 9: Dick Reynolds (Essendon)

5: John Nicholls (Carlton), Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)
Most Matches (Coach) 17: Jock McHale (Collingwood)

12: Dick Reynolds (Essendon)

11: Frank 'Checker' Hughes (Richmond/Melbourne)

10: Tom Hafey (Richmond/Collingwood)
Most Matches (Umpire) 10: Jack Elder (1908-22)

9: Ian Robinson(1973-87)

7: Bob Scott (1929-35), Henry 'Ivo' Crapp (1898-1905)
Most Matches (Player/Coach) 20: Jock McHale (Collingwood)

17: Ron Barassi (Melbourne/Carlton/N Melbourne)

14: F 'Checker' Hughes (Richmond/Melbourne), Norm Smith (Melbourne) 14
Most Wins (Player) 7: Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

6: Albert Collier (Collingwood), Harry Collier (Collingwood), Frank 'Bluey' Adams (Melbourne), Ron Barassi (Melbourne)
Most Wins (Captain) 4: Dick Reynolds (Essendon), Syd Coventry (Collingwood), Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)
Most Wins (Coach) 8: Jock McHale (Collingwood)

6: Norm Smith (Melbourne)

5: Jack Worrall (Carlton/Essendon), F 'Checker' Hughes (Richmond/Melbourne)
Most Losses (Player) 6: Jack Titus (Richmond)

5: Dick Reynolds (Essendon), Bill Hutchison (Essendon), Rene Kink (Collingwood/Essendon), Thomas O'Halloran (Richmond), Jack Dyer (Richmond), Jack Bissett (Richmond/South Melbourne)
Most Losses (Captain) 4: Dick Reynolds (Essendon)

3: Jack Bissett (South Melbourne), Jack Dyer (Richmond)
Most Losses (Coach) 9: Jock McHale (Collingwood)

7: Dick Reynolds (Essendon)

5: Allan Jeans (St Kilda/Hawthorn), Tom Hafey (Richmond/Collingwood)
1st Game in GF Jack Prout (Essendon) 1908, Bill James (Richmond) 1920, George Rawle (Essendon) 1923, F 'Pop' Vine (Melbourne) 1926, Ken Batchelor (Collingwood) 1952, Vin Cattogio (Carlton) 1973
Most Games before 1st GF 313: Paul Roos (Fitzroy/Sydney) 1996

267: Marcus Ashcroft (Brisbane) 2001

255: Greg Wells (Melbourne/Carlton) 1981

248: Alastair Lynch (Fitzroy/Brisbane) 2001
Most Goals in GF 9: Gordon Coventry (Collingwood) 1928, Gary Ablett (Geelong) 1989

8: Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn) 1985
Most Behinds in GF 10: Ron Todd (Collingwood) 1936

