Fact Largest grand final leads

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worbod

worbod

Norm Smith Medallist
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Oct 26, 2008
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This is simply a listing of the biggest lead each team has had in the previous 50 grand finals. This is a list I became interested in compiling after discovering the vast majority of previous grand finals were on YouTube. It then became an exercise in how far back I could go without there being too big a gap between grand finals, as there have been certain teams for whom I could not discover what their biggest lead had been or in fact whether they had been in the lead at all. There have been two grand finals where I could not accurately work out what the biggest leads for both teams had been. Some minute-marks of particular terms have not been able to be determined either.


Season | Premier | biggest lead | time | scores | final margin | runner up | biggest lead | time | scores
\2021|Melbourne|74|full time|140-66|Western Bulldogs|19|3rd Q, 16 mins|59-40
\2020|Richmond|31|full time|81-50|31|Geelong|22|2nd Q, 21 mins|35-13
\2019|Richmond|89|full time|114-25|89|G.W.S.|5|1st Q, 24 mins|8-3
\2018|West Coast|5|full time|79-74|5|Collingwood|29|1st Q, 26 mins|31-2
\2017|Richmond|53|4th Q, 25 mins|107-54|48|Adelaide|13|2nd Q, 4 mins|28-15
\2016|Western Bulldogs|22|full time|89-67|22|Sydney|8|2nd Q, 31 mins|45-37
\2015|Hawthorn|62|4th Q, 22 mins|105-43|46|West Coast|7|1st Q, 3 mins|7-0
\2014|Hawthorn|63|4th Q, 9 mins|119-56|63|Sydney|6|1st Q, 14 mins|14-8
\2013|Hawthorn|31|4th Q, 16 mins|77-46|15|Fremantle|0|N.A.|
\2012|Sydney|28|3rd Q, 14 mins|59-31|10|Hawthorn|19|1/4 time|29-10
\2011|Geelong|38|full time|119-81|38|Collingwood|18|2nd Q, 10 mins|45-27
\2010 replay|Collingwood|57|4th Q, 29 mins|108-51|56|St Kilda|0|N.A.|
\2010|Collingwood|24|3rd Q, 4 mins|51-27|drawn|St Kilda|6|4th Q, 21 mins|67-61
\2009|Geelong|12|full time|80-68|12|St Kilda|10|2nd Q, 12 mins|29-19
\2008|Hawthorn|33|4th Q, 23 mins|115-82|26|Geelong|7|2nd Q, 3 mins|39-32
\2007|Geelong|128|4th Q|163-35|119|Port Adelaide|1|1st Q, 5 mins|2-1
\2006|West Coast|29|2nd Q, 27 mins|53-24|1|Sydney|1|1st Q, 6 mins|1-0
\2005|Sydney|20|3rd Q, 6 mins|39-19|4|West Coast|10|4th Q|51-41
\2004|Port Adelaide|42|4th Q, 25 mins|113-71|40|Brisbane Lions|7|2nd Q|43-36
\2003|Brisbane Lions|69|4th Q, 26 mins|134-65|50|Collingwood|0|N.A.|
\2002|Brisbane Lions|9|full time|75-66|9|Collingwood|8|2nd Q, 20 mins|22-14
\2001|Brisbane Lions|39|4th Q|108-69|26|Essendon|20|2nd Q|54-34
\2000|Essendon|72|4th Q, 13 mins|134-62|60|Melbourne|1|1st Q, 11 mins|14-13
\1999|North Melbourne|47|4th Q|116-69|35|Carlton|8|2nd Q|29-21
\1998|Adelaide|37|4th Q, 28 mins|105-68|35|North Melbourne|24|3rd Q, 3 mins|51-27
\1997|Adelaide|32|4th Q, 26 mins|119-87|31|St Kilda|17|2nd Q, 12 mins|43-26
\1996|North Melbourne|44|4th Q, 17 mins|118-74|43|Sydney|25|2nd Q, 3 mins|45-20
\1995|Carlton|86|4th Q, 24 mins|141-55|61|Geelong|0|N.A.|
\1994|West Coast|81|4th Q, 25 mins|143-62|80|Geelong|7|1st Q, 26 mins|28-21
\1993|Essendon|?|?|?|44|Carlton|0|N.A.|
\1992|West Coast|34|4th Q, 28 mins|113-79|28|Geelong|24|2nd Q, 9 mins|42-18
\1991|Hawthorn|54|4th Q, 28 mins|139-85|53|West Coast|24|1st Q, 16 mins|24-0
\1990|Collingwood|49|4th Q, 28 mins|89-40|48|Essendon|12|1st Q, 21 mins|14-2
\1989|Hawthorn|43|3rd Q|121-78|6|Geelong|6|1st Q, 1 min|6-0
\1988|Hawthorn|97|4th Q|152-55|96|Melbourne|?|1st Q|
\1987|Carlton|42|4th Q, 15 mins|97-55|33|Hawthorn|3|2nd Q, 1 min|26-23
\1986|Hawthorn|?|?|?|42|Carlton|?|?|?
\1985|Essendon|78|full time|170-92|78|Hawthorn|12|1st Q, 9 mins|12-0
\1984|Essendon|25|4th Q, 31 mins|99-74|24|Hawthorn|32|2nd Q, 13 mins|53-21
\1983|Hawthorn|101|4th Q|128-27|83|Essendon|0|N.A.|
\1982|Carlton|24|4th Q, 28 mins|103-79|18|Richmond|18|2nd Q, 25 mins|57-39
\1981|Carlton|20|full time|92-72|20|Collingwood|21|3rd Q, 29 mins|70-49
\1980|Richmond|83|4th Q, 20 mins|146-63|81|Collingwood|1|1st Q, 17 mins|15-14
\1979|Carlton|22|4th Q, 4 mins|73-51|5|Collingwood|28|2nd Q, 18 mins|34-6
\1978|Hawthorn|35|4th Q, 22 mins|120-85|18|North Melbourne|12|3rd Q, 6 mins|58-46
\1977 replay|North Melbourne|36|2nd Q|66-30|27|Collingwood|6|1st Q|13-7
\1977|North Melbourne|20|1st Q, 24 mins|28-8|drawn|Collingwood|28|4th Q, 1 min|67-39
\1976|Hawthorn|30|full time|100-70|30|North Melbourne|0|N.A.|
\1975|North Melbourne|61|4th Q|122-61|55|Hawthorn|1|1st Q|7-6
\1974|Richmond|48|4th Q, 28 mins|128-80|41|North Melbourne|11|2nd Q, 10 mins|38-27
\1973|Richmond|39|3rd Q, 32 mins|101-62|30|Carlton|6|1st Q, 5 mins|6-0
\1972|Carlton|57|3rd Q, 33 mins|159-102|27|Richmond|5|1st Q, 13 mins|13-8
\1971|Hawthorn|19|4th Q|82-63|7|St Kilda|28|3rd Q|57-29
\1970|Carlton|11|4th Q, 28 mins|111-100|10|Collingwood|44|3rd Q, 2 mins|73-29
\1969|Richmond|28|3rd Q, 1 min|47-19|25|Carlton|10|3rd Q|58-48
\1968|Carlton|14|4th Q, 8 mins|54-40|3|Essendon|6|2nd Q, 24 mins|31-25
 
