‘Greatest weekend of footy’: Chaos, heartbreak as top AFL prelim finals since 2000 ranked 1-20

Four teams left. Two Grand Final spots. One shot.

That is what makes preliminary final weekend so thrilling … and so brutal.

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As dual premiership Kangaroo David King puts it: “It’s do or die. It’s everything. Get to a Grand Final or fail.

“The best four teams are still alive, players of talent everywhere, so you want to play well. If you perform poorly, it sits with you forever.”

The stakes are enormous because of just how difficult it is to get to the penultimate weekend of the season.

“You don’t luck out into a preliminary final,” four-time premiership Hawk Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy.

“You don’t just fall in. You don’t just get there by mistake.”

And then there’s the atmosphere – something even those players who’ve experienced a preliminary final struggle to describe.

Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown labels it “the fans’ weekend”, adding: “Some of the loudest experiences I’ve had are on prelim final weekends.”

Four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis describes it as “the greatest weekend of football”, because every player knows exactly what awaits them.

“You play that game like it is your last game, so you give absolutely everything,” Lewis told Fox Footy.

“People might say: ‘Why don’t you do that every week?’ Well because every player understands what’s on the line. If you lose, you’re out. If you win, you’re in a Grand Final. There are no bigger stakes than that.”

It’s why the opening minutes of a preliminary final can feel so different.

King remembers former coach Denis Pagan’s adage: “Hit a body or hit the footy” – because the contest will be hot.

Triple premiership Cat Tom Hawkins said he has “great memories”, but also “some terrible memories”, of the weekend.

That contrast captures the cruelty of a preliminary final: win and you’re into the Grand Final, but lose and you’re left to watch someone else take your place.

"Great to see everyone get back on" | 12:13

“It’s really tough to watch the Grand Final when you know that you’re good enough to be there,” King says.

Which is why triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt’s words are so apt: “It really is the purest weekend of footy.”

Since 2000, the preliminary final has produced some of the greatest games, comebacks, finishes and moments in VFL/AFL history.

Foxfooty.com.au ranks the 20 prelims that stand above them all.

20. 2005 preliminary final, Sydney 15.6 (96) def St Kilda 9.11 (65) by 31 points at the MCG

Nestled snugly in between the Swans’ “Nick Davis” semi final and “Leo Barry” Grand Final moments, this prelim was a tense, close encounter before Sydney’s stunning, out of character final quarter onslaught.

A team so dour that then-AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou famously declared mid-year couldn’t win the premiership, the Swans kicked seven straight goals within 13 glorious minutes – three from unlikely hero Adam Schneider – to leave Saints fans with the familiar feeling of September heartbreak.

The match would have a controversial postscript, with Barry Hall initially suspended for the Grand Final for a gut-punch on Matt Maguire, before the Swans’ legal team successfully overturned the charge and freed him to lift the premiership cup a week later.

Did Fremantle look too far ahead? | 01:41

19. 2017 preliminary final, Richmond 15.13 (103) def GWS 9.13 (67) by 36 points at the MCG

When Kane Lambert booted the first goal of the 2017 preliminary final, the Tiger Army’s roar reached 122 decibels – about the same volume as a jet engine.

“It couldn’t have started any better for us,” Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy.

“Cotchin out of the middle, Martin crumb, gives it to Lambert – the roof just goes off.

Surely the loudest prelim of all, the Giants were just a point down at half time before a scintillating third quarter, led by two late goals from Dustin Martin, booked the Tigers a ticket to their first Grand Final in 35 years.

“The siren goes, the reality sets in,” Riewoldt said.

“I swallowed a fly and choked on that. It looked like I was choking back tears – which I really was, because it dawns on you that you’re actually going to be there and have a chance to win a premiership.”

18. 2018 preliminary final, Collingwood 15.7 (97) def Richmond 8.10 (58) by 39 points at the MCG

One of the great September upsets, the Magpies stormed the MCG with a staggering ten goals to two first half to dismantle the reigning premiers in the most brutal fashion.

This prelim will be remembered forever as “the Mason Cox game”: the American Pie transformed from a decent footballer with a novelty backstory into a star of the game with three goals – all in the second quarter – and a ridiculous eight contested marks to lead the charge.

“In your nightmares, that ‘USA’ chant … just ringing through your brain,” Riewoldt told Fox Footy.

The question remains: did this loss cost the Tigers four premierships in a row, or did it spur them on to greater heights across their 2019 and 2020 flag years?

