The last round of the AFL Home and Away season is always a strange time. There’s sadness for the fans and players of 10 teams who for them, Round 23 is the last time they will take to the field. Sadness as we say goodbye to legends (and some not so legendary) of the game who have decided it’s time to retire. Apprehension for coaches of teams that didn’t make finals. Will they be looking for a job come Christmas time, or much sooner?

But mostly, round 23 brings excitement – because finals are just around the corner. Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of year!

So while 10 teams supporters are thinking about booking their 2022 AFL finals tickets, let’s look at some classic Qualifying Finals from previous years.

West Coast v Sydney, 2006 – O’Loughlin Bellows

The drama of this match has echoed through the ages (well, the last 15 years anyway).

After Sydney broke away by 22 points, the Eagles lifted and two teams wrestled the lead between them in a low scoring game, the final quarter was a rollercoaster.

A goal for goal shootout ended with the Swans making a break down the center with a quick series of handpasses and big kick to Malceski.

West Coast’s defenders madly tried to intercept Malceski’s punt from the centre, which found a one-on-one contest. West Coast’s Banfield fisted the ball, but it backfired horribly.

The ball continued directly into the path of a gleeful O’Loughlin who chased it down into the goal square and slammed it onto his boot mere metres from the goal line.

O’Loughlin’s bellow in the face of Eagles fans at the fence is now legendary.

The Swans defence clung on, and the Eagles could not answer, giving the game and a home Preliminary Final to the Swans.

Brisbane v Richmond, 2020 – Tiger Hoodoo

The Lions took control of this game, but with ten minutes to go the Tigers lifted.

Rioli goaled. Bolton snapped from the boundary and collected some padding for “point of the year”.

Jack Riewoldt marked a long, high kick and goaled from 20m.

The Tigers had hope! The Lions just could not seal the match.

With 2:40 to go, and after a messy toe poke from Robbo, McLuggage took a hand pass, dropped it onto his boot under pressure and the Lions celebrated.

At the siren it was into the Prelim for the Lions for the first time in 16 years!

Geelong v St Kilda, 2010 – “You’ve just lost us the game!”

BigFooty Cats forum’s sponsored player Travis Varcoe distinguished himself early with two goals, but then St Kilda took off.

Geelong were in trouble by the third, down by 33 with commentators calling the game for the Saints.

Geelong narrowed the gap in the third, and by the end of the fourth trailed by only 4 points.

With barely a minute to go the Cats made their final play. Milburn hacked the ball through the centre to the pack. Nobody could keep a hold of it as it went from hand to hand.

Cameron Mooney fell in the back of Gwilt as Gwilt awkwardly offloaded into the hands of Cameron Ling, who took this gift and ran.

The umpire blew the whistle madly, but Cameron Ling didn’t hear it over the wild crowd noise! He took a few steps and launched the ball towards the goals. It rolled through as the crowd and players cheered madly. They thought this was the winning goal!

The whistle was still blowing, and to the disbelief of everyone the ball was called back as a free to Gwilt. No goal!

Dennis Commetti chimed in with an understated “Hello! Controversy!”

Cam Mooney remonstrated with the umpire “You’ve just lost us the game!”

To no avail. The siren sounded and it was the underdog Saints who won the match.

Collingwood v Brisbane, 2003 – “Didak!”

The Lions lead for most of the game, with big names of their triple premiership era in a great finals series.

With barely ten minutes to go, however, the Pies had worn the lead back to a single point.

“Didak!”

Then Alan Didak took a mark on Collingwood’s defensive 50. He steadied and kicked forward to Woewodin who won the contest with Martin Pike and took the mark.

Meanwhile Didak wasn’t sitting idle. He had taken off up the boundary and was ready. Taking the ball uncontested about 60m out from the Lions goals, he played on, ran to the Lion’s defensive 50 and slotted home a huge kick.

The Pies were in front!

Despite their best efforts, the Lions just couldn’t get the lead back.

Do you think Didak had finished? Hell no.

With little time left, he took a mark on the boundary, a good 40m out. The crowd erupted.

Didak kicked from nearly 50m, outside the boundary, and it went through the big sticks. Joffa got the gold jacket on and 50 seconds later the final siren blew. Pies win.

And if that didn’t make you want to check out all AFL Qualifying Final tickets and dining packages and AFL Elimination Final tickets and dining packages then nothing will.