Remove this Banner Ad

VFL 2025 VFL Thread

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

For anyone who attended the 2014 or 2016 (VFL) grand finals, how was that experience?

I only attended 2014 (we were still driving back from Sydney after the PF in 2016), but it was a good atmosphere, with everyone laughing about going back to back (we last played in the VFA in 1924 and won it that year).
 
For anyone who attended the 2014 or 2016 (VFL) grand finals, how was that experience?
I went to both.

Both were good for different reasons. 2014 was a shit year and led to the departures of some club legends but it was good to have some sort of success made all the more special being Footscray's first year in the VFL since 1924 (VFA back then).

I was full of adrenalin in 2016. I'm not sure how many fans replicated my feat of driving back from the Sydney prelim and then going to the VFL Grand Final but I accomplished it. A Melbourne supporter lining up in front of me to buy a ticket was so impressed I drove back from Sydney and came to the VFL that he bought my ticket for me. Nice bloke. I offered to buy him a beer to say thanks but he declined.

I also went to a Grand Final between Willi and PM a few years prior. Gary Ayres was coach of an unstoppable Port Melbourne team. Dean Galea killed us. Good atmosphere, though.
 
The last grand final I attended at Princes Park was in 1990.

Williamstown kicked the last 6 goals of the match to win by 2 points.

Captain Coached by 40 year old ex Footscray legend Barry Round. Team also included Chris Burton and Chops Rickman.

Amazing day. Back at the rooms that night was an eye opener for the young fella I was back then.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Did 2014 with my son, was driving back from Sydney in 2016.

Went again today with the lad, who is now 21. His first time at Princes Park. Got bored of me reminiscing about our 3 years playing home games there in the late 90’s(bought a house in Brunswick in 1996 about a week before the dogs announced they were to be playing there. 15 minutes walk to home games, I was the happiest Bulldog about that deal).

Still remember beating Carlton in 2000 when Murph kicked a goal in his debut game. Was an away game, so was sitting behind the goal in the legends stand when he kicked it. He kicked it straight at me.

Today was great, really enjoyed it. Being challenged and holding them off made it all the sweeter. Was right behind Busslinger’s goal in the last - perfect draw back through the posts at the last minute. Naughton to defence, Busslinger forward next year a necessity!
 
Did 2014 and 2016 and today.

Today was the most special (with my 4yo, getting on the field and her excitement was priceless).

2014 was so good given no previous success but a bit impacted by the Rioli situation. Kinda made it feel irrelevant.

2016 was a bit more comfortable, still buzzing from the prelim.
 
So in summary, for those who were unable to watch or follow the game, and ploughed through this thread to still be none the wiser, the Bulldogs won the VFL premiership - yay! - by 10 points and the Chinese Communist Party - oops, I mean Cooper Craig-Peters won the Norm Goss Medal for best player 🥳🎶😛
 

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

I would love for both CCP and Will Lewis to get a look on the main list.

I think CCP could be a very effective half forward at afl level.

Will Lewis could be a good lead up utility at senior level. His work rate for bigger guy is very good.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

VFL 2025 VFL Thread

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top