17. 2020 preliminary final, Richmond 6.10 (46) def Port Adelaide 6.4 (40) by 6 points at the Adelaide Oval

A night for Richmond’s unsung heroes, the Tigers proved not even a COVID year and months on the road in a Queensland hub could break their spirit, knocking over Port Adelaide on their own turf in a brutal, 128-tackle affair in driving rain.

Dustin Martin (21 disposals, two goals) was brilliant as always, but in a thrilling final quarter, Kane Lambert and Toby Nankervis stole the show; the former with two critical goals to edge the Tigers ahead, the latter with a pair of equally vital contested marks to hold Port at bay.

The closest Ken Hinkley got as Power coach to an elusive flag, his team became just the third ever to finish on top of the ladder in every home-and-away round … and yet didn’t make it to the Grand Final.

16. 2019 preliminary final, Richmond 12.13 (85) def Geelong 9.12 (66) by 19 points at the MCG

One of three finals victories by the Tigers over the Cats through their four-year, three-flag dynasty, this contest featured what would become a trademark of their reign: a stirring second-half fightback.

Outplayed in the first half and trailing by 21 points at the main break, a Dion Prestia clearance found Tom Lynch for a goal within seconds of the restart, setting the tone and sparking a come-from-behind 19-point win.

With 22 disposals and two goals, Dustin Martin produced another fantastic finals performances: but with five goals, the matchwinner was Lynch, who at a stroke vindicated his enormous contract after crossing from Gold Coast as a free agent nearly 12 months prior.

15. 2001 preliminary final, Essendon 11.10 (76) def Hawthorn 9.13 (67) by 9 points at the MCG

Six goals up at half time, the Bombers were pushed to the limits by a stirring Hawks final term comeback, with the underdogs twice drawing to within a goal before the reigning premiers twice steadied.

A free kick against defender Daniel Harford on Bomber Chris Heffernan at a crucial flashpoint of the last quarter had Hawks fans seething, but ultimately, they were left to rue an inaccurate 2.7 first half scoreline.

The punishing encounter sapped the Bombers, though, with the premiership favourites flagging badly a week later to lose the Grand Final to Brisbane despite leading by 14 points at half time.

14. 2006 preliminary final, West Coast 11.19 (85) def Adelaide 11.9 (75) by 10 points at AAMI Stadium

Gerard, Swanny face-off on the ARC | 02:42

The second straight preliminary final between two titans of the mid-2000s, the Eagles trailed at every break, including by 22 points at half time, before storming home with a devastating final-quarter burst.

The eventual premiers turned an eight-point deficit into a 17-point lead with four quick goals as they utterly dominated proceedings, before the Crows and Nathan Bock wrested things back from the brink to trail by just four points with under 30 seconds to go.

But from the year’s most crucial centre bounce, a holding free kick against Tyson Edwards would prove the decisive blow, with the Eagles taking the ball forward and setting up Ashley Hansen to goal after the siren and take the winning margin to 10 points.

13. 2004 preliminary final, Brisbane 12.12 (84) def Geelong 10.15 (75) by 9 points at the MCG

A deal between the AFL and the Melbourne Cricket Club, scrapped almost immediately after, saw the Lions, despite earning the right to a home preliminary final, forced to face the Cats at the MCG.

One of the forgotten great finals, the margin never exceeded 11 points for either team as the Cats, inspired by young gun Gary Ablett’s electric second half, drew within three points at time-on of the final quarter.

But the three-time reigning premiers rallied, holding on to win by 9 points on a sodden night to set up a shot at equalling Collingwood’s famous record of four straight premierships from 1927-30.

12. 2014 preliminary final, Hawthorn 15.7 (97) def Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) by 3 points at the MCG

29 points down at the halfway mark of the final quarter, the Power turned an entertaining but undramatic preliminary final into an utter nailbiter with one of the great unfulfilled comebacks.

Gone for all money, Ken Hinkley’s move to run a number of players off the back of centre bounces and ball-ups led to four goals in nine minutes to leave the Hawks on the brink of a shock loss.

But in the dying moments, a clutch Luke Hodge smother, followed by a contentious holding the ball free kick against Port defender Tom Jonas, would help save the game – and they’d go on to pommel Sydney by 63 points in the Grand Final.

11. 2009 preliminary final, St Kilda 9.6 (60) def Western Bulldogs 7.11 (53) by 7 points at the MCG

Among the most controversial preliminary finals of the 21st century, a free kick awarded to Nick Riewoldt before the first bounce of the second half for an off-the-ball bump against Brian Lake would give the Saints a crucial gifted goal.

