1995 AFL Grand Final — Carlton’s Last (So Far) Flag

The 1995 AFL Grand Final saw Carlton defeat Geelong 19.13 (127) to 16.12 (108) at the MCG — a 19-point margin that gave the Blues their 16th VFL/AFL premiership. Played on 30 September 1995 in front of 93,670 fans, Carlton’s flag remains their last AFL premiership to date — establishing the Blues’ generation-long Grand Final drought. Greg Williams won the Norm Smith Medal; David Parkin collected his third Jock McHale.

The Build-Up: Blues vs Cats

Carlton, under David Parkin, were in dominant form. Stephen Kernahan led the forward line; Greg Williams was the AFL’s premier midfielder; Anthony Koutoufides was the emerging key positional. The Blues had topped the home-and-away ladder.

Geelong, under Malcolm Blight (in his first stint coaching), had reached their fourth Grand Final of the early 1990s (1989, 1992, 1994, 1995 — losing all of them). Gary Ablett Sr was the Cats’ spearhead; the squad was experienced.

The Match: Blues’ Coronation

Carlton started fast. Stephen Kernahan’s contested marks, Greg Williams’s midfield class, and Anthony Koutoufides’s run all contributed. Williams won 30+ disposals; Kernahan kicked 4 goals; Koutoufides was outstanding.

By half-time the Blues led by 20 points. The third quarter — Carlton’s “premiership quarter” — extended the margin. Geelong’s fourth-quarter resistance through Gary Ablett (5 goals!) was admirable but futile.

Final score: Carlton 19.13 (127) defeated Geelong 16.12 (108) — a 19-point margin.

The Norm Smith Medal: Greg Williams

The 1995 Norm Smith went to Greg Williams of Carlton. Williams’s 30+ disposals, midfield masterclass, and ability to win contested ball earned the recognition. Williams had previously won the Brownlow Medal twice (1986 with Sydney, 1994 with Carlton).

The Premiership Coach: David Parkin (Third)

David Parkin collected his third Jock McHale Medal in 1995. Parkin’s coaching tenures at Carlton (1981-85, 1991-2000) produced multiple premierships including the 1981, 1982, and 1995 flags.

Famous Moments

• Greg Williams’s 30+ disposals — Norm Smith winning.
• Stephen Kernahan’s 4 goals — Carlton’s spearhead.
• Anthony Koutoufides’s emerging dominance.
• Gary Ablett’s 5 goals — Cats’ resistance in defeat.
• Garry Hocking’s defiant 25 disposals — Cats’ midfielder.
• Andrew Bews’s contested work.
• The 19-point Carlton winning margin.
• Stephen Kernahan’s emotional captain’s effort.
• David Parkin’s third Cup lift.
• The Blues’ supporter celebrations.

Trivia for the Pub

• Date: 30 September 1995, MCG.
• Final: Carlton 19.13 (127) defeated Geelong 16.12 (108).
• Margin: 19 points.
• Crowd: 93,670.
• Norm Smith: Greg Williams.
• Jock McHale: David Parkin (third).
• Carlton’s 16th VFL/AFL premiership.
• Carlton’s last premiership to date (still waiting in 2026).
• Geelong’s 4th consecutive Grand Final loss (1989, 1992, 1994, 1995).
• Greg Williams was a 2-time Brownlow Medallist (1986 Sydney, 1994 Carlton).

The Verdict

The 1995 AFL Grand Final was Carlton’s last (so far) hurrah. Greg Williams’s Norm Smith, David Parkin’s third Jock McHale, and Stephen Kernahan’s captaincy — all combined for one of the great mid-1990s Grand Finals. Long live the 1995 Blues.

The 1995 result remains painful for Carlton fans because it’s their most recent AFL premiership. The Blues’ 30+ year drought (and counting) has been one of the longest in the league. Patrick Cripps’s 2022 Brownlow and Charlie Curnow’s three Coleman Medals (2022-2024) suggest the Blues’ modern era is beginning, but no flag has materialised yet.

For Geelong, the 1995 loss extended an extraordinary run of Grand Final heartbreak — losses in 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995. The Cats’ modern era under Mark Thompson would deliver the 2007 flag and break the drought.