One of my daughters – I don’t know which one – used to love Scooby Doo as a kid.
Actually, I know exactly which one it was but she sometimes reads these columns and I wanted her to frown a little when she did.
Anyway, at the end of just about every episode, the gang would solve the mystery, capture the bad guy/monster, and unmask them to reveal their true identity. And once the mask came off, the villain would always lament that “I would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddling kids”
Ahhh, the memories.
What has all this got to do with footy, and more importantly, Grand Finals?
Well, we all have things we wish were different. We wish we could go back and change something that, in our minds, would make everything else better, right? I am sure players, officials, and coaches have exactly that when they remember Grand Finals they wound up losing. Perhaps there was a circumstance during the season or finals that switched momentum away from them or toward their eventual GF opponent? Maybe something that was completely out of control tipped the balance in favour of their opposition and cost them the chance at the flag?
Maybe they would have gotten away with a flag had it not been for those meddling umpires? Right, Sydney fans? Eh?
Whilst we could go back in time forever to find these little instances – Wayne Harmes “keeping the ball in play” is one that still riles Collingwood fans half a century later – but we’ll stick with the time period from when the AFL actually became the AFL.
Let’s go back and look at the instances that could have cost a team the flag from 1990 onwards.
1990 – THE BOMBERS HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT AS COLLINGWOOD AND WEST COAST PLAY IT ALL AGAIN.
Ah yes, the days before extra time in finals… remember them? Peter Sumich had a chance to win it for the Eagles and send them to the Grand Final, but he cocked up and the game was replayed the next week.
Look, we cut the bloke some slack here – it was a pretty tough shot at goal, and Sumich wasn’t exactly the most reliable kick for a bloke who would go onto kick a ton in 1991.
This draw pushed the Grand Final into October, eliminating the chances of the Colliwobbles striking in September. It also made the Bombers sit around for a week and when the game started against the Pies, they looked like a team that just could not get going again.
Despite winning another two flags since (one again in October due to a draw) the Pies’ were able to carry their winning form over in 1990.
Bloody Sumich.
1991 – THE HAWKS WIN THE GRAND FINAL AT WAVERLEY AND ANGRY ANDERSON DEAFENS SEVERAL EAGLES PLAYERS
No Grand Final was played at Waverley before, and none since, as the MCG was undergoing extensive renovations at the time.
West Coast were the best side all year, but were knocked over by the Hawks in both the Qualifying Final, and again in the Grand Final. Their charge toward their first flag would have to wait 12 months as the “too old, too slow” Hawks proved to have one more flag in the tank.
The day was marred by a tragic halftime performance from Angry Anderson in his batmobile. Some have speculated that West Coast players could actually hear the ruckus from their change rooms, causing many to feel physically ill at the main break, and leaving several requiring ongoing counselling in the aftermath.
1995 – GREG WILLIAMS WAS BEING PAID OUTSIDE THE SALARY CAP
Yeah, Carlton’s last flag, and the bloke being paid under the table managed to collect the lazy 31 touches and snag five goals while playing on the ball. He was awarded the Norm Smith Medal and the Blues secured the flag, which the AFL were too gutless to take off them when the extent of their salary cap rorting became apparent.
But everyone was doing it, right?
Maybe… but you got caught and this is a tainted flag.
1996 – WEST COAST FORCED TO HOST A HOME FINAL AT THE MCG
Oh yes, the days when the AFL were held to ransom by the MCC to host huge finals at the MCG.
Luckily, those days ended in… hmmmm… about 36 years from now, if we’re lucky.
When people talk about VicBias, THIS is what they refer to. West Coast lost to the Bombers by 77 points, and though Sydney would knock over the Bombers in the Prelim, it robbed the Eagles of their chance to win at home and head to the Prelim fresh.
Imagine earning a home final and having to play it at your opponent’s home ground? That sort of stuff should only happen to Geelong!
1997 – LIBBA’S SHOT WAS A GOAL
Nah, it wasn’t, but that didn’t stop the little man leaping into the arms of his teammates and celebrating like he just landed a supermodel.
When that shot at goal was deemed a behind, the Crows were on a roll, and with Darren Jarman at his brilliant best up forward, they rolled over the Dogs, had players and supporters alike shedding tears, and moved into the Grand Final where they knocked over the Saints for their first premiership.
