SEN's list of each club's best win from the past 25 years

Remove this Banner Ad

Aug 17, 2006
23,812
22,578
AFL Club
Geelong

Grand Final wins excluded. I'd probably argue that the list should be limited to H&A wins then, as surely if you exclude Grand Finals, the next best win would be a PF, then a QF/SF and so on. But anyway...

Do you agree with the choice for your club? And if a final has been selected for your club, what would you choose if it was H&A wins only?

Adelaide: 2022 Showdown
Brisbane: 2013 v Geelong
Carlton: 2013 Elimination Final v Richmond
Collingwood: 2022 v Carlton
Essendon: 2009 Anzac Day v Collingwood
Fremantle: 2013 Qualification Final v Geelong
Geelong: 2012 v Hawthorn
Gold Coast: 2018 v Sydney
GWS Giants: 2019 Preliminary Final v Collingwood
Hawthorn: 2013 Preliminary Final v Geelong
Melbourne: 2021 v Geelong
North Melbourne: 2014 Elimination Final v Essendon
Port Adelaide: 2013 Showdown v Adelaide
Richmond: 2017 Qualifying Final v Geelong
St Kilda: 2009 v Geelong
Sydney: 2005 Semi Final v Geelong
West Coast: 2006 v Geelong
Western Bulldogs: 2016 Preliminary Final v GWS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kind of flattering/hilarious that eight of the other 17 clubs have wins against Geelong nominated as their most memorable.

For Geelong, The 2012 Hawkins goal after the siren was unbelievable and the culmination of an amazing see-sawing game, but I'd have to give the nod to the Jimmy Bartel point after the siren against Hawthorn in 2009. We'd hit the skids after the famous loss to St Kilda (the first time two 14-0 teams had met) and were trailing all day against the Hawks, who were fighting to stay in top eight contention. And, oh, we'd lost both key defenders to injury during the game, so Darren Milburn and Andrew Mackie were matching up on Buddy and Roughead.

On paper, the result didn't change where either side finished in 2009, but I'll always believe that it was much bigger than that and for Geelong, it was the boost we needed as we started to fall off St Kilda's pace during that season. It gave us the belief that we were still good enough to get it done.

Along with Bartel's point after the siren, the match was also famous for being arguably Selwood's greatest AFL game to that point in his career and for Josh Kennedy opting to handball to Franklin with the scores level in the dying stages and Franklin ultimately being wrapped up by Mackie and not getting a shot off. It would have been a big call for Kennedy to have a ping on his left on the run from about 45 out, he would have been torn to shreds if he'd put it out on the full. Ultimately probably the right decision by Kennedy and just a fantastic run down tackle by Mackie.
 

Grand Final wins excluded. I'd probably argue that the list should be limited to H&A wins then, as surely if you exclude Grand Finals, the next best win would be a PF, then a QF/SF and so on. But anyway...

Do you agree with the choice for your club? And if a final has been selected for your club, what would you choose if it was H&A wins only?

Adelaide: 2022 Showdown
Brisbane: 2013 v Geelong
Carlton: 2013 Elimination Final v Richmond
Collingwood: 2022 v Carlton
Essendon: 2009 Anzac Day v Collingwood
Fremantle: 2013 Qualification Final v Geelong
Geelong: 2012 v Hawthorn
Gold Coast: 2018 v Sydney
GWS Giants: 2019 Preliminary Final v Collingwood
Hawthorn: 2013 Preliminary Final v Geelong
Melbourne: 2021 v Geelong
North Melbourne: 2014 Elimination Final v Essendon
Port Adelaide: 2013 Showdown v Adelaide
Richmond: 2017 Qualifying Final v Geelong
St Kilda: 2009 v Geelong
Sydney: 2005 Semi Final v Geelong
West Coast: 2006 v Geelong
Western Bulldogs: 2016 Preliminary Final v GWS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kind of flattering/hilarious that eight of the other 17 clubs have wins against Geelong nominated as their most memorable.

For Geelong, The 2012 Hawkins goal after the siren was unbelievable and the culmination of an amazing see-sawing game, but I'd have to give the nod to the Jimmy Bartel point after the siren against Hawthorn in 2009. We'd hit the skids after the famous loss to St Kilda (the first time two 14-0 teams had met) and were trailing all day against the Hawks, who were fighting to stay in top eight contention. And, oh, we'd lost both key defenders to injury during the game, so Darren Milburn and Andrew Mackie were matching up on Buddy and Roughead.

