Following Sam Lloyd’s heroic after siren goal against the Sydney Swans on Saturday, this article will look back at some of the best after the siren goals to win a game in the modern era of AFL (2000 onwards).
1. Tom Hawkins, Geelong versus Hawthorn, 2012
Trailing by four points with under a minute to play the Cats moved the ball swiftly down the field to setup a mark and set shot outside 50 for gun forward Tom Hawkins to win the game.
He nailed a massive drop punt straight through the middle of the goals to give the Cats another win against their old rival Hawthorn.
2. Ash McGrath, Brisbane versus Geelong, 2013
With just under 20 seconds to play the Lions managed to get the ball down to the forward line where Ash McGrath (in his 200th game) took a mark just before the siren. He followed the script and slotted the goal to give the Lions one of the best comeback victories in their history. The Lions kicked eight last quarter goals to stun the Cats.
3. Nic Naitanui, West Coast versus North Melbourne, 2013
The Eagles bombed the ball into the forward line for one last chance of a goal and Nic jumped over the pack to grab an outstanding mark. Naitanui calmly went back and won the game for the Eagles, much to the anger of Brad Scott!
4. Justin Longmuir, Fremantle versus St Kilda, 2005
A rare Friday night game for the Dockers and they didn’t disappoint with Longmuir grabbing a mark 20 seconds before the siren. He kicked the goal and the Dockers celebrated into the night.
5. Daryn Cresswell, Sydney versus North Melbourne, 2002
The Swans were awarded a free kick seconds before the final siren and the kick went to Creswell around the 45 metre mark. Trailing by three points and on a difficult angle he went back and kicked the goal to give the Swans an unlikely victory!
6. Ben Dixon, Hawthorn versus Carlton, 2001
Leaping over the top to take a great pack mark was Hawthorn forward Ben Dixon. With Carlton players all on the mark, Dixon kicked a great goal for a Hawks victory.
7. Chris Tarrant, Collingwood versus Adelaide, 2003
In red time the Pies moved the ball into the forward line where Chris Tarrant took a running mark and lined up for goal 30m out on a slight angle. He made the goal umpire work for it but just sneaked it in for a crucial Pies victory!
mds1970
Roar Guru
Twiggy Dunne's goal to level the scores in the 1977 Grand Final wasn't after the siren.
Ian
Guest
What about Twiggy Dunn's goal to draw the Collingwood North grand final forcing it to a re-play?
Avatar
Roar Guru
How could you miss Barry Hall not once, but twice? 1) Playing his final game for St Kilda in 2001, he kicked a goal after the final siren to give the team he was about to depart a win against the finals-bound Hawthorn. 2) Playing for Sydney in 2005, he kicked the match winning goal against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba to put his side in front for the first time of the match after the final siren.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Before the 2000 cut-off for this article - but one big one was Alistair Clarkson, now Hawthorn coach, for North Melbourne in 1987. In his first game, but the debutant showed no signs of nerves and calmly slotted it through. Karmichael Hunt unlucky to miss the cut for this article - definitely the highlight of his AFL career. No question about Tomahawk being number 1. Remember it well - I did The Roar's live blog of that game, it had been a cracker of a game all night - and what a finish!
InvisiblePJs
Roar Rookie
It wasn't that good Dal if you were a teenage Carlton supporter at the game! Of course, with retrospect it is a fabulous kick
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
No that's Cloke. Wait...that's more like 5 metres out directly in front...
Sami
Roar Rookie
This is a goal kicking conversation, no a longest kick conversation though. If you want to talk long kicks that 85m has nothing on this 105m kick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CXRpR-JU3k
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Not an after siren affair but most impressive. Jeff Fehring, St Kilda ruckman, kicked one from the centre circle of Morrabbin in 1981. It bounced in the goal square and tumbled through. 85-90 metres. Can't remember if it was a free kick/mark or he just picked it up and bunged in on his boot.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
he loved the impossible goal - but if he had to kick it from 25m dead in front....
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Technically a 65m goal, but seeing the ball goes post high, it's around an 85m kick for sure.
me too
Guest
No, the Freo win above was the best ever evidence of that. This was the infamous 'whispers in the sky' game, with the umps responding to st kilda coach Grant Thomas labelling them midweek as prima donnas, by awarding Freo five very contentious free kicks in front of goal. One of the umps was then heard to remark on the plane 'it's good to get a win'. A journalist and a businessman overheard the remark - the AFL conducted it's investigation after the businessman had gone overseas so was unavailble to give evidence in person, so they discounted his testimony.
Matt Abrahams
Roar Rookie
Didn't want to spoil the Tiger fans week by including that one! :)
Matt Abrahams
Roar Rookie
Umpiring was bad but great pack mark by a ruckman
Matt Abrahams
Roar Rookie
All great goals but just focused on 2000+ for this article.
Matt Abrahams
Roar Rookie
The article is from 2000 onwards..otherwise Blighty would be number 1!
Sami
Roar Rookie
Good goal but no where near 90 metres. Closer to 65 metres. The distance it travels after it goes through the goals does not count. Never has any other time. A player 20m from goal kicks a 20 metre goal regardless of whether he dribbles it over the line or kicks it into the back of the 2nd deck. Blight kicked just past the centre square.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
It seems nothing else is remotely close
Giovanni Torre
Guest
Blight also kicked a ripper of a checkside from the boundary in that same match against Carlton. He was on fire that day.
JohnDee
Guest
I'd imagine the author probably cares when he gets repeatedly questioned for leaving out a goal that clearly wasn't part of the criteria.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Good choice! I was stoked for him when he kicked it, mainly because I didn't want him to have to deal with the agony of shanking it...