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We asked you to pick the greatest game this century. There was a clear winner

Is the Hawthorn v Brisbane preliminary final the best game since 2000 or does another stand above it?
We asked you to pick the greatest game this century. There was a clear winner

Is the Hawthorn v Brisbane preliminary final the best game since 2000 or does another stand above it?

THE FANS have spoken - Saturday night's preliminary final between Brisbane and Hawthorn is the best game of the century so far.

On Sunday, the morning after the astonishing game at the MCG, AFL.com.au put together a list of the 10 best AFL games since 2000, ranked 1-10, and asked users to vote for their favourite.

And the vast majority of fans agreed with us that the Lions-Hawks classic is the best of the past 26 years, with 47.08 per cent of the thousands of fans who voted picking that game as the best of the century.

The memorable 2018 Grand Final between West Coast and Collingwood was the second favourite with 15.93 per cent of the vote, while the 2023 decider between Collingwood and Brisbane was next best with 8.58 per cent.

The Lions v Hawks clash will long be remembered by the 97,835 in attendance and the millions watching at home.

A high-scoring game of dramatic momentum shifts, many apparent match-winning heroes and a key umpiring decision in the final 30 seconds, it was stamped as an instant classic.

The Lions jumped out to 28 points at the start of the fourth term, and the Hawks hit the lead a few times in the final minutes before Hugh McCluggage capitalised on a free kick and saluted with an all-time captain's goal.

What is the best game of the 21st century so far?

1) 2026 PF: Brisbane v Hawthorn - 47.08 per cent 2) 2018 GF: West Coast v Collingwood - 15.93 per cent 3) 2023 GF: Collingwood v Brisbane - 8.58 per cent 4) 2016 PF: Western Bulldogs v GWS - 5.93 per cent 5) 2013 PF: Hawthorn v Geelong - 5.62 per cent 6) 2010 GF: Collingwood v St Kilda - 4.56 per cent 7) 2001 R16: Essendon v North Melbourne - 3.54 per cent 8) 2009 R14: St Kilda v Geelong - 3.26 per cent 9) 2016 GF: Western Bulldogs v Sydney - 3.06 per cent 10) 2024 PF: Brisbane v Geelong - 2.44 per cent

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It was published on September 20, 2026 and last updated on October 9, 2026. The time of the story is shown in your own time zone on the page.

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