On paper, the result didn't change where either side finished in 2009, but I'll always believe that it was much bigger than that and for Geelong, it was the boost we needed as we started to fall off St Kilda's pace during that season. It gave us the belief that we were still good enough to get it done.

Along with Bartel's point after the siren, the match was also famous for being arguably Selwood's greatest AFL game to that point in his career and for Josh Kennedy opting to handball to Franklin with the scores level in the dying stages and Franklin ultimately being wrapped up by Mackie and not getting a shot off. It would have been a big call for Kennedy to have a ping on his left on the run from about 45 out, he would have been torn to shreds if he'd put it out on the full. Ultimately probably the right decision by Kennedy and just a fantastic run down tackle by Mackie.
Fantastic H&A win for Geelong that 2012 one.

But there ain't a chance in Hell that it beats out the 2007 prelim classic vs Collingwood, which was essentially the grand final that season. Lose that and you can't help but feel like it was just never going to happen for the Cats (a series of "almost" seasons like '89-'95). That win set up a dynasty.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

For me the 2023 SF Vs Melbourne was a better win than the EF win against Richmond in 2013. But I expect it would split the fanbase so have no issue with that one being selected for Carlton.

If it was just H+A games that we looked at and we were talking about the best performance by the team then it was definitely Round 15 Vs Geelong in 2024. The best I have seen a Carlton team play in a long time. If we are just talking about the best win in terms of emotional impact then it was probably 2013 Round 23 Vs Port Adelaide in Adelaide where we came back from 39 points down mid-way through the 3rd to win by a point. That comeback and win meant Carlton qualified for finals that year and obviously led to that 2013 EF win against the Tigers.
 
Last edited:

Grand Final wins excluded. I'd probably argue that the list should be limited to H&A wins then, as surely if you exclude Grand Finals, the next best win would be a PF, then a QF/SF and so on. But anyway...

Do you agree with the choice for your club? And if a final has been selected for your club, what would you choose if it was H&A wins only?

Adelaide: 2022 Showdown
Brisbane: 2013 v Geelong
Carlton: 2013 Elimination Final v Richmond
Collingwood: 2022 v Carlton
Essendon: 2009 Anzac Day v Collingwood
Fremantle: 2013 Qualification Final v Geelong
Geelong: 2012 v Hawthorn
Gold Coast: 2018 v Sydney
GWS Giants: 2019 Preliminary Final v Collingwood
Hawthorn: 2013 Preliminary Final v Geelong
Melbourne: 2021 v Geelong
North Melbourne: 2014 Elimination Final v Essendon
Port Adelaide: 2013 Showdown v Adelaide
Richmond: 2017 Qualifying Final v Geelong
St Kilda: 2009 v Geelong
Sydney: 2005 Semi Final v Geelong
West Coast: 2006 v Geelong
Western Bulldogs: 2016 Preliminary Final v GWS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kind of flattering/hilarious that eight of the other 17 clubs have wins against Geelong nominated as their most memorable.

For Geelong, The 2012 Hawkins goal after the siren was unbelievable and the culmination of an amazing see-sawing game, but I'd have to give the nod to the Jimmy Bartel point after the siren against Hawthorn in 2009. We'd hit the skids after the famous loss to St Kilda (the first time two 14-0 teams had met) and were trailing all day against the Hawks, who were fighting to stay in top eight contention. And, oh, we'd lost both key defenders to injury during the game, so Darren Milburn and Andrew Mackie were matching up on Buddy and Roughead.

On paper, the result didn't change where either side finished in 2009, but I'll always believe that it was much bigger than that and for Geelong, it was the boost we needed as we started to fall off St Kilda's pace during that season. It gave us the belief that we were still good enough to get it done.

Along with Bartel's point after the siren, the match was also famous for being arguably Selwood's greatest AFL game to that point in his career and for Josh Kennedy opting to handball to Franklin with the scores level in the dying stages and Franklin ultimately being wrapped up by Mackie and not getting a shot off. It would have been a big call for Kennedy to have a ping on his left on the run from about 45 out, he would have been torn to shreds if he'd put it out on the full. Ultimately probably the right decision by Kennedy and just a fantastic run down tackle by Mackie.