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In 1993, Essendon's margin for the day was at the final siren at 44 points, 133-89. Carlton never had the lead.

In 1986, Hawthorn's bioggest margin of the day looks to have been set in the 3rd term, with a 50 point 3-4 time margin 99-49. I'm not sure if Carlton ever lead at any point of the match.
 
worbod

BAK3k1.png


Port led by 1.
 

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Thanks to the two replies for the valuable info. I have made two edits in relation to the two definite pieces of data: Port holding a 1 point lead in 2007 and Carlton never being in front in 1993.
 
As much as I try to forget that black day, I thought that Carlton led by 91 at one stage during the 95 Granny.
 
As a point of interest, during the famous 1970 grand final, Collingwood actually led Carlton by 44 points as early as the 10 minute mark of the second quarter, when the scores were 53 to 9. After two Carlton goals, Collingwood got it back to 43 points at the 22 minute mark, when they were leading 65 to 22. Another behind to each team saw the scores sitting at 66 to 23 by the 29 minute mark, with the well known 44 point margin standing come half time. Carlton kicked the first goal of the third term, and the comeback gradually unfolded.
 
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pazza said:
In 1993, Essendon's margin for the day was at the final siren at 44 points, 133-89. Carlton never had the lead.

In 1986, Hawthorn's bioggest margin of the day looks to have been set in the 3rd term, with a 50 point 3-4 time margin 99-49. I'm not sure if Carlton ever lead at any point of the match.
Click to expand...

I was at both these grand finals. I can assure you we never had the lead in either match unless maybe the first behind if it gone from my memory. Ideally would like to erase both matches from my memory.:'(
 
Pavlovs Cat said:
As much as I try to forget that black day, I thought that Carlton led by 91 at one stage during the 95 Granny.
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nah, you guys kicked the last 4 goals whilst our guys were too busy celebrating to really play full tilt the last 10 minutes.
86 points was biggest lead. If the Carlton players were aware or cared about the record margin of 96 points that Hawks held at the time may have kicked a few more goals. They were 4 wins on top of ladder at end of home and away , won the preliminary and grand finals against next two best teams of year by over ten goals and also were on winning streak of 16 straight wins at the time. Slackened off last 10 minutes but do not blame them. They had premiership in bag to make up for the horror 94 finals series so think that is all they cared about at the time. The biggest winning margin ever was there for taking if they wanted it at the time. 61 point margin at the end certainly flattered Geelong.
 
