Where does the 2023 AFL grand final rank?

[BigVic]

Up in my top 10 as one of the great grand finals of all time. After a few years of blowouts and one-sided grand finals which are common, it was refreshing to have a close game on Saturday between two great clubs with the margin not exceeding more than 13 points (Brisbane's lead in the 2Q)

My personal top 10 of the 21st century

1. 2023 AFL grand final
2. 2010 Drawn Grand Final
3. 2012 AFL Grand Final
4. 2006 AFL Grand Final
5. 2018 AFL Grand Final
6. 2009 AFL Grand Final
7. 2002 AFL Grand Final
8. 2005 AFL Grand Final
9. 2004 AFL Grand Final
10. 2001 AFL Grand Final

 

[Freomaniac]

easily in my top 5 to watch in the last 20-25 years.

It was way better than last seasons grand final.

 

[Proud New Father of 3]

It's unfortunate the telecast didn't do the atmosphere and overall game justice, because it's by far the best game I have ever attended, regardless of the winner. I'd have it up there with the 2012 GF. Both teams played 4 quarters of footy and it came down to the last 60 seconds.

Here's hoping most reasonable fans can look back at the 2023 GF and put aside their hate for the winner and appreciate how both teams showed up and how well both played.

Then again, we have forums stating we need to remove the point posts as a result of the game so maybe it's a lost cause.

 

[mr bagcroft]

Up in my top 10 as one of the great grand finals of all time. After a few years of blowouts and one-sides grand finals which are common, it was refreshing to have a close game on Saturday between two great clubs

My personal top 10 of the 21st century

1. 2023 AFL grand final
2. 2010 Drawn Grand Final
3. 2012 AFL Grand Final
4. 2006 AFL Grand Final
5. 2018 AFL Grand Final
6. 2011 AFL Grand Final
7. 2002 AFL Grand Final
8. 2005 AFL Grand Final
9. 2004 AFL Grand Final
10. 2001 AFL Grand FinL

Go to bed early in 2009?

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Go to bed early in 2009?

2010 was rubbish too, I’m not setting much store by the list.

2023 goes hand in hand with 2002, 2009, 2012 and 2018 as the best five of the century, how you order them is a matter of preference. I probably still lean to 2002 being the best of the lot.

 

[Del165198]

It was a good enjoyable first half, but fell very flat in the third quarter up until halfway through the last. Seemed remarkably low intensity, though that could have been channel 7 deciding to run with the crowd noise basically on mute and the umpires at max volume.

Overall I enjoyed watching it, which is more than can be said for most GFs. Have been a lot of ordinary ones lately.

 

[danster168]

The ending was ruined by the umps tho. I would've loved a deep inside 50. Even a 50m penalty was an annoying way to decide a game. Other than that, it was great.

 

[STPer18]

High quality first half, second half not so much but it was a great contest the entire day which as a neutral is all you can ask for.

 

[10571z]

I thought 2018 had better moments and that’s coming from a pies fan.

2010 draw with Goddard mark and the bounce etc was amazing.

It’ll be a classic but channel 7 butchered it and could have been so much better

 

[Blackhawk42]

May depend on how many you've watched, and the personal feeling each gave you as an individual.

1. 2018
2. 2016
3. 2010
4. 2023
5. 1989
6. 2008
7. 2009
8. 1997
9. 2002
10. 2011

 

[carndapies]

The most culturally significant moment in Australian sporting history

 

[Ed_Gein]

2023 was great viewing! Only knock on it might be the goals really drying up after HT. 4 goals to 3...

Definitely one of the best ones in recent years.

 

[evolved2]

1. 2009
2. 2010 (obviously not the replay)
3. 2023
4. 2018
5. 2005

6-10 are harder to pick. Those top 5 were incredible games.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

I'm 29, so will speak to those I've witnessed:

1. 2018 (WCE defeat COLL)
2. 2023 (COLL defeat BRIS)
3. 2010 (STK and COLL draw)
4. 2016 (WBD defeat SYD)
5. 2021 (MEL defeat WBD)
6. 2011 (GEEL defeat COLL)
7. 2012 (SYD defeat HAW)
8. 2009 (GEEL defeat STK)
9. 2017 (RICH defeat ADL)
10. 2013 (HAW defeat FRE)

 

[Bulldog Brent]

I'm 43, so have seen a fair few. My top 5 ....

• 2010
• 2012
• 2023
• 2018
• 2016

Honourable mentions: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011

 

[JackFlash]

It comes 6th IMO of the 21st century after 2009, 2016, 2018, 2020 (Draw) 2011.

 

[Freomaniac]

It comes 6th IMO of the 21st century after 2009, 2016, 2018, 2020 (Draw) 2011.

No love for the 2007 grand final? that was the closest one of the lot lol

 

[JackFlash]

No love for the 2007 grand final? that was the closest one of the lot lol

I have a great love for all of our wins, but that game was a bit of a fizzer, but i loved every minute of it!

 

[Occidental]

The first half was outstanding.
Probably the best first half of a GF ever. So many great plays and the goals were top quality.
Hill gets 4, plus a huge speccy
Bailey’s 2 amazing goals from the boundary
Mihocek from the boundary
McCarthy 2 great goals
Cameron & Daniher 2 each
Then each quarter finishes with long bombs after the sirens to DeGoey & then Crisp.
The second half couldn’t possibly match that. Scoring slowed, but the tension rose to a nail biting finish.
One of THE great Grand Finals.

 

[Freomaniac]

I'm 43, so have seen a fair few. My top 5 ....

• 2010
• 2012
• 2023
• 2018
• 2016

Honourable mentions: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011

2002 is overlooked. It wasn't a spectacle but it was close.

Brisbane won 10.15.75 to Collingwoods 9.12.66.

It was close partially due to the wet weather.

Had it been a sunny day, the score line would likely be Brisbane 15.10.100 to Collingwoods 11.10.76.

 

[spudmaster]

It comes 6th IMO of the 21st century after 2009, 2016, 2018, 2020 (Draw) 2011.

Nice try!

 

[PerthBoy86]

It was close throughout, but the second half kind of stops it from being among the greatest for me. Both teams looked a bit sluggish, it was dour, and there weren't too many highlights. The set shots from outside 50 were impressive, as well as a few individual passages. Bailey's 2nd quarter goal probably highlight, Hill really stepping up for a player, but I dunno, I'd say it's similar to 2002 or 2005, close but not particularly remarkable. Maybe in the top 10 of the AFL era, like 8 or something.

 

[greyhound punter]

I missed the 1st half, I only saw the 2nd. The 2nd half lacked grand final intensity imo. Perhaps both teams were exhausted.

For mine 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018 all reached similar heights at various times of the match and all were largely equal at 3 quarter time.

I'd argue that all of those games were the equal of the 2023 grand final, if not better.

 

[revo333]

I won't bother doing a list but in the last 20 years I think there's been 5-6 that have been better in teams of the quality of the game and more exciting moments.

2012 remains the standout and I thought 2018 was a better game.

 

[CarterS]

First Grand Final I'd been to. Interested to see how it ranks in terms of atmosphere etc compared to the others, from those who have been to a bunch of them...