Dirty Bird
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People talk about how Richmond destroyed Adelaide, and GWS etc.
But didn't they destroy Brisbane too with that first final?
Unbeaten in Brisbane in finals before that, next to no wins since then?
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But didn't they destroy Brisbane too with that first final?
Unbeaten in Brisbane in finals before that, next to no wins since then?
North park
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Richmond will be playing in its first Elimination Final since 2015. The Tigers have lost their last three Elimination Finals - in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
The last time Richmond won an Elimination Final was in 1977, against South Melbourne during the Final Five era.
By coincidence, 1977 was the year that Carlton lost the final home & away game to fall out of a finals position for the first time during the season. A feat it repeated in 2022.
An even bigger coincidence - the only other time that has happened is 1947 when Collingwood lost its last game to fall out of a finals position for the first time that season. It was replaced in the Final Four by Richmond, who met Fitzroy Lions in the (knock-out) First Semi Final.
The last time Richmond won an Elimination Final was in 1977, against South Melbourne during the Final Five era.
By coincidence, 1977 was the year that Carlton lost the final home & away game to fall out of a finals position for the first time during the season. A feat it repeated in 2022.
An even bigger coincidence - the only other time that has happened is 1947 when Collingwood lost its last game to fall out of a finals position for the first time that season. It was replaced in the Final Four by Richmond, who met Fitzroy Lions in the (knock-out) First Semi Final.
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Tonight's Melbourne vs. Sydney Qualifying Final is a really good example of few and far between.
This match is the first final between Melbourne and the Sydney Swans in 35 years. dating back to the 1987 First Semi Final, won by the Dees. And the only other previous final between the Demons and the then-South Melbourne Swans was 51 years earlier, when South beat Melbourne in the 1936 Preliminary Final.
This match is the first final between Melbourne and the Sydney Swans in 35 years. dating back to the 1987 First Semi Final, won by the Dees. And the only other previous final between the Demons and the then-South Melbourne Swans was 51 years earlier, when South beat Melbourne in the 1936 Preliminary Final.
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There was a thread on the main board this year discussing Grand Final match ups that would have been good, but which never happened for one reason or another. Hawthorn and Collingwood was one, as was the West Coast Eagles and Adelaide Crows, and from the NRL the Brisbane Broncos and Canberra Raiders. Also on the list was Melbourne vs. Geelong, the two oldest teams, big rivals and both dominant at the same time on various occasions, but each time the finals results never fell the right way to allow a Demons vs. Cats Grand Final.
With Geelong first and Melbourne second this year it looked a chance, but after Melbourne lost to Sydney in the Qualifying Final last night, it again looks as though it is not to be. A quirk in this model of the Final 8 finals series is that if either 1st or 2nd lose their qualifying final, then a 1st vs. 2nd Grand Final immediately becomes impossible. The only other way it can happen strangely enough is if both 1st and 2nd lose their QF, then both bounce back and win the semi finals and preliminary finals, then there will be a 1st vs 2nd Grand Final despite both teams losing in the first week. So if Collingwood defeat Geelong today, then a Cats vs. Demons Grand Final is still a chance, but if Geelong win then it is no chance.
But this still looks unlikely. This situation of both 1st and 2nd losing the QF but both rebounding to make the GF has never played out once in 22 years to date, and while there have been three cases of the Qualifying Final winners both losing the Preliminary, it wasn't this situation. In 2016 and 2019 one of the Top 4 went out in straight sets and an Elimination Final winner made the GF. In a somewhat farcical 2020 finals series 1st beat 4th and 2nd beat 3rd in the Qualifying Finals, with 3rd and 4th winning their Semi finals and then defeating 1st and 2nd in the Preliminary finals, resulting in a 3rd vs. 4th Grand Final.
With Geelong first and Melbourne second this year it looked a chance, but after Melbourne lost to Sydney in the Qualifying Final last night, it again looks as though it is not to be. A quirk in this model of the Final 8 finals series is that if either 1st or 2nd lose their qualifying final, then a 1st vs. 2nd Grand Final immediately becomes impossible. The only other way it can happen strangely enough is if both 1st and 2nd lose their QF, then both bounce back and win the semi finals and preliminary finals, then there will be a 1st vs 2nd Grand Final despite both teams losing in the first week. So if Collingwood defeat Geelong today, then a Cats vs. Demons Grand Final is still a chance, but if Geelong win then it is no chance.
