2002 AFL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 2002 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football
game contested between the Brisbane Lions
and the Collingwood Football Club
, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
in Melbourne
on 28 September 2002. It was the 106th annual Grand Final
of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League
, staged to determine the premiers for the 2002 AFL season
. The match, attended by 91,817 spectators, was won by Brisbane by a margin of 9 points, marking that club's second premiership victory.
after finishing second on the AFL
ladder behind Port Adelaide
, and overcoming Adelaide and Port Adelaide in their early finals, shooting for back-to-back successes after their 2001 triumph
over Essendon
. Collingwood had reached the finals for the first time since 1994 and found their way into their first premiership decider since their 14th Premiership over the Bombers
in the 1990 Grand Final
. They finished fourth on the ladder, and not much was expected of them in the final month of the year. However, the Magpies upset minor premiers Port Adelaide by 13 points in a dramatic Qualifying Final at AAMI Stadium
, earning a week's rest before beating an injury struck Adelaide side 13.13 (91) to 9.9 (63) in the Preliminary Final at the MCG
.
Jason Cloke
from Collingwood was suspended during the week after being charged for striking Tyson Edwards in the nose during their Preliminary final victory against Adelaide. This controversy dominated headlines during the week in the build up to the Grand Final. Also in the week leading up to the Grand Final, Brisbane's Simon Black
was awarded the Brownlow Medal
.
The first goal of the match wasn't scored until very late in the first quarter - in fact it was the only one scored, by Collingwood's Anthony Rocca
. This snapped Brisbane's VFL/AFL record streak of 253 consecutive quarters in which it scored at least one goal. It was the lowest-scoring quarter in a Grand Final since 1960.
In the second quarter, Brisbane looked like pulling away at half time with a late run of second quarter goals before Collingwood surged back in the third quarter.
It was goal for goal in the last quarter with a controversial goal umpiring decision going against Collingwoods Anthony Rocca not long before Brisbane's Jason Akermanis
slotted a snap shot for goal late in the last term to drag the margin out by more than a kick. In the end it was enough for the Lions to hold on for back-to-back premierships. An enduring image of the game is of emotionally exhausted Collingwood players including Paul Licuria, Nathan Buckley and coach Mick Malthouse breaking down in tears after the full-time siren.
Nathan Buckley
of the Magpies was awarded the Norm Smith Medal
for being judged the best player afield, despite the fact that he finished on the losing side. This is only one of four instances of a Grand Final player having won a Norm Smith Medal without being on the winning premiership team. Visibly distraught at his team's loss, Buckley took the medal off and threw it as he returned from the dais to his teammates.
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 Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
and the Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, 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 28 September 2002. It was the 106th 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 2002 AFL season
2002 AFL season
-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 176...
. The match, attended by 91,817 spectators, was won by Brisbane by a margin of 9 points, marking that club's second premiership victory.
Background
The Lions had made it into their second consecutive Grand FinalAFL 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...
after finishing second on the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
ladder behind Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, and overcoming Adelaide and Port Adelaide in their early finals, shooting for back-to-back successes after their 2001 triumph
2001 AFL Grand Final
The 2001 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and the Brisbane Lions, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 29 September 2001. It was the 105th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
over Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. Collingwood had reached the finals for the first time since 1994 and found their way into their first premiership decider since their 14th Premiership over the Bombers
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the 1990 Grand Final
1990 AFL Grand Final
The 1990 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Collingwood Football Club and the Essendon Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 6 October 1990. It was the 94th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
. They finished fourth on the ladder, and not much was expected of them in the final month of the year. However, the Magpies upset minor premiers Port Adelaide by 13 points in a dramatic Qualifying Final at AAMI Stadium
AAMI Stadium
Football Park is an Australian rules football stadium located in West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia...
, earning a week's rest before beating an injury struck Adelaide side 13.13 (91) to 9.9 (63) in the Preliminary Final at the MCG
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...
.
Jason Cloke
Jason Cloke
Jason Cloke is an Australian rules footballer, who played in the Australian Football League with the Collingwood Football Club.-Career:...
from Collingwood was suspended during the week after being charged for striking Tyson Edwards in the nose during their Preliminary final victory against Adelaide. This controversy dominated headlines during the week in the build up to the Grand Final. Also in the week leading up to the Grand Final, Brisbane's Simon Black
Simon Black
Simon Black is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League.Black is a midfielder with a reputation for hard work and skill...
was awarded the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
.
Match summary
In a tight and overly enthralling exhibition of AFL football, Brisbane withstood a brave challenge from Collingwood to win the 2002 AFL Grand Final by nine points, taking out their second successive flag. It was the first grand final to be decided by less than four goals since 1989.The first goal of the match wasn't scored until very late in the first quarter - in fact it was the only one scored, by Collingwood's Anthony Rocca
Anthony Rocca
Anthony Rocca is a former Australian rules footballer who has played with the Sydney Swans and Collingwood in the Australian Football League...
. This snapped Brisbane's VFL/AFL record streak of 253 consecutive quarters in which it scored at least one goal. It was the lowest-scoring quarter in a Grand Final since 1960.
In the second quarter, Brisbane looked like pulling away at half time with a late run of second quarter goals before Collingwood surged back in the third quarter.
It was goal for goal in the last quarter with a controversial goal umpiring decision going against Collingwoods Anthony Rocca not long before Brisbane's Jason Akermanis
Jason Akermanis
Jason Dean Akermanis is an Australian rules football player. He is a Brownlow Medallist and triple premiership player who played for the Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs...
slotted a snap shot for goal late in the last term to drag the margin out by more than a kick. In the end it was enough for the Lions to hold on for back-to-back premierships. An enduring image of the game is of emotionally exhausted Collingwood players including Paul Licuria, Nathan Buckley and coach Mick Malthouse breaking down in tears after the full-time siren.
Nathan Buckley
Nathan Buckley
Nathan Charles Buckley is a former professional Australian rules football player, commentator and coach, best known for his time as captain of the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
of the Magpies 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, despite the fact that he finished on the losing side. This is only one of four instances of a Grand Final player having won a Norm Smith Medal without being on the winning premiership team. Visibly distraught at his team's loss, Buckley took the medal off and threw it as he returned from the dais to his teammates.
Teams
The selected teams as they were announced prior to the game.Scorecard
| Team Stats | (Bris Brisbane Lions The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996... ) | (Coll Collingwood Football Club The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League... ) |
|---|---|---|
| Kicks | 198 | 193 |
| Marks | 87 | 64 |
| Handballs | 83 | 79 |
| Tackles | 44 | 73 |
| Hitouts | 48 | 27 |
| Frees | 16 | 24 |
List
| Collingwood Magpies | 66–75 | Brisbane Lions Brisbane Lions The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996... |
| (9.12) | (10.15) |
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