Remember it reasonably well... was sitting behind the goals that end. big bud had no idea Mackie was there and or was arrogant enough to call for it but Joey should've absolutely run in further to slot it.. not many would've ignored the bud tho.

that run Geelong had over us was brutal - it's what elevates the 13 prelim to all time status & what it lead to.
 
Fantastic H&A win for Geelong that 2012 one.

But there ain't a chance in Hell that it beats out the 2007 prelim classic vs Collingwood, which was essentially the grand final that season. Lose that and you can't help but feel like it was just never going to happen for the Cats (a series of "almost" seasons like '89-'95). That win set up a dynasty.
Yep and if we include finals, the Qualifying Final in 2022 against the Pies would also be worth a shout, ending a run of five consecutive years of us losing in the first week of finals, four times at the MCG against MCG tenants. In that vein, without the benefit of hindsight, the 2016 Qualifying Final against Hawthorn (Isaac Smith's missed shot after the siren) was also massive.

I was there at the Preliminary Final in 2007 and it was an incredible atmosphere and result, but considering we hadn't even been in a Grand Final especially recently and of course hadn't won one for 40+ years, I certainly didn't rock up to the Grand Final thinking that we already had it won. I remained unconvinced until Mooney put us up by 10 goals in the third quarter.
 
Remember it reasonably well... was sitting behind the goals that end. big bud had no idea Mackie was there and or was arrogant enough to call for it but Joey should've absolutely run in further to slot it.. not many would've ignored the bud tho.

that run Geelong had over us was brutal - it's what elevates the 13 prelim to all time status & what it lead to.

Yeah that was a big part of it, no doubt and I reckon anyone who's played footy (or many sports) at senior level could empathise with Joey there. When you're a kid, team rules and everything else goes out the window, when you hear the superstar player yelling at you to give them the ball... you just give it to them.

It played a part in the 'Miracle on Grass' too I'm certain: Dawson Simpson in his second game takes a mark on Geelong's attacking wing with about 35 seconds left and a one point lead. Joel Corey's running past and gets the handball from Simpson (instead of Simpson holding up the play for another 10 seconds and just going long and high to a pack deep in Geelong's forward 50), it comes unstuck and Brisbane goes end-to-end for McGrath's match-winning goal.
 

Grand Final wins excluded. I'd probably argue that the list should be limited to H&A wins then, as surely if you exclude Grand Finals, the next best win would be a PF, then a QF/SF and so on. But anyway...

Do you agree with the choice for your club? And if a final has been selected for your club, what would you choose if it was H&A wins only?

Adelaide: 2022 Showdown
Brisbane: 2013 v Geelong
Carlton: 2013 Elimination Final v Richmond
Collingwood: 2022 v Carlton
Essendon: 2009 Anzac Day v Collingwood
Fremantle: 2013 Qualification Final v Geelong
Geelong: 2012 v Hawthorn
Gold Coast: 2018 v Sydney
GWS Giants: 2019 Preliminary Final v Collingwood
Hawthorn: 2013 Preliminary Final v Geelong
Melbourne: 2021 v Geelong
North Melbourne: 2014 Elimination Final v Essendon
Port Adelaide: 2013 Showdown v Adelaide
Richmond: 2017 Qualifying Final v Geelong
St Kilda: 2009 v Geelong
Sydney: 2005 Semi Final v Geelong
West Coast: 2006 v Geelong
Western Bulldogs: 2016 Preliminary Final v GWS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kind of flattering/hilarious that eight of the other 17 clubs have wins against Geelong nominated as their most memorable.

For Geelong, The 2012 Hawkins goal after the siren was unbelievable and the culmination of an amazing see-sawing game, but I'd have to give the nod to the Jimmy Bartel point after the siren against Hawthorn in 2009. We'd hit the skids after the famous loss to St Kilda (the first time two 14-0 teams had met) and were trailing all day against the Hawks, who were fighting to stay in top eight contention. And, oh, we'd lost both key defenders to injury during the game, so Darren Milburn and Andrew Mackie were matching up on Buddy and Roughead.

On paper, the result didn't change where either side finished in 2009, but I'll always believe that it was much bigger than that and for Geelong, it was the boost we needed as we started to fall off St Kilda's pace during that season. It gave us the belief that we were still good enough to get it done.