Riewoldt produced one of the great finals second halves of the modern era, kicking four goals to all but single-handedly sink the Dogs, who were left to rue errant kicking for goal in what was the club’s sixth consecutive preliminary final defeat.

Billed as a contest between two of the AFL’s biggest hard-luck stories, both would end their seasons in heartbreak: the Saints, who had won their first 19 games of the season, ended with a devastating 12-point loss to Geelong in a classic Grand Final a week later.

10. 2019 preliminary final, GWS Giants 8.8 (56) def Collingwood 7.10 (52) by 4 points at the MCG

The lowest-scoring preliminary final (excluding 2020) of the modern era, just 15 goals were kicked on a wet Saturday at the MCG as both teams dialled the pressure up to 11.

33 points down early in the final quarter after a five goals to nil third term from the Giants, the Pies bagged the last five goals of the game to draw within a kick, before two near misses – a Chris Mayne shot touched on the line and a poster from Taylor Adams – saw the visitors hold on for their first Grand Final.

In the final minute and deep in defence, Shane Mumford produced one of the greatest ever ruckman moments with a clutch dummy-sell to send Scott Pendlebury the wrong way and clear the danger area.

9. 2012 preliminary final, Hawthorn 13.19 (97) def Adelaide 14.8 (92) by 5 points at the MCG

$6 outsiders going in, the Crows nearly pulled off the greatest preliminary final upset since Carlton stunned Essendon in 1999 with a herculean performance at the MCG.

Having led at half time and remained within touching distance despite a brutal Hawks third quarter thanks to remarkably accurate kicking for goal, the match went right to the wire.

Leading by four points with just over three minutes to go, a desperate lunging tackle inside defensive 50 from Ben Stratton on then-Crow Patrick Dangerfield proving a vital moment, with the Hawks taking the ball end to end as Cyril Rioli fed Lance Franklin for what proved the match-sealing goal.

Are Swans the 'sentimental favourites'? | 00:55

8. 2022 preliminary final, Sydney 14.11 (95) def Collingwood 14.10 (94) by 1 point at the SCG

Having made a habit of extraordinary heists – and winning games by under a goal – in 2022, the Magpies couldn’t have come any closer to the most remarkable triumph of all.

21 points behind at the 20-minute mark of the final term, the never-say-die Pies forced a thrilling finish with three quick goals, with a desperate goalline scramble in the final moments seeing the Swans save what would have been the game-winner by a matter of millimetres.

“It’s one of the loudest experiences I’ve had,” ex-Swans coach John Longmire told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“This is when Collingwood were making all these great comebacks from behind and I was coaching from the bench.

“It was the longest 45 seconds of my life.”

“The crowd at this point were almost blowing the grandstands and roof off at the SCG. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

The heartbreak would prove the fuel for the Pies’ run to the premiership 12 months, while the Swans would be rewarded for their win by running into a Geelong woodchipper in a painfully one-sided Grand Final a week later.

7. 2023 preliminary final, Collingwood 8.10 (58) def GWS Giants 8.9 (57) by 1 point at the MCG

The third-lowest scoring preliminary final of the 21st century (excluding 2020), this classic contest proved a match doesn’t have to have goals galore to leave fans on the edge of their seats.

Having been restricted to just two first-half goals and trailing by as much as 17 points, the Pies booted five third-quarter majors to retake the lead, with Jordan De Goey (34 disposals, 13 clearances) unstoppable in midfield.

Remarkably, the last nine minutes of the game didn’t feature a single score as the Pies fought tooth and nail to hold their one-point lead, with Toby Greene’s snap from the pocket falling just short of what would have been a matchwinning goal … or match-tying behind.

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6. 2004 preliminary final, Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) def St Kilda 13.10 (88) by 6 points at AAMI Stadium

After two consecutive minor premierships without so much as reaching the Grand Final, this epic buried Port’s “choker” tag for good – though not without staunch resistance from a dogged Saints outfit.

The underdogs, who celebrated Fraser Gehrig’s 100th goal for the season in the third quarter – the second-most recent man to reach the mark – scores were tied in time on of the final term before a spectacular Gavin Wanganeen goal from the boundary line secured the Power a match-winning lead.

After seeing off one final challenge when future premiership Hawk Brent Guerra fumbled a chance near the top of the goalsquare, the image of Kane Cornes falling to the ground in triumph while Saints veteran Robert Harvey sank in despair at the final siren has become part of 2000s football folklore.

