1999 AFL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 1999 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football
game contested between and , held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
in Melbourne
on 25 September 1999. It was the 103rd annual Grand Final
of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1999 AFL season. The match, attended by 94,228 spectators, was won by North Melbourne by a margin of 35 points (the second consecutive year in which the premiership decider was determined by that margin). It was North Melbourne's fourth premiership victory.
.
finished the 1999 home and away season in second position with 17 wins and 5 losses, a game behind Essendon, with the Western Bulldogs
, West Coast
, Carlton, Port Adelaide, Brisbane
and Sydney
making up the final eight. Carlton had finished sixth with a record of 12 wins and ten losses, becoming only the second club (after in 1900
) to reach the Grand Final after finishing sixth on the ladder.
The Kangaroos progressed to the Grand Final after a 45 point win over Brisbane in the Preliminary Final, while Carlton progressed to the Grand Final after an upset one-point win against the heavily favoured minor premiers, Essendon, in their preliminary final
. Consequently, the Kangaroos went into the Grand Final as heavy favourites.
booted two inspirational goals, the first from 65 metres out and the second from a tight angle just a minute later. The Kangaroos were in control and went into half time with a 20-point lead.
North Melbourne extended their lead in the third quarter; Winston Abraham
kicked an easy goal and Carlton midfielder Justin Murphy injured his knee.
The Blues managed to reduce the Kangaroos' lead to just 13 points, but that was as close as they could get, as the Kangaroos added goals through McKernan and Shannon Motlop
. Gradually wearing down their opponents through intense pressure and tackling, they led by 43 points at three quarter time.
The final quarter was simply a formality for the Kangaroos, eventually triumphing by 35 points. Shannon Grant
of the Kangaroos was awarded the Norm Smith Medal
for being judged the best player afield. Grant had come under heavy criticism for his performance in the previous grand final
, which the Kangaroos had lost.
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 and , 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 25 September 1999. It was the 103rd 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 1999 AFL season. The match, attended by 94,228 spectators, was won by North Melbourne by a margin of 35 points (the second consecutive year in which the premiership decider was determined by that margin). It was North Melbourne's fourth premiership victory.
Background
This was the ' second consecutive appearance in a Grand Final, whilst it was Carlton's first since winning the 1995 AFL Grand Final1995 AFL Grand Final
The 1995 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 30 September 1995. It was the 99th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
.
finished the 1999 home and away season in second position with 17 wins and 5 losses, a game behind Essendon, with the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
, West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
, Carlton, Port Adelaide, Brisbane
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 Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
making up the final eight. Carlton had finished sixth with a record of 12 wins and ten losses, becoming only the second club (after in 1900
1900 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1900.-Premiership season:In 1900, the VFL competition consisted of eight teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume...
) to reach the Grand Final after finishing sixth on the ladder.
The Kangaroos progressed to the Grand Final after a 45 point win over Brisbane in the Preliminary Final, while Carlton progressed to the Grand Final after an upset one-point win against the heavily favoured minor premiers, Essendon, in their preliminary final
1999 AFL First Preliminary Final
The 1999 AFL First Preliminary Final was an Australian rules football match contested between the Essendon Bombers and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 18 September 1999...
. Consequently, the Kangaroos went into the Grand Final as heavy favourites.
Match summary
Carlton scored the first goal, but North Melbourne, who were without suspended defender Jason McCartney, also started well and led by 12 points at quarter time. Then, during the second quarter, ruckman Corey McKernanCorey McKernan
Corey McKernan is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Carlton Blues in the Australian Football League...
booted two inspirational goals, the first from 65 metres out and the second from a tight angle just a minute later. The Kangaroos were in control and went into half time with a 20-point lead.
North Melbourne extended their lead in the third quarter; Winston Abraham
Winston Abraham
Winston Abraham is a former Australian rules footballer. During his AFL career he played as a half forward.-Early career:Abraham played in the Western Australian Sunday Football League for Thornlie and Kelmscott...
kicked an easy goal and Carlton midfielder Justin Murphy injured his knee.
The Blues managed to reduce the Kangaroos' lead to just 13 points, but that was as close as they could get, as the Kangaroos added goals through McKernan and Shannon Motlop
Shannon Motlop
Shannon Motlop is an indigenous Australian rules footballer. Primarily playing as a midfielder or small forward, he represented both the Kangaroos and Melbourne in the Australian Football League...
. Gradually wearing down their opponents through intense pressure and tackling, they led by 43 points at three quarter time.
The final quarter was simply a formality for the Kangaroos, eventually triumphing by 35 points. Shannon Grant
Shannon Grant
Shannon Grant is a retired Australian rules footballer who was known as one of the premier midfielders in the AFL. He began his career at the Sydney Swans in 1995 before moving to the Kangaroos in 1998 and being a part of their 1999 premiership side, in which he also won the Norm Smith Medal for...
of the Kangaroos 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. Grant had come under heavy criticism for his performance in the previous grand final
1998 AFL Grand Final
-Match details:-References:...
, which the Kangaroos had lost.