8: Bob Pratt (South Melbourne) 1933, John Hendrie (Hawthorn) 1976
Game Records
Highest Score 28. Wayne Harmes (born 9 February 1960 is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League. Kevin Charles Bartlett AM (born 6 March 1947 is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League Richmond is an Inner city Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Bruce Doull (born 11 September 1950 in Victoria Australia) is a former champion Australian rules football player who played for the Carlton Football Club Maurice Rioli (born 1 September 1957 at Melville Island, Northern Territory) was an Australian rules football player from St Marys Football Club Richmond is an Inner city Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Colin Robertson (born 19 June 1957 is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the VFL from 1980 until 1986 Bill Duckworth (born 21 February 1959 is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL. Simon Madden (born 30 December 1957 was an Australian rules footballer for the Essendon Football Club from 1974 until 1992 Gary Ayres (born 28 September 1960 is a former Australian rules footballer for the Hawthorn Football Club and currently the senior coach for the Port Melbourne David Rhys-Jones (born 16 June 1962 is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Football Club and the Sydney Swans. Gary Ayres (born 28 September 1960 is a former Australian rules footballer for the Hawthorn Football Club and currently the senior coach for the Port Melbourne Gary Robert Ablett senior (born 1 October 1961 After a disastrous debut season with Hawthorn, the Geelong Football Club managed to lure Ablett back Anthony 'Tony' Shaw (born 23 July 1960 is a former Australian rules footballer and media personality Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. Paul Dear (born 28 December 1966 is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn. Peter Matera (born 3 April 1969 is a former Australian rules footballer for the West Coast Eagles in the AFL. Michael Long (born 1 October 1969 in Darwin Northern Territory) is a former Australian rules footballer of partial Aboriginal decent and spokesperson against racism Not to be confused with Denan Kemp. Dean Kemp (born 17 February 1969 is an Australian rules footballer who played for the West Greg "Diesel" Williams (born 30 September 1963 is a former champion Australian rules footballer with the Sydney Swans, Geelong Football Club Glenn Archer (born 24 March 1973 is a retired Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club. Andrew Luke McLeod (born 4 August 1976 is an Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League of Aboriginal descent and is number 23 of the Andrew Luke McLeod (born 4 August 1976 is an Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League of Aboriginal descent and is number 23 of the Shannon Grant (born 19 April 1977 is a retired Australian rules footballer who was known as one of the premier midfielders in the AFL. James Alan Hird (born 4 February 1973 is a retired Australian rules footballer and the former captain of the Essendon Football Club. Shaun Hart (born 17 May 1971 is a three-time Australian Football League premiership-winning Utility player for the Brisbane Lions. Nathan Charles Buckley (born 26 July 1972 is a former champion Australian rules football player who played primarily as a Midfielder, for the Brisbane Simon Black (born 3 April 1979 is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League. Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane Byron Pickett (born 11 August 1977 is a indigenous Australian rules footballer known for his strength hard bumps and tough approach to the game Port Adelaide Football Club, often referred to as simply Port or the Power is an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia Christopher Dylan Judd (born 8 September 1983 is an Australian professional Australian rules footballer for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. Andrew Embley (born 27 June 1981 is an Australian rules football player for AFL team the West Coast Eagles. West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. Steve "Stevie J" Johnson (born 4 July 1983 is an Australian Rules Football player for the Geelong Football Club. Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong. Michael Tuck (born 24 June 1953 is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL with the Hawthorn Football Club. Gordon 'Nuts' Coventry (25 September 1901 - 7 November 1968 was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Albert "Leeter" Collier (9 July 1909 &ndash 22 February 1988 was an Australian rules footballer in the (then Victorian Football League. Richard Sylvannus Reynolds (20 June 1915 &ndash 2 September 2002 known as Dick Reynolds, the brother of Tom Reynolds, the cousin of Max Oppy, and Bill Hutchison (28 April 1923 – 18 June 1982 was an Australian rules footballer Football career Hutchison played in the VFL from 1942-1957 spending John Nicholls (born 13 August 1939 is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton Football Club in the 1960s and 1970s James Francis "Jock" McHale, (Born 12 December 1881 died 4 October 1953 was an Australian rules football player and coach for the Collingwood Football Club Frank 'Checker' Hughes (born Francis Vane Hughes 26 February 1894 died 23 January 1978 was a famous player and coach of Australian rules football in the Victorian Thomas Stanley Raymond Hafey (born 5 August 1931 was an Australian rules football player and coach in the VFL / AFL, playing for Richmond between Jack Elder (born 1885 died 24 December 1944 was a former Australian rules football umpire who in 1996 was named as the VFL/ AFL 's Umpire of the Century Ian Robinson (born 20 August 1946 was a leading Australian rules football field umpire in the Victorian Football League (VFL in the 1970's and 1980's Robert H "Bob" Scott (19014 August 1956 was a leading Australian rules football field umpire in the Victorian Football League (later renamed Henry 'Ivo' Crapp (1872 &ndash 20 January 1924 was a leading Australian rules football field umpire in the Victorian Football League (VFL at its formation Ronald Dale Barassi Jr (born 27 February 1936 is a former Australian rules football player and coach Norman Walter "Norm" Smith (born 21 November 1915 at Clifton Hill Victoria died 29 July 1973 at Pascoe Vale Victoria was an Australian rules footballer and Harry Collier (1 October 1907—16 August 1994 was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League. Frank 'Bluey' Adams (Born 12th June 1935 is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL/AFL Adams a Stawell Gift and Bendigo Syd Coventry (13 June 1899 - 10 November 1976 was a former Australian rules footballer Originally from Diamond Creek Coventry journeyed across the Bass Strait after John "Jack" Worrall (20 June 1861 – 17 November 1937 was an Australian rules footballer for Fitzroy in the VFA and a test Cricketer Rene Kink (born 22 November 1956 is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood, St Kilda and Essendon in the VFL Thomas O'Halloran was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1925 and 1934 for the Richmond Football Club. John Raymond Dyer senior (13 November 1913 - 23 August 2003 always known as Jack Dyer, was one of the colossal figures of Australian rules football during Jack Bisset (born 1 September 1900 was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club and played for and coached the South Melbourne Allan Jeans (born 21 September 1933 is a legendary Australian rules football coach This article is about the Australian rules football player For the South African rugby player see Paul Roos (South Africa. Marcus Ashcroft (born 25 September 1971 in Melbourne) is a former Australian rules footballer who holds the records for the most games for the Brisbane Bears Greg Wells (born 6 June 1950 is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne and Carlton in the VFL during the 1970s and early Alastair Graeme Lynch (born 19 June 1968 is an Australian Football League full forward from Burnie, Tasmania who had a highly-successful career despite Gary Robert Ablett senior (born 1 October 1961 After a disastrous debut season with Hawthorn, the Geelong Football Club managed to lure Ablett back Dermott Hugh Brereton (born 19 August 1964 is a former champion Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League. Ronald Walford Todd (born 23 October 1916 was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the VFL in the 1930s Bob Pratt (31 August 1912 &mdash 6 January 2001 was a former Australian rules footballer from Mitcham Victoria. John Hendrie (born 11 June 1953 is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the VFL during the 1970s 9 (177) by Carlton vs Richmond 1972
Lowest Score 1. 7 (13) by Richmond vs Collingwood 1927
Highest Aggregate 327 points Carlton vs Richmond 1972
Lowest Aggregate 38 points Collingwood vs Richmond 1927
Highest Winning Margin 119 points by Geelong vs Port Adelaide 2007
Lowest Winning Margin 1 point by Fitzroy vs South Melbourne 1899, by Carlton vs Essendon 1947, by St Kilda vs Collingwood 1966, by West Coast vs Sydney 2006
Drawn Games 1948

