Most Overrated Grand Finals

[Blackhawk42]

What is so good about 2018 apart from the final passage of play by the Eagles leading to the Dom Sheed goal?

Probably because it's as close as we've gotten to a 'goal after the siren to win a Grand Final', which is obviously the peak footy fantasy that exists.

That, and the Eagles comeback, combined with the scores being level at 3 quarter time.

 

[Rowan18]

What is so good about 2018 apart from the final passage of play by the Eagles leading to the Dom Sheed goal?

I'm completely biased but I think coming back from 5 goals down halfway through 1st to take the lead midway through 3rd, then it being pretty close until the end. Meant you weren't sure who would win until the last 2 minutes.

Add in a big moment (Sheed goal) and it makes it memorable for sure. Best ever? No. But at least it wasn't a boring one way affair like 2007, 2014, 2015, 2022 etc

 

[Wallaby]

2019 is pretty universally regarded as one of the worst GFs in history.

I think even Richmond fans tend to skip over it and say 'Yeah, we won, but let's talk about 2017 and 2020'.

The draw in 1977 is listed as a 'classic' but, apart from the story (which, to be fair, was pretty good - Hafey taking Collingwood from worst to first and finishing with a draw) it was a pretty poor game. By contrast, the replay was a brilliant game - just did not have a close finish.

 

[iameviljez]

I think even Richmond fans tend to skip over it and say 'Yeah, we won, but let's talk about 2017 and 2020'.

The draw in 1977 is listed as a 'classic' but, apart from the story (which, to be fair, was pretty good - Hafey taking Collingwood from worst to first and finishing with a draw) it was a pretty poor game. By contrast, the replay was a brilliant game - just did not have a close finish.

I'd also suggest that the 2010 draw wasn't great spectacle, either - even though both drawn games featured a massive comeback.

 

[Dark Eagle 9]

I'm completely biased but I think coming back from 5 goals down halfway through 1st to take the lead midway through 3rd, then it being pretty close until the end. Meant you weren't sure who would win until the last 2 minutes.

Add in a big moment (Sheed goal) and it makes it memorable for sure. Best ever? No. But at least it wasn't a boring one way affair like 2007, 2014, 2015, 2022 etc

In absolutely no way was it overrated. At no point were the victors up by a goal. Heartstopper

 

[iameviljez]

In absalutely no way was it overrated. At no point were the victors up by a goal. Heartstopper

IMO the only thing stopping 2018 from being considered alongside 1989, 1970, 2012 as one of the absolute greats is just that the standard wasn't quite up there with the best. Otherwise, a fantastic game.

 

[carndapies]

What is so good about 2018 apart from the final passage of play by the Eagles leading to the Dom Sheed goal?

2018 GF was a low quality game and wasn't the two best sides of the year competing. Tigers were far and away the best team that year they were just complacent entering the preliminary final.

 

[carndapies]

What are some of the most overrated grand finals, in your opinion?

My memory only extends to the early 90s, but I have watched a few replays from before that. The 1989 VFL Grand Final is widely considered the greatest ever, but as a game, I wouldn't even put it in the top 5, to be honest. Maybe top 10. It did have great moments, a lot of carnage, 10 goals from Ablett, but it never really felt like the game was in the balance. Hawthorn looked like winning all game. Still a great final, and has the nostalgic value of being the last VFL granny.

2005 Grand Final: not just sour grapes because we lost, but despite being close it was a pretty dour affair. Still a great gf, but not one of the best.

2023 Grand Final: another great one, but not possibly the best as some were saying. Collingwood were inaccurate and shouldve put the game to bed. As far as close grannies I think the 09, 10, 12 and 18 gfs were better.

You could have the exact same narrative for the 2018 grand final?

West Coast were inaccurate therefore should have put the game to bed earlier:

West Coast Eagles 11.13 (79) d. Collingwood Magpies 11.8 (74)

West Coast also had far more inside 50's showing they controlled the game over a greater period showing it wasn't as close as final scores suggest:

WCE 63 inside 50s vs Collingwood 48

Check your bias before you post...

 

[Tarkyn_24]

I'd also suggest that the 2010 draw wasn't great spectacle, either - even though both drawn games featured a massive comeback.

2010 belongs on this list, absolutely. I’m constantly astounded anyone rates it. 2011 miles better.

 

[iameviljez]

2010 belongs on this list, absolutely. I’m constantly astounded anyone rates it. 2011 miles better.

Yeah, the difference between that one and the much-disliked 2013 GF is about three goals.

2011 I was lucky enough to be there live and was pinching myself at how good that game was up until 3QT.

 

[pazza]

All the one sided ones

 

[bloodsbigot]

As a swans fan I can admit 2005 is a bit overrated due to the historical result and close finish. On the flip side, I can also say 2012 is underrated.

 

[James Colorado]

As a swans fan I can admit 2005 is a bit overrated due to the historical result and close finish. On the flip side, I can also say 2012 is underrated.

2012 was a superb example of our game...

But I don't plan on ever watching it again.

 

[PerthBoy86]

I actually agree with you on 1989 GF being overrated.

It seems silly to say so.
High scoring. 6 point final margin. Gary Ablett SNR 9 goals. Dermott getting his ribs crushed at the start then kicking a goal after. Dipper with a collapsed lung among many wounded Hawks holding on to the lead.

But the game never really felt in the balance for the majority of it. Alot of the people that talk it up as the greatest game seemingly have not watched it and just know a bunch of the facts outlined above.

