10. 2010 St Kilda v Collingwood - Brendan Goddard mark and goal to put St Kilda in front for the first time in the game
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Scoreboard
Collingwood 9.14(68) St Kilda 10.08(68)
The drawn grand final between Collingwood and St Kilda could have gone either way. The Saints hadn't led in the match until halfway through the last quarter. Brendan Goddard came from nowhere to mark an absolute hanger to put St Kilda in front.
9. 2009 Geelong v St Kilda - Matthew Scarlett’s toe poke genius
Scoreboard
Geelong 12.8(80) St Kilda 9.14(68)
With the ball heading towards St Kilda's goal, Geelong player Matthew Scarlett beat two Saint’s players to it. With the scores tied at 67 points apiece a deft kick off the turf by Scarlett landed the ball in Gary Ablett’s capable arms. A long kick to the goal square found Travis Varcoe at home. Thinking fast he handballed the ball to Paul Chapman to kick the match winning goal.
8. 2005 Sydney v West Coast Eagles - Leo Barry takes a massive mark to ensure a four point win to the Swans
Scoreboard
Sydney 8.10(58) West Coast 7.12(54)
In the dying moments of the game the ball is sent back to West Coast’s half forward line by Dean Cox. Sydney’s Leo Barry responds by taking a mark in the midst of a pack of Eagles players. This mark denied the Eagles an opportunity to kick a game winning goal on or after the final siren and ensured the first Swan premiership in 72 years.
7. 2004 Port Adelaide v Brisbane Lions - A relieved coach Mark Williams celebrates his club’s first AFL win
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 17.11(113) Brisbane Lions 10.13(73)
An animated Port coach, Mark Williams could barely contain his delight when his side won their first AFL premiership. William’s speech on the dais bore the now-famous words "Allan Scott - you were wrong!". This was in reference to a comment made by Scott (a sponsor of the Port Adelaide Football Club), earlier in the 2004 season, that the club could not win a premiership under the coaching of Williams. Williams also made a mock choking gesture by holding his tie above his head like a noose as he stepped onto the arena, a reference to the breaking of Port Adelaide's reputation as "chokers". This reputation had been acquired after having lost in several previous finals series, despite dominating the home and away seasons in those years. Port's victory denied Brisbane its fourth consecutive flag, leaving them one consecutive premiership short of Collingwood's record of four flags from 1927 to 1930.
6. 2002 Brisbane v Collingwood - Jason Akermanis’ left foot snap off the boot with less than five minutes to go
Scoreboard
Brisbane 10.15(75) Collingwood 9.12(66)
It was the final quarter and Collingwood’s Anthony Rocca had just been denied a goal in a controversial umpiring decision. A quick snap shot for goal late in the term by Brisbane’s Jason Akermanis put Brisbane up by over a goal - enough for the Lions to hold on for their second premiership in a row.
5. 1993 Essendon v Carlton - Michael Long's running goal
Scoreboard
Essenden 20.13(133) Carlton 13.11(89)
Receiving the ball in the centre square Long bounced it four times before putting it through for a controversial goal. The goal was disputed by Carlton full-back Stephen Silvagni, who to this day claims he touched it before it went through. Long played arguably the best game of his career in this game. He was awarded the Norm Smith Medal as best player afield, with 33 disposals and two goals.
4. 1992 West Coast Eagles v Geelong - Peter Matera kicks a goal from the wing
Scoreboard
West Coast Eagles 16.17(113) Geelong 12.13(85)
After losing the 1991 Grand Final the Eagles had unfinished business. Playing on the wing Peter Matera would prove instrumental in this the Eagles first premiership. He collected 18 touches and a match winning five goals. The goal featured here is widely accepted as the best of his five for the day. The goal was one of Matera’s famous running, “sets sail for home” goals in the third quarter. It was a stunning right-foot 60 metre goal from the right forward flank which put the Eagles in front after they had trailed at quarter and half-time.
3. 1989 Geelong v Hawthorn - Mark Yeates runs through Hawthorn’s Dermott Brereton
Scoreboard
Hawthorn 21.18(144) Geelong 21.12(138)
Mark Yeates came with a plan when in the opening seconds of the 1989 VFL grand final he ran through Dermott Brereton. Cementing his reputation as a hard man, Brereton played on despite broken ribs, a bruised kidney and internal bleeding. He later vomited but went on to kick three goals in the game which the Hawks ultimately won by just six points.
2. 1979 Carlton v Collingwood - Wayne Harmes chases down own ball resulting in goal
Scoreboard
Carlton 11.16(82) Collingwood 11.11(77)
Carlton’s Wayne Harmes chased his own kick into the Blue’s forward pocket before smashing the ball back towards the goal right on the boundary. Ken Sheldon kicks a goal from the square giving Carlton a ten-point buffer. It is still contended that the ball was out when Harmes punched it back into play. The inaugural Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Harmes for being judged the best player afield.
1. 1970 Carlton v Collingwood - Alex Jesaulenko specky over Collingwood's Graeme Jenkin
Scoreboard
Carlton 17.9(111) Collingwood 14.17(101)
Often referred to as the mark of the century, Jesaulenko protested he had taken better marks before.
"The images make it look classical, like it was taken from the marking manual," he said. "It was against Collingwood, a grand final, the biggest crowd ever, Graeme's a six-foot-four ruckman, I guess there's a mystique in standing on top of him with your arms outstretched." This high flying feat also spurred the quip which is now part of the Australian vernacular "Jesaulenko, you beauty!" which was commentator Mike Williamson’s natural reaction to this incredible display of athleticism. Carlton went on to win the match by a margin of 10 points, marking that club's 10th premiership victory.
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