1977

 Essendon vs Melbourne (Melbourne won replay)

Collingwood vs North Melbourne (North Melbourne won replay)
Postponed Games 1923 Essendon vs Fitzroy postponed one week due to bad weather
Highest Attendance 121,896 Collingwood vs Carlton 1970
Lowest Attendance 4,823 Fitzroy vs South Melbourne 1899
Best Score - 1st Qtr 8. 4 (52) by Carlton vs Richmond 1972, by Hawthorn vs Geelong (1989)
Best Score - 2nd Qtr 10. 2 (62) by Carlton vs Richmond 1972
Best Score - 3rd Qtr 11. 8 (74) by Essendon vs Melbourne 1946
Best Score - 4th Qtr 11. 3 (69) by Essendon vs Hawthorn 1985

Entertainment

Over the years many big Australian and international stars have performed or appeared at the Grand Final, although it has been consistently criticized for poor pre-game entertainment. [7][8] Notable entertainment includes:

Grand Final Entertainers
Year Entertainment
1977 Barry Crocker
1978 Keith Michell
1979 Mike Brady & John Farnham
1980 Peter Allen
1981 Jon English
1982 Rolf Harris
1983 Glenn Shorrock
1984 Slim Dusty
1985 Diana Trask
1986 Olivia Newton-John
1987 Daryl Somers
1988 Noel Watson
1989 John Farnham
1990 Normie Rowe
1991 Daryl Braithwaite
1992 Joan Carden
1993 Maroochy Barambah, Archie Roach & Yothu Yindi
1994 The Seekers & Debra Byrne
1995 Tina Arena
1996 A collection of past singers
1997 Scott Robert Little (saxophone)
1998 Muhammad Ali made an appearance. Barry Hugh Crocker OAM (born 4 November 1935, in Geelong Victoria, Australia) is a popular Australian singer with a crooning John Peter Farnham, AO (born July 1, 1949) is a British-born Australian pop Singer. Peter Allen ( February 10, 1944 &ndash June 18, 1992) was an Australian Songwriter and Entertainer. Jonathon James English (born 26 March, 1949 in Hampstead London, England) is a rock singer, Musician, Rolf Harris CBE, AM (born 30 March 1930) is an Australian Musician, Singer, Composer, painter Glenn Barrie Shorrock (born on June 30, 1944, in Chatham Kent, UK) is an Australian Singer and Songwriter David Gordon "Slim Dusty" Kirkpatrick AO, MBE ( 13 June, 1927 — 19 September 2003) was an Australian Diana Trask is an Australian and American country and pop singer born on June 23, 1940 in Melbourne, Australia Olivia Newton-John, AO, OBE (born September 26 1948) is a Grammy Award -winning and Golden Globe -nominated English-born Daryl Paul Somers OAM (born Daryl Scroltch August 6, 1951 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia) sometimes referred John Peter Farnham, AO (born July 1, 1949) is a British-born Australian pop Singer. Normie Rowe AM (born Norman John Rowe on 1 February 1947 in Melbourne, Australia) was the preeminent male solo star Daryl Braithwaite (born January 11, 1949 in Melbourne Australia) is an Australian pop Singer. Archie Roach (born 1956 Mooroopna, Victoria) is an Australian Musician. Yothu Yindi ( Yolngu for "child and mother") is an Australian band with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members The Seekers were a group of Australian folk -influenced popular musicians that was formed in Melbourne, in 1962 Debra Anne Byrne (born 30 March, 1957 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian Entertainer. Tina Arena (born 1 November 1967) is an Australian singer songwriter and Musical theatre actress Biography Early life Cassius Clay Jr was born on January 17 1942 Mark Seymour sang Holy Grail. Mark Seymour (born 1957 in Benalla Victoria) is an Australian musician and singer best known for his work as the frontman and songwriter of rock band Hunters Holy Grail is a song performed by the Australian band Hunters & Collectors on their 1992 album Cut. Rob Guest sang This Is The Moment and Advance Australia Fair. " Advance Australia Fair " is the official National anthem of Australia. Jane Scali and Michael Cormick sang Waltzing Matilda. "Waltzing Matilda" is Australia 's most widely known country Folk song, and has been referred to as 'the unofficial national anthem of Australia'
1999 Human Nature
2000
2001 Vanessa Amorosi
2002 Killing Heidi, The Whitlams, Kate Ceberano, The Human Tide. Human Nature is an Australian pop Vocal group. The group was originally formed as a Doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together Vanessa Joy Amorosi (born 8 August 1981) is an Australian Singer and recording artist Killing Heidi is an Australian rock band from Violet Town, Victoria. The Whitlams are a piano-based rock band based in Sydney. The original band consisted of Tim Freedman, Stevie Plunder and Andy Lewis Kate Ceberano (born 17 November, 1966) is an award winning Australian pop vocalist entertainer Mark Seymour sang Holy Grail. Mark Seymour (born 1957 in Benalla Victoria) is an Australian musician and singer best known for his work as the frontman and songwriter of rock band Hunters Holy Grail is a song performed by the Australian band Hunters & Collectors on their 1992 album Cut.
2003 Christine Anu, Gorgi Quill, the Australian idols
2004 Guy Sebastian sang both Waltzing Matilda and Advance Australia Fair, The Ten Tenors, Davis Hobson
