Game Day Top 10 AFL finals of the 2000s

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Cats v Pies prelim in 2007, the hawks v cats in 2011 & the drawn WC v Pies Semi were 3 of the most intense finals I have watched.

Looking at the games now- the game seemed so much slower in comparison to today. Even in a relatively short period of time it has quickened significantly.
 

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Was it the 2009(?) GF St Kilda v Geelong, that whole passage of play that lead to the Chapman goal was breathtaking to watch heart in mouth sort of stuff.

2010 GF St Kilda v Collingwood, Collingwood all over them at half time, should have put them away but didn't St Kilda come out after half time and play some of the hardest toughest footy you will ever see, I've never seen Lenny Hayes kick 55m in my time watching football, but the champ kicks it 55m straight through the middle, and of course the Brendan Goddard mark, what a moment to step up.
 
8 goals in good weather should never be listed as a good game. Ever.

Just terrible.

It was essentially a wet weather game. For some reason (I think they may have been worried about the hardness of the centre square) they watered the ground a couple of hours before the game.

But yeah, the first three quarters really did suck. But that fourth quarter has to go down as one of the best quarters of all time.
 
It was essentially a wet weather game. For some reason (I think they may have been worried about the hardness of the centre square) they watered the ground a couple of hours before the game.

But yeah, the first three quarters really did suck. But that fourth quarter has to go down as one of the best quarters of all time.

2013 Hawks vs Cats Prelim if you want final quarters. Burgoyne carries an entire team over the line.
 
2006 QF between West Coast and Sydney has to be on the list.

Numerous lead changes and momentum swings. The superstars had great games from memory as well. Judd was awesome, especially the last quarter and Hall kicked a bag.

It also had one of the most iconic moments of the decade with Micky O screaming at the Eagles cheer squad after the winning goal.

Much much better game than the 05 GF.
 
2002 semi final. Adelaide 130 def Melbourne 118

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That was a ****en corker. Johnstone and Yze snagging goals from the boundary if I recall. Regardless that was easily one of the best finals of all time. You guys erased a deficit, then so did the crows.


Electric football.
 
That was a ****en corker. Johnstone and Yze snagging goals from the boundary if I recall. Regardless that was easily one of the best finals of all time. You guys erased a deficit, then so did the crows.


Electric football.
Yep. 40 down at quarter time and 20 something up at three quarter time. Vardy also kicked one from the same pocket as Yze and Johnstone.
 
2013 Hawks vs Cats Prelim if you want final quarters. Burgoyne carries an entire team over the line.

I mean, I don't remember that game but looking at the stats, Burgoyne kicked one goal in the final quarter and had 24 disposals for the day. I'm sure he was great because I've seen Burgoyne kill us enough times, but that's no four goals in a quarter (when we'd only kicked three in the first three quarters) including a juggling goal on the run with 2 seconds left. It's literally one of the craziest things to happen in football.

It's okay, not everything amazing has to involve Hawthorn.
 

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I mean, I don't remember that game but looking at the stats, Burgoyne kicked one goal in the final quarter and had 24 disposals for the day. I'm sure he was great because I've seen Burgoyne kill us enough times, but that's no four goals in a quarter (when we'd only kicked three in the first three quarters) including a juggling goal on the run with 2 seconds left. It's literally one of the craziest things to happen in football.

It's okay, not everything amazing has to involve Hawthorn.
24 Burgoyne touches is worth 80 anybody else touches
 
In no particular order.. just off the top of my head (These are the ones I enjoyed)
1:2015 Elim Final against the Dogs and the Crows was an epic game.
2:2016 Prelim GWS v Bulldogs
3: 2010 Drawn GF Pies v Saints
4: 2001 Prelim Essendon v Hawks
5: 2005 Semi Crows smashing Poort
6: 2001 Semi Port v Hawks
7: 2002 Qualifying final Port v pies
8: 2003 Qualifying final Port v Swans
9: 2009 GF Cats v Saints
10: 2007 GF Cats v Port
 
It was essentially a wet weather game. For some reason (I think they may have been worried about the hardness of the centre square) they watered the ground a couple of hours before the game.

