Top 5 AFL Grand Final Games of the 21st Century
Every goal, every kick, every drop of sweat and every club song played at the end of a game is in pursuit of one thing: the AFL Premiership Cup. The fans dream of it, the players work hard for it, and the entire footy world waits in anticipation for it.
Here, we have compiled our top 5 most memorable AFL Grand Final games of the 21st Century.
2016 – Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans
After finishing seventh on the ladder, the Bulldogs entered the big stage to end their 62-year Premiership drought. Moving their status from underdogs to top dogs, there was no shortage of moments that made this Premiership special. From no Western Bulldog’s player having appeared in a Grand Final before to Tom Boyd’s goal from inside the centre square, it was all topped off by Luke Beveridge awarding his Jock Mchale medal to injury-ridden Bob Murphy. Fan or foe, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight.
2005 – Sydney Swans vs West Coast
There is a reason this Grand Final remains the highest-rated AFL game of all time. Having not won a Premiership since 1933, the valiant Sydney Swans closed the deal with a four-point margin. The closeness of the match in its final minutes and the struggle of both teams to gain control over their opponent though fierce competition is why this game is aptly labelled a classic.
2010 – Collingwood vs St. Kilda
No one will ever forget the exhaustion and disappointment of the players as the final siren rang and neither team could claim victory. After drawing in the first game, at 68 points each, St. Kilda and Collingwood met again a week later to determine a winner. The full replay saw Collingwood defeat St. Kilda by 56 points. It was the last ever Grand Final to be replayed thanks to the introduction of extra time in the case of a draw.
2017 – Richmond vs Adelaide Crows
The 2017 AFL Grand Final is synonymous with two words: pressure and perseverance. Richmond pushed hard for their win against the Crows and brought their renowned fierce competitiveness. While Dustin Martin was the star of the show, the real winner was the suburb of Richmond. Declared a public party zone after the Premiership, the sea of black and yellow saturated the area with glorious triumph and emotional relief.
2018 – West Coast vs Collingwood
Regarded as one of the best Grand Finals of all time, the 2018 Premiership was won by West Coast with a margin of just five points. Collingwood dominated the first half of the game, until the third quarter when West Coast found their feet and wrapped up the quarter on level scores. The quick-fire course of the fourth quarter saw both teams trade goals until The Eagles secured victory in the final minutes of play.
Relive These Top Moments
Nothing unites the lovers of the game quite like the highs and lows of a thrilling AFL Grand Final. Relive your favourite match and watch back the stunning moments that make these games great. Then grab a footy, hit the oval with your friends and enjoy a kick in honour of your AFL heroes.