2005 Silvie Paladino sang Advance Australia Fair. Christine Anu (born March 15, 1970) is an Australian pop singer Lead Up Port Adelaide defeated Geelong Cats by 55 points in the Qualifying Final at AAMI Stadium, which gave them a week off and a place in the Preliminary Guy Theodore Sebastian (born October 26, 1981) is an Australian, Singer-songwriter and winner of the first Australian Idol "Waltzing Matilda" is Australia 's most widely known country Folk song, and has been referred to as 'the unofficial national anthem of Australia' " Advance Australia Fair " is the official National anthem of Australia. The Ten Tenors (also known as TTT are an Australian musical ensemble with a strong live touring profile in Europe, Canada See also 2005 AFL Finals Series The 2005 AFL Grand Final took place on September 24 2005 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Silvie Paladino (born 18th August 1971 is a versatile and talented Australian Entertainer. " Advance Australia Fair " is the official National anthem of Australia. Delta Goodrem sang I Am Australian. Delta Lea Goodrem (born 9 November 1984 is a multi ARIA Award winning Australian Singer-songwriter, Pianist and Logie Award winning " I Am/We are Australian " is a popular Australian song written in 1987 by Bruce Woodley of The Seekers and Dobe Newton of The Bushwackers Michael Buble and Dame Edna Everage performed I Still Call Australia Home. Michael Steven Bublé (ˈbuːbleɪ or boo-BLAY (born 9 September, 1975) is a Canadian Big band singer and Actor. Dame Edna Everage is a character played by Australian Comedian Barry Humphries. " I Still Call Australia Home " is a song written and performed by Peter Allen in 1980. The Whitlams performed No Aphrodisiac. The Whitlams are a piano-based rock band based in Sydney. The original band consisted of Tim Freedman, Stevie Plunder and Andy Lewis " No Aphrodisiac " is the third single on The Whitlams third album Eternal Nightcap. Kath and Kim
2006 Brian Mannix, John Paul Young, Sean Kelly, Daryl Braithwaite and Shane Howard sang Advance Australia Fair. Kath & Kim is a Logie Award -winning character-driven Australian Television Comedy series created by Jane Turner and See also 2006 AFL Finals Series The 2006 AFL Grand Final was contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles at the Melbourne Brian Mannix (born 7 October 1961 in Melbourne) is an Australian rock music singer and actor John Paul Young (born June 21, 1950 in Glasgow, Scotland) is an Australian Singer best known for his 1978 worldwide hit Sean Kelly is the name of Seán Kelly (cyclist (born 1956 Irish professional road bicycle racer Seán Kelly (GAA President (born 1952 Daryl Braithwaite (born January 11, 1949 in Melbourne Australia) is an Australian pop Singer. " Advance Australia Fair " is the official National anthem of Australia. Irene Cara sang Flashdance (What A Feeling) plus appearances from Brian Mannix, John Paul Young, Sean Kelly, Daryl Braithwaite and Shane Howard performing a medley including Up There Cazaly, One Day in September, Solid Rock, Yesterday's Hero, The Horses, Everybody Wants to Work and I Hear Motion. Irene Cara Escalera ( March 18, 1959) is an American singer and actress " Flashdance What a Feeling " is an Academy Award winning song from the 1983 film Flashdance which was performed by Irene Cara. Brian Mannix (born 7 October 1961 in Melbourne) is an Australian rock music singer and actor John Paul Young (born June 21, 1950 in Glasgow, Scotland) is an Australian Singer best known for his 1978 worldwide hit Sean Kelly is the name of Seán Kelly (cyclist (born 1956 Irish professional road bicycle racer Seán Kelly (GAA President (born 1952 Daryl Braithwaite (born January 11, 1949 in Melbourne Australia) is an Australian pop Singer. " Up There Cazaly " is an Australian sporting catchphrase inspired by former St Kilda and South Melbourne great Roy Cazaly ("Up there Cazaly" One Day in September is a 1999 Documentary film directed by Kevin Macdonald examining the September 5, 1972 murder For the lizards of the same name see Goanna Goanna is an Australian band notable in integrating social protest with popular music Yesterday's Hero was a 1979 film starring Ian McShane, Suzanne Somers, Adam Faith and Paul Nicholas. Young Divas sang You're the Inspiration
2007 Natalie Bassingthwaighte sang Advance Australia Fair. Young Divas are a multi-platinum selling Australian Girl group currently consisting of Australian Idol Season 3 winner Kate DeAraugo " You're the Inspiration " is a song written by Peter Cetera and David Foster for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago See also 2007 AFL Finals Series The 2007 AFL Grand Final was the 111th VFL/AFL Grand Final and was contested between the Geelong Football Club Natalie Bassingthwaighte (born 1 September 1975) is a Gold Logie -nominated Australian Actress, Singer, and television personality " Advance Australia Fair " is the official National anthem of Australia. Jet performed Are You Gonna Be My Girl & Rollover DJ

