Best and worst grand finals of all time

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Aussie_boy

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Dec 21, 2012
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I've been to 2 grand finals in my life, 2009 and 2019. I think I've seen the best and the worst of it. 2009 maybe not the best but it's very close. Think we're due for a good one this year, it's been 5 years.
 

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2009premiers

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Aug 15, 2009
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1989 = overrated. Big lead most of the day. 2008 was a great game.

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Absolutely agree with 1989 being overrated. Hawthorn were 6 goals up very early. Geelong never realistically had a chance to win with them closing to 6 points with 30 seconds left.

Best - 2002 was the opposite with the scores close the entire game in an absolute arm wrestle. Underrated.

Worst - 2019 is the only time I have ever left the GF before the final siren. I left at 3QT.
 

Demonic Ascent

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Feb 21, 2006
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Best in recent times 2009, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2021 😜

Worst 2022, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013
 

Young Redleg

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Nov 16, 2022
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The 2022 grand final was the worst of all time.

Even Geelong supporters found it boring.
Yep. I watched it at the pub with a Geelong supporting mate and he was barely even focusing on the game throughout the second half. It reached the point where I had to tell him when Geelong kicked a goal.
 

Mr Meow

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2009 is the best I've attended and that would've been just as true if St Kilda kicked a late match winner.

The others have been mentioned already. Few grand finals are amazing if we're being honest. I guess that makes sense with it only being one game (every other week has at least two). But most sides premiership run will have involved a more exciting game in the previous 3 weeks.

I'm surprised 2022 is getting brought up but not 2007. Surely for neutrals the biggest thrashing was the most boring?
 

MarcMaverick

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2010 was pretty good.

2005/6 were intense.

2019 apart from Jeremy Cameron's Opener was one sided

2022 was Geelong telling the Swans to stop hitting themselves. And that was after 1/4 time.
 
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PTizzle

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Jul 24, 2010
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2010 draw was incredible. Felt surreal at the final siren.

2012 and 2018 were quality. Lots of memorable moments. Must admit I was very excited for the Dogs in 2016 too.

2013 is fairly underrated - it was frustrating due to Freo burning some chances but a good watch.

For worst, any belting is pretty dull. Apart from watching Dusty tear it up I didn't find any of the Tigers flags particularly enthralling either.
 

Blue1980

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As a match 2009 was better than 2010, 2009 you had 2 worthy premiers going at it, tackle count off the charts that day as well.

Worst, 2019 is the first one which comes to mind.
 

Plugger35

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Sep 27, 2008
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2009 and the 2010 draw were both great GFs even though we didn't win them.

2002, 2012 and 2018 were all great GFs too that went right down to the wire.

1994, 2019 and 2022 were a few of the worst ones where they were all over early on, several others too, more bad ones than good ones.
 

Ocha905

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Mar 19, 2014
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2008-2012 was the golden era of GF's. Take your pick. 2011 my personal favourite.

2015 is a stealth crap GF. Neutrals was sick of the Hawks and thought they were shoe-ins, Eagles were just happy to be there and the quality was poor considering the occasion.
 

Danw0w

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Feb 19, 2020
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I think a lot of people have short memories about 2019.

GWS actually brought the heat for a quarter and a half and just fell away. Last year's grand final was over from the first bounce.
 

Partridge

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Nov 12, 2002
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2005 was a crime against football.

My first thought for the worst, and it was easily.

It's impressive how relentlessly the AFL and commentators have brainwashed people to think that a close game must be good, and a thrashing must be bad. Isnt always the case.

2005 wasn't just the worst grand final I've seen, it was one of the worst games I've ever seen. Horrendous and no excuse as it was in perfect conditions.

1989 easily the best, other great games were 2009, 2012, and 2018. 2007 will never be topped for me, and I quite enjoyed 2016 and 2017 as well.
 

Gavin Excell

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Apr 22, 2007
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Always liked 1997 when Jarman went crazy the last qtr
2011 highly skilled game of football

Worst
2013 Hawks v Freo which was ugly spectacle
2019 which was a tedious affair
 

Piggy Smalls

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Nov 30, 2018
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2007 was so bad everyone seems to have forgotten about it.
Hopefully this week is closer than 119 points.

Best I’ve seen was probably 2009. Absolute belter ultimately decided by the bounce of a ball.
 

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