Along with Bartel's point after the siren, the match was also famous for being arguably Selwood's greatest AFL game to that point in his career and for Josh Kennedy opting to handball to Franklin with the scores level in the dying stages and Franklin ultimately being wrapped up by Mackie and not getting a shot off. It would have been a big call for Kennedy to have a ping on his left on the run from about 45 out, he would have been torn to shreds if he'd put it out on the full. Ultimately probably the right decision by Kennedy and just a fantastic run down tackle by Mackie.
I think most Freo supporters would agree with the QF win down in Geelong.
Personally I rate the EF final win against the same opponent at the G the previous year as it was our first finals win on the road, cut throat elimination final against the previous season's premiers. We were just making up the numbers according to all the experts. Pav kicked a bag of 6. It was my one and only venture to the MCG so far.
 
I think most Freo supporters would agree with the QF win down in Geelong.
Personally I rate the EF final win against the same opponent at the G the previous year as it was our first finals win on the road, cut throat elimination final against the previous season's premiers. Pav kicked a bag of 6. It was my one and only venture to the MCG so far.

Yeah, good call... gets lost a bit in the hoopla of the 2013 QF win and GF berth. But, combined with the outs that we had for the 2013 QF, there was a very good reason for Geelong supporters to not be overconfident heading into the 2013 finals (even with the quirks of the season giving us a rare, true 'home' final): because Fremantle had blown us off the park in Victoria in the first week of the finals a year earlier.
 
Yeah, good call... gets lost a bit in the hoopla of the 2013 QF win and GF berth. But, combined with the outs that we had for the 2013 QF, there was a very good reason for Geelong supporters to not be overconfident heading into the 2013 finals (even with the quirks of the season giving us a rare home final): because Fremantle had blown us off the park in Victoria in the first week of the finals a year earlier.
Its been an underwhelming 30 odd years but those two wins were so euphoric for us. We had a short but intense rivalry with Geelong for a few years there. There was absolutely no love lost between players on each team.
 
Its been an underwhelming 30 odd years but those two wins were so euphoric for us. We had a short but intense rivalry with Geelong for a few years there. There was absolutely no love lost between players on each team.

I remember those early season away games to Fremantle well: finals intensity, gripping contests and we generally seemed to play pretty well, though Freo took the points more often than not (IIRC Barlow was the lucky charm, in that Fremantle prevailed when he was able to line up).
 
If going H&A for Pies...tend to remember the big important games that actually confirmed team was rolling over the memorable close finish.

2002 rd8, Pies best the Lions at Docklands in a classic. Gave huge belief that finally we're heading back to finals.

2010, Rd16 and R19, Pies easily accounted for Saints and Cats, as we rolled to a minor premiership (and eventual flag). Dominating two teams who had previously had our measure was great as a fan in the stands.

2018 QBday v Dees, Dees more fancied, people still didn't really believe in the Pies were any good. Blitzed them all day as DeGoey run amok.

2022 final game v Carlton just the perfect H&A game though really. We win to lock in a top 4 finish, and to come from the clouds like we did and see a big rival miss finals was glorious.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)


Grand Final wins excluded. I'd probably argue that the list should be limited to H&A wins then, as surely if you exclude Grand Finals, the next best win would be a PF, then a QF/SF and so on. But anyway...

Do you agree with the choice for your club? And if a final has been selected for your club, what would you choose if it was H&A wins only?

Adelaide: 2022 Showdown
Brisbane: 2013 v Geelong
Carlton: 2013 Elimination Final v Richmond
Collingwood: 2022 v Carlton
Essendon: 2009 Anzac Day v Collingwood
Fremantle: 2013 Qualification Final v Geelong
Geelong: 2012 v Hawthorn
Gold Coast: 2018 v Sydney
GWS Giants: 2019 Preliminary Final v Collingwood
Hawthorn: 2013 Preliminary Final v Geelong
Melbourne: 2021 v Geelong
North Melbourne: 2014 Elimination Final v Essendon
Port Adelaide: 2013 Showdown v Adelaide
Richmond: 2017 Qualifying Final v Geelong
St Kilda: 2009 v Geelong
Sydney: 2005 Semi Final v Geelong
West Coast: 2006 v Geelong
Western Bulldogs: 2016 Preliminary Final v GWS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kind of flattering/hilarious that eight of the other 17 clubs have wins against Geelong nominated as their most memorable.

