The AFL Finals Series regularly produces dramatic, emotional, unforgettable, and controversial moments. From legendary comebacks and heroic individual efforts to heartbreak and controversial calls, finals football creates history in interesting ways. Here are some of the greatest moments that fans still talk about.
Key Takeaways
- The 1970 Carlton comeback, 1989 Hawthorn–Geelong clash, and 2018 West Coast thriller stand among the greatest Grand Finals of all time.
- Finals beyond the Grand Final, such as Gary Ablett's after-the-siren goal in 1994 and Tony Lockett's winning point in 1996, demonstrate that September drama occurs every week.
- Comebacks define footy folklore from St Kilda’s one-point win in 1966 to Essendon’s nine-goal surge in 1984.
- Controversy is part of the AFL story, with drawn Grand Finals (1977, 2010) and umpiring decisions in 1997 and 2009 sparking debate for years.
- These finals moments highlight the unpredictability, excitement, and history-making power of AFL football.
Greatest AFL Grand Finals of All Time
The AFL Grand Final is easily more than just a game. These include legendary performances, heartbreak, and some of the best football. Some Grand Finals are exhibitions of skill, whereas others will be remembered for controversy, moments of brilliance, or changing a club's history forever. Here are four key finals that each left a legacy.
1970: Carlton vs Collingwood
The 1970 Grand Final at the MCG is among the greatest ever. With Collingwood leading by 44 points at half-time, they looked certain to win. However, Carlton, inspired by coach Ron Barassi's call to "handball, handball, handball", would go on to win. The game would change football tactics forever.
Carlton’s win over Collingwood in the 1970 Grand Final remains the biggest comeback in AFL Grand Final history. Trailing by 44 points at half-time, the Blues responded to Ron Barassi’s famous call to “handball, handball, handball” and completely changed the course of the match. That rally not only delivered a flag but also revolutionised the way Australian rules football was played.
1989: Hawthorn vs Geelong
A showcase of toughness and skill. Hawthorn won 21.18 (144) to 21.12 (138). Demott Brereton played on after being flattened at the opening bounce. Gary Ablett Sr. kicked nine goals for Geelong, even though they'd still lose. Injuries, big hits, and courage. This match showed how brilliant football could be.
2005: Sydney vs West Coast
The 2005 Grand Final marked the end of the Sydney Swans' 72-year drought. With seconds remaining, Leo Barry rose above the pack to take one of the most famous marks in AFL history. The Swans won 8.10 (58) to 7.12 (54). This was their first flag since 1933! A tense, low-scoring match, but Barry's mark sealed it in style.
Few moments in footy are replayed as often as Leo Barry’s contested grab in the dying seconds of the 2005 Grand Final. His mark sealed Sydney’s victory over West Coast and ended the Swans’ 72-year wait for a premiership. For fans, it’s a snapshot of what AFL finals are all about: courage, timing, and unforgettable theatre.
2018: West Coast vs Collingwood
A modern classic with a dramatic ending. Collingwood started strongly, kicking the first five goals. West Coast clawed back into the contest. The scores were tight in the dying minutes when Eagles forward Dom Sheed kicked a set-shot goal from near the boundary. West Coast would hold on to win 11.13 (79) to 11.8 (74).
Best AFL Finals Games Beyond the Grand Final
The Grand Final is the pinnacle of the AFL season and naturally brings lots of great football. However, the whole Final Eight, including the preliminary finals and semi-finals, have also delivered brilliance, heartbreak, and heroics. These games prove that you should really be watching every match in the AFL Finals Series.
1994: Gary Ablett Sr. After-the-Siren Goal (Preliminary Final)
In the 1994 preliminary final between Geelong and North Melbourne, the scores were tied in the final seconds. Geelong legend Gary Ablett Sr. marked just before the siren. Calmly slotting the goal to seal a 16.13 (109) to 15.15 (105) victory, he sent the Cats through to the Grand Final. Although Geelong would fall short in the final, this kick gave them hope for another week.