2002, 2005 (drought break and close finish), 2006, 2009, 2010 draw (first half pretty ordinary, but the second half iconic), 2012, 2016(drought break and close until the last few minutes), 2018, and 2023 all better games IMO. Some of those may be controversial.

Yes it certainly had many memorable moments.

 

[PerthBoy86]

2009-2012 is the best 4 year Patch of Grand Finals in history. Every game was epic, 2011 was an all timer till 3 qtr time forget what happened in the last.

Yeah its funny because not one grand final in the entire 90s was really close, and most aren't that memorable.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Yeah its funny because not one grand final in the entire 90s was really close, and most aren't that memorable.

97-98 were the best. 97 was close till 3 qtr time than Jarman went beserk and took the game away from St Kilda. 98 North should have buried Adelaide by Half time than got swamped in the 2nd half. Both those games had big momentum swings against the team which was favourite which made them the most entertaining.

 

[PerthBoy86]

I'm completely biased but I think coming back from 5 goals down halfway through 1st to take the lead midway through 3rd, then it being pretty close until the end. Meant you weren't sure who would win until the last 2 minutes.

Add in a big moment (Sheed goal) and it makes it memorable for sure. Best ever? No. But at least it wasn't a boring one way affair like 2007, 2014, 2015, 2022 etc

I concur, you couldn't write the script.

At quarter time, I had a sinking feeling but...as I did pre game, had the belief we'd win it. We managed to square it up at 3 qtr, but after the DeGoey bomb you thought, here we go again.

Last quarter was as agonising a quarter as you can get. We were dominating play and peppering the goals but could not land the killing blow. Had we been accurate it would've been a comfortable 4 goal win. It took the hardest set shot of the quarter to seal the deal...though it wasn't quite sealed yet...and then for a brief moment Jack Darling dropped an easy chess mark with a minute to go, giving the Maggies time to go end to end. Fittingly it is Shuey who steadies the ship - the greatest individual grand final performance since Champion Data began. There's also the narrative of NN, Gaff and Shep being out. A classic finish to a classic grand final.

 

[PerthBoy86]

97-98 were the best. 97 was close till 3 qtr time than Jarman went beserk and took the game away from St Kilda. 98 North should have buried Adelaide by Half time than got swamped in the 2nd half. Both those games had big momentum swings against the team which was favourite which made them the most entertaining.

For sure, Adelaide's wins were under kind of unlikely circumstances. Malcolm Blight coached grand final sides were usually the underdogs in gfs, but he did with the Crows what he could not with the Cats.

 

[PerthBoy86]

As a swans fan I can admit 2005 is a bit overrated due to the historical result and close finish. On the flip side, I can also say 2012 is underrated.

In hindsight history hasn't been kind to 05-06, but 06 was as others say a better spectacle.

Paul Roo's rugby scrum vs an Eagles side tarred by off field antics. I think both sides greatness should still be acknowledged.

 

[PerthBoy86]

In terms of high quality footy you won't see many better. Geelong were a potent team that era and so were we. Blight thought being physical and knocking us off our game early on would benefit his team later on and it would have worked had we not counter punched with goals against the flow. I felt after half time they were the better team. Not many teams that era put 8 goals on us in a quarter like they did in the last. He backed in their offensive power to overrun us. If you look at the game as a sheer offensive spectacle it's why it's rated the greatest ever

Considering that then yes, it was definitely an epic. I'd probably still have it in the top 10 as a spectacle.

 

[Dark Eagle 9]

2018 GF was a low quality game and wasn't the two best sides of the year competing. Tigers were far and away the best team that year they were just complacent entering the preliminary final.

A sour Pie in Perth arse opinion.

 

[iameviljez]

Yeah its funny because not one grand final in the entire 90s was really close, and most aren't that memorable.

The 1990s is pretty infamous for a shocking run of bad GFs. 1997 was really the only one worth watching from a neutral perspective. I remember 2002 just being such a relief for being close, even if the conditions kept it scrappy.

1993 was the one that should have been a bona fide classic, but Carlton just did not turn up. The Round 2 draw between the sides was an incredible game. The Round 17 game was a nail biter until Essendon pulled away in the last quarter. The QF game is under-rated and should go down as one of the all-time GOAT Week 1 finals. And then, the GF was... ... ... pffffft.

 

[Dazzler9]

The 1990s is pretty infamous for a shocking run of bad GFs. 1997 was really the only one worth watching from a neutral perspective. I remember 2002 just being such a relief for being close, even if the conditions kept it scrappy.

1993 was the one that should have been a bona fide classic, but Carlton just did not turn up. The Round 2 draw between the sides was an incredible game. The Round 17 game was a nail biter until Essendon pulled away in the last quarter. The QF game is under-rated and should go down as one of the all-time GOAT Week 1 finals. And then, the GF was... ... ... pffffft.

That QF was the first ever finals game under lights. It was a big deal at the time.

 

[010203]

2012 was a superb example of our game...

But I don't plan on ever watching it again.

I feel the same re 2023.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

I've noticed prelims for some reason are played much better than grand finals, maybe grand finals are played too conservatively? Although, Brisbane especially in 2003 were really fun to watch in the grand final, even though it was a blow out, just the high skill style instead of boring floods or poor skill slog fest. I really enjoy seeing Lynch make Shaw pay for his turn over from the boundary line, that's what pro footy should be like all the time.