The Western Bulldogs will make their first appearance in the AFL Grand Final since 1961 against the Sydney Swans, after the two teams won their way through to the decider on preliminary final weekend.
Sydney Swans vs Western Bulldogs
2016 AFL Grand Final
Time: 2:30pm (AEST)
Date: Saturday, October 1
Venue: MCG
The Bulldogs earned their spot in the match with an incredibly thrilling six-point win over the GWS Giants in one of the greatest AFL matches ever played.
The game had twists and turns, lead changes, and was close throughout, but looked lost to the Dogs when the Giants took a game-high 14-point lead early in the last.
However, they fought back and were a slim five points ahead when Tory Dickson took a mark to line up for goal with seconds left.
The siren blew and Dickson took his shot knowing that the Bulldogs already had it won, slamming it into the post but celebrating regardless.
The Swans, by comparison, had a dominant win over Geelong – they kicked seven goals to none and the game was effectively over by the first change.
The Cats stayed in the fight throughout the match but could never really get within striking distance of the lead.
For the Swans it’s the third time in five years that they have contested the grand final. For the Bulldogs, it’s just the third time in their history and the first time since 1961.
The Bulldogs amazingly have qualified for the game from seventh on the ladder but despite that low starting position they will have a home ground advantage of sorts as a Victorian side at the MCG.
The Swans will have to travel for the match but have proven in the past that a trip to the home of footy is no concern for them.
It’s sure to be an incredible match, and it all kicks off next Saturday.
Ken
Guest
1990 is a reasonable marker not just because of the name change, but because Adelaide had agreed to join so all the best players in the country were finally going to be in the one comp
Ken
Guest
Mate, have you heard of the non- Vic clubs, playing in stadiums in other cities on a bi-weekly basis, all of the best players in the country in the one comp, full time professional players, a draft and a salary cap. The VFL was a semi professional comp played on mud heaps in suburban Melbourne. I agree it morphed during the 80s, but you can't seriously say the VFL is the same as the AFL
Ken
Guest
Maybe so, but the MCC members, so called 'AFL members' (actually just supporters of Melb clubs) and Medallion Club members derive a huge benefit every year without having to pay anything like what a supporter from outside Melb needs to pay in order to attend the event
Griffo
Guest
So Ken, can you tell me why the 1990 season was so substantially different from 89, 88 or 87? The AFL is the same league that was formed in 1896, had its first season in 1897 and was called the VFL. Over time it has expanded to take in more teams from other states but it is the same league and to use the VFL/AFL name difference as some kind of huge distinction doesn't make sense because apart from the name change nothing else changed in 1990.
Griffo
Guest
The MCC doesn't make any money off the finals. They have to pay the AFL a premium for every member that attends
Ken Baxter
Roar Rookie
Another major opportunity coming up for the AFL to showcase its premier event in the time slot when the most people will watch, but unfortunately we still have it as a stupid day game. Forecast for Sydney and Bondi is sunny and 23C, so the audience in Sydney will be much less than half what it could have been if the game was at night when people are at home and watching TV. The NRL Grand Final will most likely have more people watching it on a national basis once again (3rd year straight) on Sunday night. No-one genuinely interested in growing the AFL should be happy with that outcome.
Ken Baxter
Roar Rookie
I agree with your point, but I think under the AFLs finals series method GWS went ahead of Sydney when they beat them and the Bulldogs went ahead of GWS when they beat them, so Bulldogs are the higher ranked team on this occasion (I think this is right, but tell me if not? It works the opposite for the losers of the respective finals so that they rank them for next years draft)
anon
Guest
Something no-one is talking about is the fact that once again the team that earned home ground advantage for the Grand Final (Sydney who finished 1st) has to play the biggest match of the year in Melbourne against a Melbourne team (Bulldogs who finished 7th). What a joke. Should the Bulldogs win, their premiership will have an asterisk against it much like Hawthorn's premierships in 2014 and 2015 -- where they finished below Sydney and West Coast in each respective year yet was still gifted home field advantage on Grand Final day.
david graham
Guest
Like everyone the doggies are my second team. Having not played in a GF since 1961 , the achievement will be a monkey off their collective back. Most of Melbourne will be rooting for the dogs on Saturday. The danger for Footscray is history...North Melbourne in 1950 and 1974 - rare GF appearance and get blown away. Same with Melbourne in 1988 I think it was. Kinda like 'we made it here this is our achievement.' Mostly, a team has gotta play a GF to win one. Don't get me wrong , A Bulldog victory would be great but I think the Bloods will prevail. Hardness, experience, a bitter score to settle.
Daring Dave
Guest
Their..
Asd
Guest
This is hard match to pick .Who will win god Knows.the Midfields are very a like .if it close bulldogs if it's not the swans. If the swans can't break the dogs forward press they won't win.Depends on the dogs tank to what they got left.This might be the game Buddy fires the coin they spent he may be worth it.The the swans will have a slight edge. Scoring percentage capacity that's the only thing that can decide it.
Paul D
Roar Guru
A very good point. More should be made of this.
13th Man
Guest
yeah because the AFL have totally never given GWS any advantages over the last few years have they?
Ken Baxter
Roar Rookie
Fine by me, as long as each State has to pay up a decent amount for that right. It remains an even bigger joke that Victoria pays $60m pa for the GP and $10m for a one off soccer game between European teams, yet pays nothing for the GF. The AFL is selling itself (and all of us) well short, whereas the Melbourne hotels and the MCC members etc are the beneficiaries of a very large gift every year. .
Internal Fixation
Guest
Well mate there is absolutely no reason why 15000 supporters of either club can't get into the Adelaide Oval. Just reduce the corporate tickets and pack a 53000 seat state of the art arena with real supporters. Also, I'm pretty sure you are not aware of Perth's new stadium. Look it up before making such a shallow argument. But your Vic centric comment proves the point many others have made about the "VFL". Time to grow up I say.
jacques of lilydale
Guest
Yeah mate, fantastic idea having a GF at that dung heap Domain. Adelaide ain't big enough to hold 110,000. No supporters of competing clubs would get in. As it is on 15k members of either team this year will get tickets.
Internal Fixation
Guest
It remains a sad joke that the MCG is the sole ground to host an AFL GF. There should be a set rotation system like the NFL. The financial argument doesn't stack up with the new TV rights deal. Given 10 of 18 teams are Victorian it would be reasonable to play 3 of every 5 at the MCG. Perth and Adelaide should get 1 in 5 each and as the idea and game grows bring in Sydney and Brisbane on the next deal.
Ken Baxter
Roar Rookie
and the Swans would love to welcome the Bulldogs back to the SCG for the GF.
Joe
Guest
Just watched this epic prelim final in the UK...best advertisement the game could want overseas, both teams going for it till the end! I'll be setting my alarm for 4am next Saturday to see the final live, hopefully it's another entertaining one for the neutral :)
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Wouldn't knock it Ken, The team formerly known as Footscray defeated the team formerly known as South Melbourne, at the SCG.