All AFL Grand Finals Ever Played
The AFL Grand Final is the closest thing Australia has to a national religious holiday. 100,000 people in the cathedral, another seven million on couches, the lockout pubs heaving by 1pm, the long-suffering supporter crying into a meat pie by quarter-time, the streamers cannon at the final siren. Since 1897, when the VFL split from the VFA and crowned its first premier, this has been the day the country shuts down for.
This page is the master index — every Grand Final ever played, the winner, the result, the venue, the headline moment. Click into any year for the deep dive: the build-up, the team lists, the key moments, the post-match drama, and the rumours that followed. Buckle in. We’ve got 128 years of footy to cover.
The Quick History: How The Grand Final Was Born
The Victorian Football League formed in 1896 when eight clubs broke away from the VFA. The 1897 season ran a finals series, with Essendon claiming the first premiership without a single Grand Final being played — they topped the round-robin. The first proper Grand Final, as we’d recognise it, was in 1898 when Fitzroy beat Essendon at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. From there the format evolved: knockout finals, the Page–McIntyre system in 1931, the Final Four through to 1971, the Final Five (1972–1990), the Final Six (1991), the Final Eight (1994 onwards) and the current McIntyre/Final Eight system.
The MCG has hosted all but a handful of Grand Finals — the exceptions being a few wartime fixtures at Princes Park (1942, 1943, 1944, 1945), Waverley Park briefly being a contender, and the 2020 Gabba Grand Final (COVID forced a Brisbane shift, Richmond winning their third in four years), and the 2021 Optus Stadium Grand Final (Melbourne breaking a 57-year drought in Perth thanks to Victoria’s lockdown).
The Modern Era (2000s onward) — The TV Spectacle
Since 2000 the Grand Final has been a colossus. Brisbane’s three-peat (2001–2003) under Leigh Matthews. Port Adelaide’s first flag in 2004. Sydney ending a 72-year drought in 2005. West Coast’s redemption in 2006. Hawthorn’s three-peat 2013–2015 under Alastair Clarkson. Richmond’s three flags in four years (2017, 2019, 2020) under Damien Hardwick. The 2010 drawn Grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda — replayed the following Saturday with Collingwood thumping the Saints. The 2016 Western Bulldogs fairytale, ending a 62-year wait. The 2021 Demons breaking 57 years of misery in Perth. The 2023 Magpies winning by four points over Brisbane. The 2024 Brisbane redemption tour. The 2025 result, which we’ve covered in detail.
The 1990s — Norm Smith Memorabilia and Two Mighty Eras
The Eagles cracking Victoria in 1992 (the first non-Victorian premier), Essendon’s ‘Baby Bombers’ winning in 1993 and Kevin Sheedy’s reign hitting full bloom. Carlton’s last (so far) flag in 1995. North Melbourne’s pair in 1996 and 1999. Adelaide’s back-to-back in 1997 and 1998 under Malcolm Blight. The decade footy went truly national.
The 1980s — Hawthorn’s Decade and the End of the VFL
Hawthorn won five flags in the 1980s (1983, 1986, 1988, 1989 plus 1991). Essendon’s blockbuster pair in 1984 and 1985 under Sheedy. Carlton’s 1987 (‘Fevola’ jersey not yet a thing — that’s Stephen Kernahan). The 1989 Grand Final between Hawthorn and Geelong — widely considered the greatest ever played, Hawks winning 21.18 (144) to Cats’ 21.12 (138).
The 1970s — Carlton, North and Richmond Trade Punches
Carlton (1970, 1972, 1979) versus Richmond (1973, 1974, 1980) was the rivalry of the decade, with North Melbourne (1975, 1977) crashing the party under Ron Barassi. The 1970 Grand Final — Carlton 17.9 (111) to Collingwood 14.17 (101) after trailing by 44 at half-time — still gets called the greatest comeback in Grand Final history.
The 1960s — Demons’ Last Flag and Carlton’s Rise
Melbourne won 1964 and then waited 57 years for the next one. Norm Smith’s last hurrah at Melbourne. Ron Barassi’s switch to Carlton and immediate flag (1968, 1970). Hawthorn’s first flag in 1961. Geelong’s 1963. Essendon’s 1962, 1965. The decade where the game was still tribal-Melbourne but the cracks of national expansion were forming.
The 1950s — Melbourne’s Dynasty
Norm Smith’s Melbourne won five flags in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1960 (the last one snuck into the next decade). Ron Barassi as a player. Geelong’s pair in 1951 and 1952. The decade VFL crowds peaked.
The 1940s — War and Survival
Wartime competition. Richmond’s 1943 flag. Essendon’s 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950. Carlton’s 1945 (“Bloodbath” Grand Final — most reported players in any Grand Final, ever). Geelong’s 1944 wartime flag. The MCG was used by the US Army for parts of WWII; finals shifted to Princes Park.
The 1930s — Collingwood’s Dominance Continues, Richmond Rises
Collingwood’s “Machine” era was earlier (their 1927-30 four-peat is still the only one in VFL/AFL history) but they kept winning into 1935, 1936. Richmond won 1932, 1934. South Melbourne’s 1933 flag — still their last under that name (became the Sydney Swans in 1982). Essendon’s 1931 and 1942.
The 1920s — The Magpie Machine and Essendon
Collingwood’s 1927-1930 four-peat is the all-time benchmark. Essendon’s 1923, 1924. Richmond’s 1920, 1921. The era when the VFL became the dominant football competition in Australia and crowds regularly crossed 50,000.
The 1910s — War Years and Carlton’s Three-Peat
Carlton’s 1914, 1915 (and they nearly added a third). Fitzroy’s 1916, 1922. Richmond’s first flag in 1920. Wartime disruption — many clubs lost players to the front. The 1916 Grand Final featured only four teams (the rest had withdrawn) and Fitzroy beat Carlton.
The 1900s — Fitzroy’s Dynasty and the First Modern Footy
Fitzroy won 1898, 1899, 1904, 1905, 1913, 1916, 1922, 1944 — eight flags in total before going to merger oblivion in 1996. The 1900s and 1910s were the Lions’ era. Collingwood’s 1902, 1903, 1910, 1917, 1919. Carlton’s 1906, 1907, 1908.
The Stat-Heads’ Roll Call
Most premierships: Carlton and Essendon — 16 each. Collingwood — 16 (counting their 2023 win). Richmond — 13. Hawthorn — 13. Melbourne — 13. Geelong — 10.
Longest droughts: Melbourne (1964 to 2021 — 57 years). Western Bulldogs (1954 to 2016 — 62 years). St Kilda — still on one (1966), and counting. Fitzroy — never since the merger; if you count their 1944 flag and the merger happened in 1996, that’s 52 years between flag and absorption.
Biggest Grand Final winning margins: Hawthorn over Essendon, 1983 (83 points). Geelong over Port Adelaide, 2007 (119 points — record). Hawthorn over Sydney, 2014 (63 points). Geelong over St Kilda 2009 (12 points, a thriller).
Closest Grand Finals: 1966 — St Kilda 1 over Collingwood. 2010 — drawn (Collingwood 9.14 (68) to St Kilda 10.8 (68)). 2005 — Sydney 4 points over West Coast. 2006 — West Coast 1 point over Sydney (revenge).
Most Norm Smith Medals: Dustin Martin (3 — 2017, 2019, 2020). The only player ever to win three.
Click into any year below for the full match report, the build-up, the goalkickers, the umpires, the post-match dramas and the rumours that followed. Footy’s history isn’t on a single page — it’s on 128 of them.