But for a few centimeres, the Dogs’ drought may have been over a couple of decades earlier.
1998 – CROWS FINISH FIFTH, LOSE THEIR FIRST FINAL AND ARE NOT ELIMINATED
Back when the finals matchups were different to what we have today, you could finish outside the top four, lose the first week, and live to fight another day.
And that is exactly what the Crows did after being well-beaten by the Dees in the first week. They bounced back to win three on the trot and claim back-to-back flags.
Oh, and North kicking 6.15 in the first half to leave the door wide open kind of helped, as well.
Once the finals series was refined, a loss like that would have seen the Crows on September holidays.
1999 – WEST COAST ARE AGAIN FORCED TO HOST A FINAL AT THE MCG. CARLTON LOSES AFTER FINISHING SIXTH AND STILL GOES THROUGH TO THE GRAND FINAL
Geez, this MCG finals quota was still dragging on, with the Eagles once again shafted.
This time, the Eagles won the Qualifying Final against the Dogs at the MCG and were forced to head back there again the next weekend to face the Blues.
Carlton kicked away to win by nine goals, only to fall in the Grand Final to North, but I am annoyed because this garbage setup with the MCC cost us the chance of a Carey v Jakovich clash on the biggest stage of them all. The grandest stage deserved the grandest of forward versus defender clashes, and this Carey v akovich clash would have been THE game to define their rivalry.
A while back, we ran an article on the two giants of the game and who won their personal war. I had them about even over the journey, but a win on a GF clash would have tipped the scales.
2001 – BRISBANE ARE USING INTRAVENOUS DRIPS IN THE ROOMS, FOR GOD’S SAKE!
Long before any supplement saga rocked the footy world, Brisbane were casually getting hooked up to drips in the rooms to replenish fluids during a game.
Yep, some off for a rest, roll up the sleeve (if you were wearing a long sleeve) and get a bit of the good stuff in ya!
I hate this saying, but this was not a good look for the game. Maybe as well have done a line or two to get the blood really pumping.
2004 – ST KILDA FANS RUN ONTO THE GROUND AFTER THE G-TRAIN KICKS HIS 100TH FOR THE SEASON. ST KILDA MOMENTUM KILLED. PORT WINS AND GOES THROUGH TO THE GF
You remember this, right?
Playing away at Football Park, the Saints started well, and seemed to have the momentum. Gehrig kicked two early goals and looked on, however, as he went back and slotted his 100th goal of the season, the fans jumped the fence and raced out to surround the big fella.
Gehrig retreated up the race, the game was paused, and Port composed themselves.
Momentum halted.
Port would go on to win a narrow victory and head into the Grand Final where they demolished a battle-weary Brisbane team. The Saints had many chances at flags, but this was one of the biggest. They blew it.
2005 – BARRY HALL PLAYS DESPITE IT BEING EVIDENT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AFTER THE PRELIM
When Barry Hall gave Jason Blake a shot to the guts 50 metres off the ball, it should have been the moment that cost him a Grand Final.
However, the Swans argued that the incident occurred “in play”, exploiting a loophole in the rules.
“I got away with one,” Hall later admitted. “What can you do?”
Hall kicked two goals in the Grand Final. Sydney won by four points. The Eagles are really getting screwed as part of this list, thus far, aren’t they?
2006 – THE DRUGS DO WORK
A cloud hangs over this era of the West Coast Eagles, who were as good a team as you’ll find, but were also up to their eyeballs in controversy, as well.
The team had Ben Cousins, whose trials and tribulations have been well-documented, but they also had Chad Fletcher “flatline” whilst in Las Vegas following the season, and less than 12 months later, Eagles premiership hero, Chris Mainwaring overdosed and passed away.
Whilst the Eagles would go onto clean up their act and have another successful run just over a decade later, you have to wonder how good this team could have been had they been able to control themselves?
2008 – THE HAWKS TAKE THE PISS OUT OF THE RUSHED BEHIND RULE
Do you know how many rushed behinds there were for the Hawks in their surprise win over the Cats in 2008?
11.
11 times, Hawthorn defenders either waited for pressure to walk the footy over the line, or blatantly gave up a behind in order to retain possession and minimise damage.