But this still looks unlikely. This situation of both 1st and 2nd losing the QF but both rebounding to make the GF has never played out once in 22 years to date, and while there have been three cases of the Qualifying Final winners both losing the Preliminary, it wasn't this situation. In 2016 and 2019 one of the Top 4 went out in straight sets and an Elimination Final winner made the GF. In a somewhat farcical 2020 finals series 1st beat 4th and 2nd beat 3rd in the Qualifying Finals, with 3rd and 4th winning their Semi finals and then defeating 1st and 2nd in the Preliminary finals, resulting in a 3rd vs. 4th Grand Final.
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Another 'missed it by that much' moment - if the thriller between Brisbane and Richmond had gone the Tigers way then next weekend we would be seeing the first Melbourne vs. Richmond finals match in 82 years. Their most recent finals meeting was in the 1940 Grand Final, where Melbourne thrashed Richmond to easily win their second flag in a hat-trick of premierships for the Dees. After 1941 Melbourne and Richmond would not be in the same finals series again until 2018.
We have a Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions finals game for the second successive year, but prior to last year's Qualifying Final Melbourne had never played either the Brisbane Bears or the Brisbane Lions in a finals match at all. And Melbourne's last finals meeting with Fitzroy was the 1960 Second Semi Final.
We have a Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions finals game for the second successive year, but prior to last year's Qualifying Final Melbourne had never played either the Brisbane Bears or the Brisbane Lions in a finals match at all. And Melbourne's last finals meeting with Fitzroy was the 1960 Second Semi Final.
North park
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The results from the first week of the finals leave us with 9 possible Grand Final match ups - 6 will be first-time Grand Final meetings, while the other 3 will be resumptions of frequent Grand Final meetings.
The two known Preliminary Finalists - Geelong and Sydney - have never met in a Grand Final. Other first time Grand Final meetings would be Melbourne v Sydney, Geelong v Fremantle, Melbourne v Fremantle, Brisbane v Fremantle and Sydney v Brisbane.
At the other end of the scale, a Collingwood v Melbourne match up would be their 8th meeting in a Grand Final, extending their current record. A Collingwood v Geelong Grand Final would be their 7th meeting, equaling the Collingwood v Melbourne record.
A Brisbane v Collingwood Grand Final would be their 3rd meeting, setting the record for Grand Final match ups since 2000. Their match ups in 2002 and 2003 mean they currently share the record for post-2000 Grand Final match ups with Sydney v West Coast (2005 & 2006) and Hawthorn v Sydney (2012 & 2014).
If you include the Lions link from Brisbane to Fitzroy, it would also be the 7th Grand Final match up between the two teams, after 1903, 1905, 1917, 1922, 2002 and 2003.
And that link would also mean an actual 2nd Grand Final meeting between the Lions and the Swans. Fitzroy beat South Melbourne by 1 point 123 years ago in the 1899 Grand Final played at the Junction Oval.
The two known Preliminary Finalists - Geelong and Sydney - have never met in a Grand Final. Other first time Grand Final meetings would be Melbourne v Sydney, Geelong v Fremantle, Melbourne v Fremantle, Brisbane v Fremantle and Sydney v Brisbane.
At the other end of the scale, a Collingwood v Melbourne match up would be their 8th meeting in a Grand Final, extending their current record. A Collingwood v Geelong Grand Final would be their 7th meeting, equaling the Collingwood v Melbourne record.
A Brisbane v Collingwood Grand Final would be their 3rd meeting, setting the record for Grand Final match ups since 2000. Their match ups in 2002 and 2003 mean they currently share the record for post-2000 Grand Final match ups with Sydney v West Coast (2005 & 2006) and Hawthorn v Sydney (2012 & 2014).
If you include the Lions link from Brisbane to Fitzroy, it would also be the 7th Grand Final match up between the two teams, after 1903, 1905, 1917, 1922, 2002 and 2003.
And that link would also mean an actual 2nd Grand Final meeting between the Lions and the Swans. Fitzroy beat South Melbourne by 1 point 123 years ago in the 1899 Grand Final played at the Junction Oval.