Traditional songs

Tradition dictates that at every, or almost every, Grand Final, most of the following songs are performed, either by celebrity singers or choirs:

International telecasts

The AFL Grand Final is televised into many countries and grand final parties are held around the world. The following are television details for the 2006 AFL Grand Final. See also 2006 AFL Finals Series The 2006 AFL Grand Final was contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles at the Melbourne

See also

References

  1. ^ http://origin.www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20154208-662,00.html Grand Final's our top event. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located British Sky Broadcasting ( BSkyB — Sky Television and BSB) is a company that operates Sky Digital, a subscription television service in the Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Setanta Sports (sɛˈtantə is a sports broadcaster based in Ireland, operating 12 channels in 24 countries Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Canal+ is a Spanish pay television channel launched in September 1990 on Terrestrial television frequencies A Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sporting term used to describe a final that decides a league champion The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The perceived need for a structured final system was perhaps the most important single reason that eight senior clubs broke away from the Victorian Football Association (VFA in 1896 The McIntyre System, or systems because there have been five of them is a Playoff system that gives an advantage to teams or competitors qualifying higher The current AFL finals system was devised by the Australian Football League in 2000 as its end-of-season championship Playoff Tournament. This page is a chronological listing of Australian Football League premiers. One Day in September is a song written and performed by Australian musician Mike Brady. heraldsun. com. au August 17, 2006. Events 986 - A Byzantine army was destroyed in the pass of Trajan's Gate by the Bulgarians under the Comitopuli Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. URL accessed 5 September 2006
  2. ^ Australian Stadiums :: AFL Grand Final: WCE v SYD
  3. ^ A Short History of the MCG. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2007-09-14. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus.
  4. ^ Top 20 Programs - Ranking Report (E) 18-24 September, OzTam.
  5. ^ Grand final's free kick to economy a tough call
  6. ^ See Early VFL Final systems for more details. The perceived need for a structured final system was perhaps the most important single reason that eight senior clubs broke away from the Victorian Football Association (VFA in 1896
  7. ^ Grand folly
  8. ^ Final show no-no
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