5. 2011 preliminary final, Collingwood 10.8 (68) def Hawthorn 9.11 (65) by 3 points at the MCG

The Magpies roared home with a five goals to two final quarter to snatch a match that had been in the Hawks’ keeping throughout, in a preliminary final classic that left coach Mick Malthouse in tears at the final siren.

In a gripping arm-wrestle between two normally free-scoring sides, the Hawks retook the lead into time on of the final term thanks to one of Lance Franklin’s most forgotten great moments: a stunning dribble kick from deep in the forward pocket under heavy Chris Tarrant pressure.

It would have been one of football’s most iconic goals had the Hawks held on: but a decisive Luke Ball snap from a forward 50 stoppage with under four minutes to go would prove the matchwinner, with Dale Thomas’ rundown tackle on Cyril Rioli in the final minute sealing a dramatic triumph.

4. 2024 preliminary final, Brisbane 14.11 (95) def Geelong 12.13 (85) by 10 points at the MCG

The win that sparked a Lions golden age, Brisbane pulled off a stunning second-half comeback for the second final in a row.

Having trailed by 25 points just after half time, the Lions roared home with eight of the last 11 goals – including two instantly iconic majors within moments of one another to Callum Ah Chee and Cam Rayner deep into time-on of the final quarter finally wresting the game out of the Cats’ grasp.

This game might have landed even higher had a dazed Rhys Stanley not hit the post from close range in the final minute to deny a classic prelim the ultimate grandstand finish it deserved.

3. 2013 preliminary final, Hawthorn 14.18 (102) def Geelong 15.7 (97) by 5 points at the MCG

“Get the hearse for the curse!” A Cometti special if ever there was one.

The Hawks’ first win over the Cats since the 2008 Grand Final kickstarted a dynasty of three premierships in three years – but it required the mother of all comebacks.

Trailing by 20 points at three quarter time, having lost their last 11 matches against the Cats, the minor premiers found an extra gear when it mattered most, as Shaun Burgoyne inspired the Hawks to a dominant final term in which they kicked 4.8 to 1.1 to snatch a Grand Final berth.

“I get goosebumps because it does take you back to those memories,” Jordan Lewis told Fox Footy.

“That for me is as loud as I’ve ever heard the MCG in my entire career.

Cats great Tom Hawkins added: “I still remember him (Burgoyne) putting his arms up and celebrating in front of the goalface.

“It broke the ‘Kennett Curse’, which ultimately – in my mind – has always given Hawthorn the last laugh.”

Burgoyne’s 24-disposal, three-goal performance was the greatest of his glittering 407-game career; while with 32 touches and four goals, Steve Johnson enhanced his reputation as a big-game player even in defeat.

2. 2007 preliminary final, Geelong 13.14 (92) def Collingwood 13.9 (87) by 5 points at the MCG

A turning point in the Cats’ history, the seeds of a dynasty still going strong to this day were sown in 2007 as Mark Thompson’s team reached a Grand Final that had seemed all but a foregone conclusion for months … by the skin of their teeth.

A never-say-die Magpies gave the eventual premiers, who won their other two finals that year by more than 100 points, the fright of their lives, forcing the Cats to hold on desperately to their five-point lead in the final minute after the Pies booted three of the game’s last four goals.

Ruckman Brad Ottens was the clear best afield with 23 disposals, 24 hit-outs and a goal, while Dennis Cometti’s call of Gary Ablett’s vital last-quarter goal is among his most famous: “Cometh the moment, cometh the man! The son of the man!”

Fun fact: this is also the most recent preliminary final, excluding the COVID years of 2020-21, when the match attendance (98,002) exceeded that year’s Grand Final crowd.

1. 2016 preliminary final, Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89) def GWS Giants 12.11 (83) by 6 points at ENGIE Stadium

At the time the second most-watched non-Grand Final AFL game in history, this famous classic saw the Bulldogs end a 55-year drought and reach the decider in the most thrilling fashion.

A packed crowd at Spotless Stadium – of which a huge chunk were travelling Bulldogs supporters – witnessed a frenetic, seesawing match capped by a dramatic last quarter, with the result up in the air until Jake Stringer found Tory Dickson inside 50 with only 30 seconds to go to seal victory.

The match has since proved one of, if not the, most important preliminary finals of the 21st century: the Bulldogs went on to win their first premiership in 62 years a week later, while a Giants team among the most talented ever assembled would fail to extract a flag out of its most golden generation across another decade of near-misses.