It worked, with the Hawks knocking over one of the more dominant teams of the last 20 years, but in the process, they paved the way for the AFL to change the rules around rushing a behind. To little, too late for the Cats, though, as act two of their dynasty would have to wait another 12 months.
2010 – THE LAST DRAWN GRAND FINAL
Down by four goals at halftime, the Saints worked their way back into the game in the second half, and appeared poised to grab their first flag since 1966.
Alas, fate stepped in and dealt them a cruel blow, with the ball bouncing at right angles in front of Stephen Milne with an open goal, and the lead, beckoning.
How many times has Milne replayed that moment over in his head? How many times have Saints fans done the same?
There was no extra time – St Kilda had momentum but they would be forced to front up the following week for Round Two, and the Pies were cherry ripe. Once again for the Saints, close, but no cigar.
2011 – MEATLOAF THREW EVERYONE OFF THEIR GAME, EXCEPT FOR GEELONG WHO LIVE IN A BOGAN TOWN AND ARE USED TO POOR MUSIC
Alright, this one is a stretch, but how could anyone concentrate with that racket going on unless you were used to living close to trashy music lovers?
And before you accuse me of being anti-Geelong… I drive through there – I don’t stop – Leopold… Norlane… mate, I just keep on driving and head to Ocean Grove.
In your heart of hearts, can you blame me?
2016 – UMPIRING
Ask a Western Bulldogs supporters about the umpiring in the 2016 Grand Final and they’ll smile. Ask a Swans fan about it… duck for cover!
Sydney received just eight free kicks for the game, and none in the tight third quarter, as the Dogs pushed their way to the lead.
After reviewing the game, the AFL admitted the umpiring was not up to standard in the game. And what good did that do Sydney?
2017 – TRENT COTCHIN GETS OFF FOR HITTING DYLAN SHIEL IN THE PRELIM
Haha, this is not my thing – I loved what Cotchin did, but stemming from that incident, there has been an entire generation of people who swear black and blue (or yellow and black) that Cotchin is a dirty player.
He’s just hard at it, guys.
Anyway, the fact he got off caused many to state that the AFL wanted the Tigers to win the flag, and maybe they did. But when they came out and laid waste to Adelaide in the decider, you’ve gotta admit, it probably wouldn’t have mattered if Cotchin was out there, or not.
But I am glad he was.
2018 – RIOLI BLOCKED MAYNARD
Brayden Maynard was waving his arms around like he was trying to take off as he appealed for the blocking free kick late in the game against Willie Rioli, but at that point of the game, it would have taken a brave umpire to pay a block against Rioli. Had Dom Sheed not been in the vicinity, it appeared as though Rioli had the best position to mark the footy versus the defender.
Anyway, the rest is history – a dagger to the heart of the Pies in the form of Sheed’s kick at goal gave the Eagles the win and the premiership, leaving Collingwood supporters wondering why there was one rule for games all season, and it was thrown out the window for the last game of the year?
2020 – THE WHOLE SEASON WAS A SHITFEST
It was. I’m glad we got one, but it was horrible.
Shortened games, slippery Queensland conditions all the bloody time, no crowds permitted, stupid rules when they were (“don’t touch the football if it comes near you”… remember that crap?).
In the end, the Tigers won, and grabbed themselves back-to-back flags, with Dustin Martin laying claim to the mantle of best Grand Final player of all-time, with a third Norm Smith Medal.
Still, I was just pleased to get through a season and move onto the next one – a more normal season.
2023 – NEALE WAS LEGGED!
The Lions made up for this disappointment 12 months later, a free kick to Lachie Neale, who was tackled around the legs by Oleg Markov in the dying moments of the 2023 Grand Final, was controversially called as an “advantage” to the Lions. Zac Bailey grabbed the footy and bagned it forward, unaware the free had been paid.
The Pies gathered the loose footy and iced the game with possession footy.
Did that advantage call rob the Lions of the chance to pick up a flag 12 months earlier? Or was it in the flow of the game? I guess it depends on who you barrack for, and/or who you had money on.
I know there are a couple you’ll throw into the mix. Hell, had Brisbane still been in the mix despite a contentious score review decision, that would have been interesting. There were no score reviews for a Tom Hawkins shot at goal in 2009, or Anthony Rocca in 2002.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