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Melbourne's loss in the first week of the finals makes for an interesting scenario.
There are only two occasions where the Demons have lost two matches in the same finals series - firstly 85 years ago in 1937 and then 61 years ago in 1961. In both cases, Melbourne finished second on the ladder after Home & Away games (as they have in 2022) and went out in straight sets - losing the Second Semi and Preliminary Finals in the McIntyre system.
Conversely, on three occasions Melbourne has lost its first finals match and then gone on to win the Premiership.
The first was in 1940 when Melbourne lost the Second Semi to Richmond, beat Essendon in the Preliminary Final and then turned the tables on the Tigers in the Grand Final, winning the second of a hat trick of premierships.
In 1948, Melbourne lost the Second Semi to Essendon, beat Collingwood in the Preliminary Final, drew with the Bombers in the Grand Final and then won the Replay.
In 1957, Melbourne lost to Essendon again in the Second Semi, beat Hawthorn in the Preliminary Final, and then beat the Bombers in the Grand Final, winning the third of a hat trick of premierships.
What will the Demons do in 2022?
And in a real oddity, Melbourne is the only team ever to lose three matches in the same finals series.
In 1897, the finals series was played as a Round Robin, where the four top sides - Geelong, Essendon, Melbourne, Collingwood - played each other once. When the games were completed, Essendon won all 3 games and were declared Premiers, while Geelong at 2-1 were Runners Up, Collingwood 1-2 were third and Melbourne 0-3 were fourth.
The Round Robin format was repeated in 1924. This time Essendon finished 2-1 (and were declared Premiers on percentage), Richmond 2-1 were Runners Up, Fitzroy 1-2 were third and South Melbourne 1-2 were fourth. There has never been a finals format since where it is possible for a team to lose three matches.
There are only two occasions where the Demons have lost two matches in the same finals series - firstly 85 years ago in 1937 and then 61 years ago in 1961. In both cases, Melbourne finished second on the ladder after Home & Away games (as they have in 2022) and went out in straight sets - losing the Second Semi and Preliminary Finals in the McIntyre system.
Conversely, on three occasions Melbourne has lost its first finals match and then gone on to win the Premiership.
The first was in 1940 when Melbourne lost the Second Semi to Richmond, beat Essendon in the Preliminary Final and then turned the tables on the Tigers in the Grand Final, winning the second of a hat trick of premierships.
In 1948, Melbourne lost the Second Semi to Essendon, beat Collingwood in the Preliminary Final, drew with the Bombers in the Grand Final and then won the Replay.
In 1957, Melbourne lost to Essendon again in the Second Semi, beat Hawthorn in the Preliminary Final, and then beat the Bombers in the Grand Final, winning the third of a hat trick of premierships.
What will the Demons do in 2022?
And in a real oddity, Melbourne is the only team ever to lose three matches in the same finals series.
In 1897, the finals series was played as a Round Robin, where the four top sides - Geelong, Essendon, Melbourne, Collingwood - played each other once. When the games were completed, Essendon won all 3 games and were declared Premiers, while Geelong at 2-1 were Runners Up, Collingwood 1-2 were third and Melbourne 0-3 were fourth.
The Round Robin format was repeated in 1924. This time Essendon finished 2-1 (and were declared Premiers on percentage), Richmond 2-1 were Runners Up, Fitzroy 1-2 were third and South Melbourne 1-2 were fourth. There has never been a finals format since where it is possible for a team to lose three matches.
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Now down to 4 possible Grand Final match ups.
Two will be first time Grand Final meetings - Sydney v Geelong or Sydney v Brisbane.
Two will be frequent Grand Final match ups - Collingwood v Geelong for the 7th time (equaling Collingwood v Melbourne) or Collingwood v Brisbane for a record 3rd time this century.