For Geelong, The 2012 Hawkins goal after the siren was unbelievable and the culmination of an amazing see-sawing game, but I'd have to give the nod to the Jimmy Bartel point after the siren against Hawthorn in 2009. We'd hit the skids after the famous loss to St Kilda (the first time two 14-0 teams had met) and were trailing all day against the Hawks, who were fighting to stay in top eight contention. And, oh, we'd lost both key defenders to injury during the game, so Darren Milburn and Andrew Mackie were matching up on Buddy and Roughead.

On paper, the result didn't change where either side finished in 2009, but I'll always believe that it was much bigger than that and for Geelong, it was the boost we needed as we started to fall off St Kilda's pace during that season. It gave us the belief that we were still good enough to get it done.

Along with Bartel's point after the siren, the match was also famous for being arguably Selwood's greatest AFL game to that point in his career and for Josh Kennedy opting to handball to Franklin with the scores level in the dying stages and Franklin ultimately being wrapped up by Mackie and not getting a shot off. It would have been a big call for Kennedy to have a ping on his left on the run from about 45 out, he would have been torn to shreds if he'd put it out on the full. Ultimately probably the right decision by Kennedy and just a fantastic run down tackle by Mackie.
Geelong are just that memorable! Anyway for me as mentioned above it's still the '07 Prelim. Excluding finals would be a more interesting survey in my opinion.

 
Huge monkey climbed off the back that night after so many finals losses. You’re right I didn’t believe we could until after that night. It was genuine

Fortunately or unfortunately, I feel like we've served that purpose for Melbourne and Fremantle over the last decade or so, though Richmond's been the only team to go on with it that year and win the flag.

In that sense, I'd almost say our 2007 Qualifying Final (where we destroyed North by 100+) has merit as well... despite everything that had happened in the H&A season, despite finishing miles clear on top, I distinctly remember that was the moment where I realised "We could actually win it this year".

It's why I'm reluctant to include finals wins from this exercise: whenever I cast my mind to practically any of Geelong's, I catch myself thinking that it has merit as our best non-GF win ever. Take the QF this year against Port: without the benefit of hindsight, it's hard to think of a win that has ever got me more excited outside of GFs, because (even to a glass half empty supporter like me) everything looked like it was falling perfectly for an improbable flag.
 
Fortunately or unfortunately, I feel like we've served that purpose for Melbourne and Fremantle over the last decade or so, though Richmond's been the only team to go on with it that year and win the flag.

In that sense, I'd almost say our 2007 Qualifying Final (where we destroyed North by 100+) has merit as well... despite everything that had happened in the H&A season, despite finishing miles clear on top, I distinctly remember that was the moment where I realised "We could actually win it this year".

It's why I'm reluctant to include finals wins from this exercise: whenever I cast my mind to practically any of Geelong's, I catch myself thinking that it has merit as our best non-GF win ever. Take the QF this year against Port: without the benefit of hindsight, it's hard to think of a win that has ever got me more excited outside of GFs, because (even to a glass half empty supporter like me) everything looked like it was falling perfectly for an improbable flag.
Regular season wins id say 2017 Fremantle in Perth was a real statement game. Last round 2014 v the Swans was huge. Anzac Eve 2017 v Dees probably helped set the year up for us.
 
I have no idea what happened in the GC game v Sydney 2018... I would have thought the K.Hunt goal after the siren win against Richmond was their best win
 
I have no idea what happened in the GC game v Sydney 2018... I would have thought the K.Hunt goal after the siren win against Richmond was their best win

There was also the Noah Anderson goal after the siren to cap off a furious comeback against Richmond in 2022 or 2023 as a contender. Or maybe one of the home wins early in 2024, including flogging my mob in NT, when they looked bound for the finals.
 
Geelong are just that memorable! Anyway for me as mentioned above it's still the '07 Prelim. Excluding finals would be a more interesting survey in my opinion.


Wasn't really a sealer. It was still under 2 goals with just less than 8 minutes.
 
2022 final game v Carlton just the perfect H&A game though really. We win to lock in a top 4 finish, and to come from the clouds like we did and see a big rival miss finals was glglorious.
that was a awesome chapter to the year.
great build up, awesome game and a insane finish.
those last 2 home and away games for carlton in 22' were a epic LOL for many.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

SEN's list of each club's best win from the past 25 years

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top