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Collingwood lost the 1966 grand final by one point, lead in 1970 grand final by 44 points, then lead by 28 points in last quarter of 1977 grand final. Then lead by 28 points in the very wet and muddy 79 grand final. Time on of third quarter in 1981 grand final, Choco Williams kicks a goal for Collingwood to put them 21 points up. Did not win any of those grand finals. Amazing time really. Colliwobbles in full bloom.
If anyone wonders why Peter Moore threw his runners up medal presented to each Collingwood player after 1981 grand final, just think about how he felt going through two grand finals in 77 , then 3 more grand finals in a row of 1979, 1980 and 1981 without tasting a grand final win.
5 grand finals without a premiership for him. Could have been worse though. I think Rene Kink played in 6 without success when he moved to Essendon and played in their 1983 grand final loss that was the new record losing margin at end of that grand final.
 
footyfan78 said:
I think Rene Kink played in 6 without success when he moved to Essendon and played in their 1983 grand final loss that was the new record losing margin at end of that grand final.
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Even crueler for Kink is that he was at Essendon through 1984 and 1985 as well, but played just 11 of a possible 49 games in those two seasons, and didn't play in either of the Dons' winning Grand Finals.
 
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Damon_3388 said:
Even crueler for Kink is that he was at Essendon through 1984 and 1985 as well, but played just 11 of a possible 49 games in those two seasons, and didn't play in either winning of the Dons' winning Grand Finals.
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That is cruel luck
Actually feel sorry for guys like him that experienced his clubs in so many grand finals and never once experience the sweet glory of playing for a winning team in the big one at the G. Doubt any other footballer in league history had his own timing of career so close, yet so far.
 
worbod said:
Thanks to the two replies for the valuable info. I have made two edits in relation to the two definite pieces of data: Port holding a 1 point lead in 2007 and Carlton never being in front in 1993.
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The opening goal of the '89 GF happened inside the first minute, as the hitout was sharked i think by Bews, who kicked towards 50, marked by Gary Sr. I don't think the game stopped for the Brereton/Yeates hit.
 

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Pavlovs Cat said:
As much as I try to forget that black day, I thought that Carlton led by 91 at one stage during the 95 Granny.
Click to expand...

It was Stephen Handley's time to shine those last few minutes, and to be honest it was all i could take out of what was a thoroughly disheartening day for this cat fan too. Still it was nice to not have the record margin against us, given we lost by 80 points the previous year. 61 in the end seemed a fair bit better than where it was looking 10 minutes earlier.
 
If anybody happens to own the DVDs of the 1967, 1966, 1965 or 1964 grand finals, feel free to offer any relevant info.
 
Because I'm sure you really want to know, and because I really want to post it, here are largest leads of the 2016 grand final:

Western Bulldogs' largest lead was 22 points with a score-line of 89 to 67 at the end of the game.
Sydney's largest lead was 8 points, held three times, with the latest instance being with a score-line of 45-37 at the 31 minute mark of the 2nd quarter.
 
For the sake of keeping my own thread up to date, in the 2017 grand final:

Richmond's biggest lead was 53 points with a score-line of 107 to 54 at the 25 minute mark of the 4th quarter.
Adelaide's biggest lead was 13 points with a score-line of 28 to 15 at the 4 minute mark of the 2nd quarter.
 
I have updated my original table by adding the last three years onto the top of my table. This will be the best way to add results after each grand final instead of making an individual post.
 
worbod said:
I have updated my original table by adding the last three years onto the top of my table. This will be the best way to add results after each grand final instead of making an individual post.
Click to expand...
Collingwood not being behind by more than ten points at all in the 2002 and 2018 Grand Finals is certainly enough to drive me to drink :(
 
I have added the 2019 grand final into the table at the very top. Due to a reconfiguration of Big Footy, the original table now takes on a different, unsightly appearance, but it was easier to add the info into what was already constructed instead of doing a completely new table with the new formatting.
 
I keep forgetting the Pies blew a five goal start last year. In a low scoring game as well.

Wow. What a choke.
 
hilly said:
A lead in excess of four goals appears to be the point of no return.
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In 2011 when Collingwood were 3 goals up in the 2nd quarter and on top, my mates and I reckoned that 1 more goal and Geelong were done.

Jimmy Bartel, ever on the ball, appealed for the free after Jolly hit a ball up over the boundary line on the full, which was a free kick, Jimmy slotted the resultant free from the boundary line and the rest as they say is history.
 
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