FourthTimeAround
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There are 4 teams that have finished a VFL/AFL H&A round on top of the ladder more than any other ladder position in their history
Carlton
Essendon
Port Adelaide
West Coast
Carlton
Essendon
Port Adelaide
West Coast
Dirty Bird
Pokémon Master
Since 2012 - If a team starts 5-0. They only win the premiership if they lose their first game to Adelaide
2012 | Sydney | 5 | 0 | L vs Adelaide | Premiers |
2012 | West Coast | 6 | 0 | L vs Essendon | Lose Semi Final |
2013 | Port Adelaide | 5 | 0 | L vs North Melbourne | Lose Semi Final |
2013 | Essendon | 6 | 0 | L vs Geelong | Miss Finals |
2013 | Geelong | 7 | 0 | L vs Collingwood | Lose Preliminary Final |
2014 | Geelong | 5 | 0 | L vs Port Adelaide | Lose Semi Final |
2015 | Fremantle | 9 | 0 | L vs Richmond | Lose Preliminary Final |
2016 | North Melbourne | 9 | 0 | L vs Sydney | Lose Elimination Final |
2017 | Richmond | 5 | 0 | L vs Adelaide | Premiers |
2017 | Geelong | 5 | 0 | L vs Collingwood | Lose Preliminary Final |
2017 | Adelaide | 6 | 0 | L vs North Melbourne | Lose Grand Final |
2021 | Western Bulldogs | 6 | 0 | L vs Richmond | Lose Grand Final |
2021 | Melbourne | 9 | 0 | L vs Adelaide | Premiers |
2022 | Melbourne | 10 | 0 | L vs Fremantle | Lose Semi Final |
I believe this is first grand final in league history where both teams on a winning streak at the time, of nine wins or more.
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Some omens for the Grand Final result from V/AFL history.
Geelong has previously beaten Brisbane only once in a Preliminary Final to make the Grand Final - in 2020. Geelong lost the Grand Final.
Sydney has previously beaten Collingwood only once in a Preliminary Final to make the Grand Final - in 2012. Sydney won the Grand Final.
Geelong won the 1952 Grand Final when Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne. Geelong winning in 2022 would book-end her 70 year reign.
The last time the Grand Final returned to the MCG after an absence was 1992 (the 1991 Grand Final was played at Waverley Park due to renovation works at the MCG). Geelong lost the 1992 Grand Final to West Coast.
Geelong will be the fourth team to enter the Grand Final on a 15 game winning streak. Carlton in 1995 and Brisbane in 2001 went on to win their 16th game and the Premiership. Geelong in 2008 lost the Grand Final to Hawthorn ending the winning streak and the Premiership.
Geelong has previously beaten Brisbane only once in a Preliminary Final to make the Grand Final - in 2020. Geelong lost the Grand Final.
Sydney has previously beaten Collingwood only once in a Preliminary Final to make the Grand Final - in 2012. Sydney won the Grand Final.
Geelong won the 1952 Grand Final when Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne. Geelong winning in 2022 would book-end her 70 year reign.
The last time the Grand Final returned to the MCG after an absence was 1992 (the 1991 Grand Final was played at Waverley Park due to renovation works at the MCG). Geelong lost the 1992 Grand Final to West Coast.
Geelong will be the fourth team to enter the Grand Final on a 15 game winning streak. Carlton in 1995 and Brisbane in 2001 went on to win their 16th game and the Premiership. Geelong in 2008 lost the Grand Final to Hawthorn ending the winning streak and the Premiership.
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Can the amazing series of coincidental results from 1910-1921 matched against 2010-2021 continue? South Melbourne were wooden spooner in 1922, can the Sydney Swans emulate Richmond which was last in 1917 and premiers in 2017? Carlton did in the other way, premiers in 1915 and wooden spooner in 2015.
Also of note, the Sydney Swans last two premierships in 2005 and 2012 came in years in which they finished the season in third position on the ladder.
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The Geelong vs. Sydney Swans Grand Final today is the first between the two 1897 foundation clubs. This leaves Carlton vs. Melbourne, Carlton vs. St Kilda, Geelong vs. Melbourne, Melbourne vs. St Kilda, Melbourne vs. Swans and Swans vs. St Kilda as founding club GF combinations that are still yet to come up, along with Fitzroy vs. Geelong. Richmond, which entered in 1908, has played all of the clubs in existence at that time (discounting the defunct University) in at least one Grand Final with the exception of St Kilda.
Geelong and Sydney/South Melbourne are also remarkable in that despite many close contests between the pair over the years, they are yet to play a draw against each other, the only foundation teams not to have done so. Imagine if scores between the Cats and Swans were level at the final siren in today's Grand Final?