1996: Preliminary Final – Plugger’s Point for Sydney
The Swans hadn't reached a Grand Final in 50 years. In 1996, they had their chance. They were facing Essendon at the SCG. The match was tied when full-forward Tony "Plugger" Lockett was awarded a free kick outside 50. While the kick after the siren fell short, it bounced through for a behind, which gave Sydney a 14.10 (94) to 13.16 (94) win. The Swans booked their place in their first Grand Final since 1945.
In the 1996 preliminary final, Tony "Plugger" Lockett etched his name into AFL history with a kick that fell short of the goal line but bounced through for a behind. That single point was enough to put Sydney into their first Grand Final since 1945, and the roar at the SCG has gone down as one of the loudest in football. It proved that finals legends aren't always remembered for goals. Sometimes, a point can change everything.
2013: Fremantle vs Geelong – Freo’s Breakthrough at Kardinia Park
By winning their first-ever final on Victorian soil, Fremantle made history. They took on Geelong at Kardinia Park, with the Dockers producing an upset. Winning 12.15 (87) to 9.18 (72). Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters were stellar in attack, and the victory was an example of Fremantle's rise under Ross Lyon.
Unforgettable AFL Grand Final Comebacks
AFL matches are never over. No matter what the score. With the AFL Grand Finals often decided by fine margins, these margins aren't always so fine during the match. Nothing's more memorable than seeing a trailing team come back to win or even drastically close the gap. Here are some of the finest comebacks throughout the history of footie.
1966 – St Kilda’s One-Point Triumph
St Kilda's only premiership was a dramatic one. In the 1966 Grand Final, the Saints trailed. Barry Breen's famous wobbly kick sailed through for a behind, giving St Kilda a 10.14 (74) to 10.13 (73) victory. An emotional and nerve-wracking finish, it would give St Kilda their first and only flag so far.
1984 – Essendon’s Last-Quarter Surge
In the 1984 Grand Final, Hawthorn held a comfortable lead at three-quarter time. The Bombers went on to produce one of the greatest final-term performances ever. Essendon outscored the Hawks with nine goals in the last quarter and won 14.21 (105) to 12.9 (81). It was also their first flag in almost 20 years, and they'd go on to win back-to-back premierships under coach Kevin Sheedy.
2022 – Geelong’s Relentless Start and Finish
This match wasn't a traditional comeback. Instead, Geelong had lost multiple Grand Finals in the modern era. Could the Cats come back from other finals losses? They defeated Sydney 20.13 (133) to 8.4 (52), and the emphatic win was a decade-long story of redemption. A comeback for a club that many had written off.
Most Controversial AFL Finals Moments
Football isn't immune to controversial moments. While many finals matches produce legendary goals and heroic comebacks, some moments spark debates. Umpiring decisions, drawn matches, and last-minute calls have shaped AFL history, with many fans still divided over what the results should have been. Drama and controversy are as much a part of what makes finals unforgettable.
1977 – The Grand Final Draw and Replay
The 1977 Grand Final between North Melbourne and Collingwood ended in a 76-76 draw. This was the first tie in VFL/AFL Grand Final history, and a replay was ordered the following week. While North Melbourne won the replay comfortably and fans got another week of epic football, the system came under criticism for forcing both players and supporters into an extra game.
2010 – Another Grand Final Draw
In 2010, history repeated itself. Collingwood and St Kilda drew 68-68. With the replay rule still in place, the Pies thrashed the Saints the following week to claim the flag. Though these drawn Grand Finals were rare, the debate raged on, and the backlash was so intense against it that the AFL changed the rules. Since 2016, all finals are decided on the day.
2009 – Tom Hawkins’ ‘Goal’ in the Grand Final
The 2009 Grand Final between Geelong and St Kilda was epic, but there's a moment that's still mired in controversy. Tom Hawkin's third-quarter shot hit the post but was signalled as a goal. The Cats went on to win 80-68, and many, particularly Saints fans, argue that the error cost them a fair chance at winning.
1997 – Umpiring in the Adelaide–Western Bulldogs Prelim
In one of the most controversial umpiring displays in finals history, Adelaide received a string of free kicks against the Western Bulldogs in the preliminary final. They overturned a deficit, winning 12.21 (93) to 13.13 (91). The Crows would go on to win their first premiership, but Bulldogs fans still feel that this match was taken from them unfairly.
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