\n Opinion\n <\/p>\n
\n Fresh from one of the greatest preliminary finals in recent memory, we’ve cast our eye back through the archives to rank the best games this century\n <\/p>\n
\n By Sarah Black and Dejan Kalinic\n <\/p>\n
IT WAS A preliminary final for the ages, but just where does Brisbane’s remarkable nine-point win over Hawthorn on Saturday rank among the best games since 2000?<\/p>\n
There have been thousands of games this century so it was a difficult task to just narrow it down to 10 of the best, with plenty of unforgettable contests not making this list at all and debate will surely rage about the order of our top 10.<\/p>\n
HAWKS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats<\/a><\/p>\n We’ve weighted finals and Grand Finals heavily for obvious reasons, but the below will no doubt spark fierce debate across the country.<\/p>\n Check out AFL.com.au’s list of the 10 best games since 2000 and have your say in our poll at the bottom of the page.<\/p>\n 10) Essendon v North Melbourne, round 16 2001<\/p>\n In a 2001 epic between two rivals, Essendon’s recovery from 69 points down at the MCG against the Roos remains the biggest comeback in VFL\/AFL history. Taking on the reigning premiers, the Kangaroos opened up a 58-point lead at quarter-time and pushed further ahead in the second quarter before the Bombers’ comeback. Matthew Lloyd kicked nine goals and Jason Johnson had 31 disposals and 13 clearances and kicked four majors. The Bombers had already brought the margin back to 14 points at the final change before completing the unforgettable comeback.<\/p>\n 9) Collingwood v Brisbane, 2023 Grand Final<\/a><\/p>\n In a remarkable decider, the Magpies overcame the Lions by four points to seal their first flag since 2010. Stunning goals from Jordan De Goey and Steele Sidebottom had sent the Pies into a 10-point lead late, only for Joe Daniher to bring the Lions back within a kick with 93 seconds remaining. Brisbane pushed for the matchwinner but the Pies held on to claim a record-equalling 16th premiership. It was a win inspired by Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, who kicked four goals from 18 disposals in a brilliant performance.<\/p>\n 8) Brisbane v Geelong, 2024 preliminary final<\/a><\/p>\n A classic Brisbane preliminary final at the MCG? It’s becoming a pattern. This was a see-sawing prelim. The Lions led at the first change, but Geelong kicked seven goals to two in the second quarter to hit the front. After Brisbane hit back, the final term was a classic as Ollie Henry kicked two of his four goals, only for Cal Ah Chee, and then Cam Rayner, to send Brisbane into a Grand Final. Lachie Neale had 31 disposals and 12 clearances in a crucial performance.<\/p>\n 7) St Kilda v Geelong, round 14 2009<\/p>\n One of the most famous home and away games of all time, the Saints and Cats met at Marvel Stadium with both remarkably 13-0. And the blockbuster clash lived up to expectations. St Kilda had led from the start, only for the Cats to draw level in the final quarter through Mathew Stokes. But Michael Gardiner took a towering pack mark and kicked the winning goal to seal a famous St Kilda win. Gardiner finished with 13 disposals, 20 hitouts and four goals in a best-on-ground performance.<\/p>\n 6) Western Bulldogs v Sydney, 2016 Grand Final<\/a><\/p>\n The Bulldogs’ premiership drought was broken as they claimed their first flag since 1954 in a famous Grand Final win. An enthralling decider came down to the final quarter after the Swans had drawn back to within a point. And it was Liam Picken (twice) and Tom Boyd who delivered the huge moments to deliver the Bulldogs a famous victory. Jason Johannisen (33 disposals) claimed the Norm Smith Medal, while Boyd finished with three goals and Picken had 25 touches and booted three majors.<\/p>\n 5) Hawthorn v Geelong, 2013 preliminary final<\/a><\/p>\n It was the match that broke the famous Kennett Curse. Following the 2008 Grand Final defeat at the hands of Hawthorn, Geelong players had made a pact to never lose to the Hawks again, while president Jeff Kennett had questioned the Cats’ “psychological drive”. What followed was 11 straight wins to Geelong, until this preliminary final night. The Cats had led by 19 points halfway through the last quarter, but the Hawks peppered the goals, kicking 3.7 to record a memorable victory on the way to another premiership. Steve Johnson’s impressive stat line was 32 touches and four goals, but Shaun Burgoyne was the Hawks’ match-winner with 24 and three majors, including the match-winner.<\/p>\n 4) Collingwood v St Kilda, 2010 Grand Final<\/p>\n But for the bounce of a ball, St Kilda would have had a second V\/AFL premiership. Stephen Milne desperately lunging for a ball that just wouldn’t bounce his way has gone down in the annals of Australian football history, with St Kilda and Collingwood ultimately playing out the last drawn AFL Grand Final. The Pies returned the following week and destroyed the Saints, and the AFL then changed the rule, bringing in extra time for any future drawn Grand Finals. Lenny Hayes won the Norm Smith medal for the draw, but would have gladly exchanged it for a premiership medal.<\/p>\n 3) Western Bulldogs v Greater Western Sydney, 2016 preliminary final<\/a><\/p>\n It was a final that kickstarted one of the great modern rivalries, born out of nothing but sheer emotion and an all-time great match. GWS was a smooth-moving machine, fancied to qualify for its first Grand Final, but the Western Bulldogs were gritty, tough and had a surprise four-goal hero in Clay Smith. It was a closely fought affair, with the margin never straying beyond a couple of goals. The Giants led by 14 points early in the fourth term, but a ferocious Bulldogs \u2013 boosted by a raucous crowd who had travelled to Sydney \u2013 hit the front courtesy of a burgeoning hero by the name of Marcus Bontempelli.<\/p>\n