Geelong and Sydney/South Melbourne are also remarkable in that despite many close contests between the pair over the years, they are yet to play a draw against each other, the only foundation teams not to have done so. Imagine if scores between the Cats and Swans were level at the final siren in today's Grand Final?
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The interstate teams were well-represented in the 2022 finals series as they were in 2020 and 2021, but not since 2004 have we seen a season with teams from all competing states in the same finals series. Along with 2004, there were finals teams from every state in 1997, 1999 and 2003. It came close in 2005 and 2009, but Brisbane and Sydney respectively were missing in those seasons. Long finals absences by the Brisbane Lions from 2010-2018 and the Gold Coast having no finals series since their 2011 debut extended this run through the 2010s, and even when they returned to the finals in 2019 there were no SA teams, in 2020 no NSW teams, no WA teams in the finals in 2021 and no SA teams in September 2022.
Today's grand final was the first instance where there were three players in a grand final with over 500 goals. Prior to the match Lance Franklin had 1047, Tom Hawkins had 729 and Jeremy Cameron had 529.
Instances of two 500-goalers in a grand final prior to this were:
1995: Stephen Kernahan 654, Gary Ablett 962
1999: Wayne Carey 565, John Longmire 511
2013: Lance Franklin 579, Matthew Pavlich 580
2017: Eddie Betts 533, Jack Riewoldt 535
2020: Jack Riewoldt 662, Tom Hawkins 602
Instances of two 500-goalers in a grand final prior to this were:
1995: Stephen Kernahan 654, Gary Ablett 962
1999: Wayne Carey 565, John Longmire 511
2013: Lance Franklin 579, Matthew Pavlich 580
2017: Eddie Betts 533, Jack Riewoldt 535
2020: Jack Riewoldt 662, Tom Hawkins 602
We know now that this did not occur. But I believe they did amass the highest combined games aggregate for two players with the same name who are not related.
583 Josh J Kennedy (Carlton, West Coast: 293) Josh P Kennedy (Hawthorn, Sydney: 290)
549 Scott Thompson (Melbourne, Adelaide: 308) Scott Thompson (North Melbourne: 241)
402 Nathan G Brown (Western Bulldogs, Richmond: 219) Nathan J Brown (Collingwood, St. Kilda: 183)
376 Tom Lynch (Gold Coast, Richmond: 212) Tom Lynch (St. Kilda, Adelaide: 164)
Highest combined games aggregate for two players with the same surname who are not related.
815 Brent Harvey (432), Robert Harvey (383)
677 Doug Hawkins (350), Tom Hawkins (327)
657 Brad Johnson (364), Stevie Johnson (293)
648 Kade Simpson (342), Adam Simpson (306)
642 Chris Grant (341), Shannon Grant (301)
612 Bob Murphy (312), Marc Murphy (300)
609 Scott Thompson (308), Len Thompson (301)
584 Ben Hart (311), Shaun Hart (273)
583 Josh J Kennedy (293), Josh P Kennedy (290)
568 Sam Newman (300), Chris Newman (268)
Not precisely the same surname, but with a total of 623 Nathan Burke played 323 games and Francis Bourke played 300 games.
In addition to having a record three 500-goalkickers taking part in a grand final, there were four 300-gamers on the field yesterday: Joel Selwood was playing game 355, Lance Franklin 341, Tom Hawkins 327 and Patrick Dangerfield 303. What's more there was field umpire Matt Stevic officiating game 449 and Simon Meredith game 439.
The only other grand finals where two 300-gamers took part were:
1988: Michael Tuck 360, Russell Greene 304
2020: Gary Ablett 357, Joel Selwood 310
The only other grand finals where two 300-gamers took part were:
1988: Michael Tuck 360, Russell Greene 304
2020: Gary Ablett 357, Joel Selwood 310
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On Saturday, Joel Selwood became the 6th person to play in a Grand Final after game number 350, and only the 2nd player to win a premiership.
Kevin Bartlett, Bruce Doull, Adam Goodes and Gary Ablett Jr all played in and lost Grand Finals after 350 games. It was the final games for Doull and Ablett Jr, while Bartlett and Goodes played one more season.
