1995 AFL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 1995 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football
game contested between the Geelong Football Club
and Carlton Football Club
, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
in Melbourne
on 30 September 1995. It was the 99th annual Grand Final
of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1995 AFL season
. The match was attended by 93,670 spectators, the second most attended match of the season behind the 1995 ANZAC day clash between Essendon
and Collingwood
. The 1995 Grand final was won by Carlton by a margin of 61 points. It was Carlton's 16th premiership victory, making it the most successful club in the league's history (a record subsequently tied by Essendon in 2000). The game also marked Carlton's sixteenth consecutive win and twenty-third win for the year overall, then a record.
, whilst it was Geelong's first since losing the previous year's premiership decider
. The Cats had finished runners-up in three of the past six Grand Finals, and were looking for its first flag since winning the 1963 VFL Grand Final
.
At the conclusion of the home and away season, Carlton had finished first on the AFL ladder with 20 wins and 2 losses, winning the McClelland Trophy
. Geelong had finished second with 16 wins and 6 losses.
In the lead-up to the Grand Final, Carlton defeated the Brisbane Bears
by 13 points in the Fourth Qualifying Final, thereby earning the week off, and subsequently defeated North Melbourne
by 62 points in the Second Preliminary Final. Geelong defeated Footscray
by 82 points in the Third Qualifying Final before defeating Richmond
by 89 points in the First Preliminary Final.
, 1992
and 1994
Grand Finals, looked like it had its best chance of winning a premiership since claiming the 1963 flag
, after crushing Footscray and Richmond in the previous two weeks of the finals. Carlton, on the other hand, were the standout team of 1995 - the first team ever to win 20 home and away matches.
The game that eventuated, though, was somewhat of a disappointment in regards to a close contest. The Blues had four goals on the board almost before Geelong could blink, and even after the Cats wobbled through the last two goals of the opening term, the match was effectively over at half time with the Blues dominating to lead 10.8 to 3.10.
The game will be remembered for the brilliant play of Greg Williams, who was awarded the Norm Smith Medal
for being judged the best player afield with five goals and 31 possessions, and also of defender Stephen Silvagni
in keeping champion Geelong full forward Gary Ablett goalless.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
game contested between the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 30 September 1995. It was the 99th annual Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1995 AFL season
1995 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1995.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:*This was the first ANZAC Day clash held between Collingwood and Essendon which famously ended in a draw.-Round 5:-Round 6:...
. The match was attended by 93,670 spectators, the second most attended match of the season behind the 1995 ANZAC day clash between Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. The 1995 Grand final was won by Carlton by a margin of 61 points. It was Carlton's 16th premiership victory, making it the most successful club in the league's history (a record subsequently tied by Essendon in 2000). The game also marked Carlton's sixteenth consecutive win and twenty-third win for the year overall, then a record.
Background
This was Carlton's first appearance in a Grand Final since losing the 1993 AFL Grand Final1993 AFL Grand Final
The 1993 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September 1993. It was the 97th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
, whilst it was Geelong's first since losing the previous year's premiership decider
1994 AFL Grand Final
The 1994 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 1 October 1994. It was the 98th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League,...
. The Cats had finished runners-up in three of the past six Grand Finals, and were looking for its first flag since winning the 1963 VFL Grand Final
1963 VFL Grand Final
The 1963 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 5 October 1963. It was the 67th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the...
.
At the conclusion of the home and away season, Carlton had finished first on the AFL ladder with 20 wins and 2 losses, winning the McClelland Trophy
McClelland Trophy
The McClelland Trophy is an Australian rules football trophy, currently awarded to the minor premiers in the Australian Football League each year...
. Geelong had finished second with 16 wins and 6 losses.
In the lead-up to the Grand Final, Carlton defeated the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
by 13 points in the Fourth Qualifying Final, thereby earning the week off, and subsequently defeated North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
by 62 points in the Second Preliminary Final. Geelong defeated Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
by 82 points in the Third Qualifying Final before defeating Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
by 89 points in the First Preliminary Final.
Match summary
It was billed as having the potential to be a classic - the best Grand Final in years, when the top two sides of 1995 were due to clash in their first Grand Final. Geelong, runners-up in the 19891989 VFL Grand Final
The 1989 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club and the Geelong Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 30 September 1989. It was the 93rd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
, 1992
1992 AFL Grand Final
The 1992 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 26 September 1992. It was the 96th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League,...
and 1994
1994 AFL Grand Final
The 1994 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 1 October 1994. It was the 98th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League,...
Grand Finals, looked like it had its best chance of winning a premiership since claiming the 1963 flag
1963 VFL Grand Final
The 1963 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 5 October 1963. It was the 67th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the...
, after crushing Footscray and Richmond in the previous two weeks of the finals. Carlton, on the other hand, were the standout team of 1995 - the first team ever to win 20 home and away matches.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton Carlton Football Club The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897... |
4.5 (29) | 10.8 (68) | 16.11 (107) | 21.15 (141) | 21.15 (141) |
| Geelong Geelong Football Club The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also... |
2.4 (16) | 3.10 (28) | 6.12 (48) | 11.14 (80) | 11.14 (80) |
The game that eventuated, though, was somewhat of a disappointment in regards to a close contest. The Blues had four goals on the board almost before Geelong could blink, and even after the Cats wobbled through the last two goals of the opening term, the match was effectively over at half time with the Blues dominating to lead 10.8 to 3.10.
The game will be remembered for the brilliant play of Greg Williams, who was awarded the Norm Smith Medal
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
for being judged the best player afield with five goals and 31 possessions, and also of defender Stephen Silvagni
Stephen Silvagni
Stephen Silvagni is a former Australian rules footballer for the Carlton Football Club.During his long VFL/AFL career, from his debut in 1985, until his retirement in 2001, he gained the reputation as one of the greatest ever full-backs to play the game and was named as full-back in the AFL Team...
in keeping champion Geelong full forward Gary Ablett goalless.
Teams
Goal kickers
Carlton
|
Geelong
|
External links
See also
- 1995 AFL season1995 AFL seasonResults and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1995.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:*This was the first ANZAC Day clash held between Collingwood and Essendon which famously ended in a draw.-Round 5:-Round 6:...