But yeah, the first three quarters really did suck. But that fourth quarter has to go down as one of the best quarters of all time.

Game was going to be played at ANZ originally, but nrl had first dibs
 
Dogs v Giants prelim
Possibly the best game of football I've seen.

2009 Bulldogs Saints prelim was the most intense game of football I'd seen at the time, Brian Lake brain-fade was possibly all that separated the teams. Dale Morris played on a broken leg :eek:

2005 & 2006 Grand Finals deserve mention too, tight and tough games separated by little.
 
Some of those Eagles ones were pretty good, the one v Collingwood that went to extra time and then also the game v Port Adelaide where Cuzzy did his hamstring. Really close games and had that real intensity and passion in the stands that all good finals do. You could feel it on TV.
 
10: 2000 1st Qualifying Final: Essendon 198 def Nth Melbourne 73
Arguably the most perfect football ever played in a final. Essendon were unstoppable from start to end and had winners everywhere. Joe Misiti had 41 possessions and 4 goals, Matthew Lloyd kicked 7, James Hird 5 in the opening half to help the Bombers compile what still stands as the highest ever score in any final and the second biggest winning margin in any final.
Good to see a thrashing included. Sometimes we underrate games where a team powers over the top of another. Yes, it's usually much better when finals are close, but every now and then a game that goes all one way is enjoyable too.

Geelong's twin beltings of North and Port Adelaide in 2007 were highly enjoyable. They were exhibitions of a team playing at their highest, executing seamlessly. Hawthorn's 2014 demolition of Sydney another - not as big a margin, but a brutal kerb stomping of a more highly fancied opponent in the biggest game of the year.

I've seen the Essendon vs North QF a few times since - it's not even that North are playing that poorly. Everything Essendon does is perfect in that game, especially in the opening quarter.
 
Yep. 40 down at quarter time and 20 something up at three quarter time. Vardy also kicked one from the same pocket as Yze and Johnstone.
Fantastic game. On a different note I don't know what it was about the dees playing finals every two years.

98
2000
2002
2004
2006

Going back before then it was 94. Strange sequence they made the even years for a period 94-2006 only missing out on 96. In that time we saw some great football though. I loved the names of Neitz, Shwarz, Jackovich, Lyon, Smith from an offensive look. Even guys like Sean Charles and Doyle and Hilton for lesser periods. Tingay, Lovell, Lovett, Obst, Viney, love em! I recall one game, may have been in 93, I think Lovett and Lovell each snagged 8 goals. May have been vs the Tigers, or perhaps a Fitzroy or Sydney.

Anyway good footy over the years and good on Woewodin for the brownlow. I remember him saying he used to have his food weighed at restaurants. Good on him, it all paid off.
 
The Nick Davis last quarter was crazy but the game was a shocker from memory.
This. The last quarter was amazing, but the first three quarters were awful. It was like a poorer cousin of the 1999 final between WCE and the Bulldogs. The 2005 QF and PF for the Swans were far superior games all round, it was the Swans fourth best performance in that finals series. The Swans, Eagles and Crows failed to bring their best four quarter football to that finals series (although the Swans fourth quarter against the Saints was sensational)

I have to give it to Port, they were in a lot of the more memorable finals of the decade. The 2002 QF (which felt like a massive result at the time), the 2004 PF & the 2007 QF. I didn't watch the 2001 SF but that would be up there as well. The chokes, the Lions rivalry, the Showdown, the North trolling, etc. Hated them at the time, but they were a common denominator in memorable finals.
 
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What are finals and where can I get one?
****ing lol!

Vs the crows and saints in 98 and blues and roos in 2000 were good for you guys.

Enjoyed 2004 game vs dons too. Wicked bump on Hird then Johnstone nailed a pearler from about 50 in from the boundary.

Good come back in 2006 vs saints too. Upset win from behind. I think you were down 23 at ht, could have been 17, and some campaigner plonked 20k at $1.20 on the saints. Unlucky bastard. I recall thinking what a stupid campaigner at the time, looking back at it seemed a good bet.
 

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Game Day Top 10 AFL finals of the 2000s

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