Selwood joins Michael Tuck as the only person to win (and captain) a Premiership after 350 games.
Selwood has some catching to do though - Tuck incredibly captained 3 Hawthorn Premiership teams after game number 350 - 1988 (game 360), 1989 (game 383) and 1991 (game 426).
Kevin Bartlett, Bruce Doull, Adam Goodes and Gary Ablett Jr all played in and lost Grand Finals after 350 games. It was the final games for Doull and Ablett Jr, while Bartlett and Goodes played one more season.
Selwood joins Michael Tuck as the only person to win (and captain) a Premiership after 350 games.
Selwood has some catching to do though - Tuck incredibly captained 3 Hawthorn Premiership teams after game number 350 - 1988 (game 360), 1989 (game 383) and 1991 (game 426).
That's interesting. Bad kicking for goal cost them 16 in a row and a flag.
Geelong won 14 in a row to claim the 1937 Premiership, but managed to break what was becoming a little speed bump in managing their 16th win to take the Flag this year. Previously Geelong had won 15 in a row from Rd 6 2007 to Rd 20 2007, and of course from Rd 9 2008 till the PF that year, which ended a second 15-game streak. Amongst that there's also the 13-0 start to 2009...meaning Geelong lost just 2 games out of 46 in that period.
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Saturday's Grand Final between Geelong and the Swans was a new Grand Final combination between two foundation clubs. Of all the Grand Finals played, which were 'new' grand finals between clubs that had never played off for the premiership before? Here is a list:
1898 - Fitzroy vs. Essendon
1899 - Fitzroy vs. Swans *
1900 - Melbourne vs. Fitzroy *
1901 - Essendon vs. Collingwood
1903 - Collingwood vs. Fitzroy
1904 - Fitzroy vs. Carlton
1907 - Carlton vs. Swans
1908 - Carlton vs. Essendon
1910 - Collingwood vs. Carlton
1912 - Essendon vs. Swans *
1913 - Fitzroy vs. St Kilda *
1918 - Swans vs. Collingwood
1919 - Collingwood vs. Richmond
1921 - Richmond vs. Carlton
1925 - Geelong vs. Collingwood
1926 - Melbourne vs. Collingwood
1931 - Geelong vs. Richmond
1933 - Swans vs. Richmond
1940 - Melbourne vs. Richmond *
1941 - Melbourne vs. Essendon
1942 - Essendon vs. Richmond #
1944 - Fitzroy vs. Richmond *
1950 - Essendon vs. North Melbourne *
1951 - Essendon vs. Geelong *#
1954 - Bulldogs vs. Melbourne
1961 - Hawthorn vs. Bulldogs *
1963 - Geelong vs. Hawthorn
1965 - Essendon vs. St Kilda *
1966 - St Kilda vs. Collingwood
1971 - Hawthorn vs St Kilda *
1974 - Richmond vs North Melbourne *
1975 - North Melbourne vs. Hawthorn
1977 - North Melbourne vs. Collingwood*
1983 - Hawthorn vs. Essendon
1986 - Hawthorn vs. Carlton
1988 - Hawthorn vs. Melbourne*
1991 - Hawthorn vs. West Coast
1992 - West Coast vs. Geelong
1995 - Carlton vs. Geelong *
1996 - North Melbourne vs. Swans *
1997 - Adelaide vs. St Kilda *
1998 - Adelaide vs. North Melbourne *
1999 - North Melbourne vs. Carlton *
2001 - Brisbane Lions vs. Essendon *
2002 - Brisbane Lions vs. Collingwood
2004 - Port Adelaide vs. Brisbane Lions*
2005 - Swans vs. West Coast
2007 - Geelong vs. Port Adelaide*
2009 - Geelong vs St Kilda*
2012 - Swans vs Hawthorn
2013 - Hawthorn vs Fremantle*
2016 - Bulldogs vs. Swans*
2017 - Richmond vs. Adelaide*
2018 - West Coast vs. Collingwood*
2019 - Richmond vs. GWS *
2022 - Geelong vs. Swans *
* Grand Final combination has not come up again to date (or did not reoccur in the case of Fitzroy)
# Although Richmond were runner up to Essendon in 1924 and Geelong runner up to Essendon in 1897, there was no Grand Final in those years with a round robin finals series instead. The Tigers and Cats first played the Bombers in Grand Finals in 1942 and 1951 respectively.
1898 - Fitzroy vs. Essendon
1899 - Fitzroy vs. Swans *
1900 - Melbourne vs. Fitzroy *
1901 - Essendon vs. Collingwood
1903 - Collingwood vs. Fitzroy
1904 - Fitzroy vs. Carlton
1907 - Carlton vs. Swans
1908 - Carlton vs. Essendon
1910 - Collingwood vs. Carlton
1912 - Essendon vs. Swans *
1913 - Fitzroy vs. St Kilda *
1918 - Swans vs. Collingwood
1919 - Collingwood vs. Richmond
1921 - Richmond vs. Carlton
1925 - Geelong vs. Collingwood
1926 - Melbourne vs. Collingwood
1931 - Geelong vs. Richmond
1933 - Swans vs. Richmond
1940 - Melbourne vs. Richmond *
1941 - Melbourne vs. Essendon
1942 - Essendon vs. Richmond #
1944 - Fitzroy vs. Richmond *
1950 - Essendon vs. North Melbourne *
1951 - Essendon vs. Geelong *#
1954 - Bulldogs vs. Melbourne
1961 - Hawthorn vs. Bulldogs *
1963 - Geelong vs. Hawthorn
1965 - Essendon vs. St Kilda *
1966 - St Kilda vs. Collingwood
1971 - Hawthorn vs St Kilda *
1974 - Richmond vs North Melbourne *
1975 - North Melbourne vs. Hawthorn
1977 - North Melbourne vs. Collingwood*
1983 - Hawthorn vs. Essendon
1986 - Hawthorn vs. Carlton
1988 - Hawthorn vs. Melbourne*
1991 - Hawthorn vs. West Coast
1992 - West Coast vs. Geelong
1995 - Carlton vs. Geelong *
1996 - North Melbourne vs. Swans *
1997 - Adelaide vs. St Kilda *
1998 - Adelaide vs. North Melbourne *
1999 - North Melbourne vs. Carlton *
2001 - Brisbane Lions vs. Essendon *
2002 - Brisbane Lions vs. Collingwood
2004 - Port Adelaide vs. Brisbane Lions*
2005 - Swans vs. West Coast
2007 - Geelong vs. Port Adelaide*
2009 - Geelong vs St Kilda*
2012 - Swans vs Hawthorn
2013 - Hawthorn vs Fremantle*
2016 - Bulldogs vs. Swans*
2017 - Richmond vs. Adelaide*
2018 - West Coast vs. Collingwood*
2019 - Richmond vs. GWS *
2022 - Geelong vs. Swans *
* Grand Final combination has not come up again to date (or did not reoccur in the case of Fitzroy)
# Although Richmond were runner up to Essendon in 1924 and Geelong runner up to Essendon in 1897, there was no Grand Final in those years with a round robin finals series instead. The Tigers and Cats first played the Bombers in Grand Finals in 1942 and 1951 respectively.
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This is a great list, and similar to one I have been compiling - "once-only" Grand Final match-ups that have never been repeated.
As the 4 Fitzroy match-ups can never be repeated, the oldest "live" Grand Final match-up yet to repeated is Essendon v Swans from 1912 - 110 years ago.
The next oldest is Melbourne v Richmond from 1940. Incredibly in the 82 years since, the two teams have never met again in a finals match, let alone a Grand Final. In fact, they have only played in 3 finals series together - 1941, 2018 and 2022.
Essendon v North Melbourne in 1950 and Essendon v Geelong in 1951 are the next oldest - both over 70 years ago. There have been some chances for a repeat match-up since - 1996 and 1999 for the former (both were 1 point Preliminary Final losses for Essendon) and 1962 for the latter (Geelong drew the Preliminary Final and lost the replay by 5 points).
Most of the others are more recent due to more teams (and more possible combinations) and fewer years for a repeat to happen.
The 81-point margin Geelong won by is the largest winning margin to be repeated in grand finals, the other instance being when Richmond defeated Collingwood in 1980. Prior to this 73 points was the highest margin repeated in grand finals when Essendon defeated Carlton in 1949 and when Melbourne defeated Collingwood in 1956.
