2005 AFL finals series


The Australian Football League's 2005 finals series began on the weekend of 2 September 2005 and ended with the 109th AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 24 September 2005. The Sydney Swans defeated West Coast, breaking their record 72-year drought between premierships. The top eight teams on the home and away rounds ladder qualify for the Finals Series.

Ladder

Separated only by percentage Adelaide and West Coast topped the ladder, trailed by third placed Sydney. The matchups for the first round of finals were only set after all matches of the final home-and-away game had been completed.

Summary of results

The finals system

The system is a final eight system. This system is different from the McIntyre Final Eight System, which was previously used by the AFL, and was used by the National Rugby League until 2012.
The top four teams in the eight receive what is popularly known as the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals; this means that if a top-four team loses in the first week, it still has a chance to redeem itself by getting a chance to play in a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight are forced to play what are called elimination finals, in which only the winners survive and move on to week two to play the losers of the qualifying finals.
In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week, while the losers of those qualifying finals must play the winners of the elimination finals for a chance to play the qualifying finals winners. Home-ground advantage goes to the team with the higher seed.
In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week, with the latter receiving home-ground advantage. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, where the new premier will be crowned.
The favourites for the 2005 Grand Final were Adelaide, St Kilda, Sydney and West Coast.

Week One

First Qualifying Final (1 vs 4)

Scorecard


Team1234Total
Adelaide3.33.55.78.98.9
St Kilda1.06.39.310.510.5
St Kilda won by 8G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal

Team StatsAdeStK
Kicks186214
Marks73102
Handballs113129
Tackles6161
Hitouts4722
Frees1417

DateSaturday, 3 September 2005 7PM ACST
Goals 4: K McGregor
1: R Shirley, G Johncock, S Welsh, S Goodwin
Goals 3: R Harvey
2: N Riewoldt, J Gwilt
1: L Ball, J Blake, S Milne
BestAde: Rutten, Bassett, Goodwin, McGregor,
Edwards, McLeod, Johncock
StK: Harvey, Dal Santo, Hayes, Jones
Fisher, Ball, Peckett
Injuries-
Reports-
VenueAAMI Stadium, Adelaide, SA
Attendance48,768
UmpiresMichael Vozzo, Stephen McBurney, Shaun Ryan

Second Qualifying Final (2 vs 3)

Scorecard


Team1234Total
West Coast4.15.45.710.910.9
Sydney3.15.28.310.510.5
West Coast won by 4G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal

Team StatsWCESyd
Kicks181180
Marks6263
Handballs110101
Tackles4652
Hitouts4542
Free Kicks2114

DateFriday, 2 September 2005 6:30PM AWST
Goals 2: M Gardiner, A Hunter, A Sampi
1: A Hansen, D Kerr, T Stenglein, M Seaby
Goals 3: N Davis, M O'Loughlin
2: B Hall
1: R O'Keefe, A Schneider
BestWCE: Kerr, Judd, Cousins, Hunter,
Nicoski, Wirrpanda
Syd: Kirk, Davis, C Bolton, Buchanan,
Goodes, O'Loughlin, Kennelly, Williams
InjuriesWCE: P Matera
Syd: Williams
Reports-
VenueSubiaco Oval, Perth, WA
Attendance43,302
UmpiresScott McLaren, Derek Woodcock, Shane McInerney


Sydney entered the game as the in form team of the competition. West Coast topped the ladder most of the season, and were only denied the minor premiership on percentage. The Eagles led the game most of the first half, but the Swans appeared to be marching onward to victory by taking control of the third quarter. In a foreshadowing of things to come, West Coast responded by taking control of the fourth quarter. Two controversial fourth quarter umpiring decisions against Sydney hurt their cause. Even more damaging were two late marks in defence by Eagle Dean Cox snubbing Swan attempts to kick a game winner.

First Elimination Final (5 vs 8)

Scorecard


Team1234Total
Kangaroos6.67.710.911.1111.11
Port Adelaide6.112.320.626.826.8
Port Adelaide won by 87G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal

Team StatsKanPA
Kicks166223
Marks69126
Handballs87128
Tackles4631
Hitouts2840
Frees1615

DateSunday, 4 September 2005 2:30PM AEST
Goals 3: C Jones
2: N Thompson, S Rocca
1: L Picoane, B Rawlings, D Wells, L Harding
Goals 4: B Lade, W Tredrea, J Mahoney
3: M Pettigrew
2: A Kingsley, D Brogan
1: M Bishop, C Cornes, S Dew,
B Montgomery, D Pearce, S Salopek,
G Wanganeen
BestKan: Sinclair, Jones, Wells, Harris
PA: Tredrea, Kingsley, Lade, Pettigrew,
Mahoney, Montgomery, C. Cornes
Injuries-
Reports-
VenueTelstra Dome, Melbourne, VIC
Attendance25,195
UmpiresHayden Kennedy, Brett Allen, Scott Jeffery

Second Elimination Final (6 vs 7)

Scorecard


Team1234Total
Geelong5.412.516.818.818.8
Melbourne2.36.46.69.79.7
Geelong won by 55G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal

Team StatsGeelMelb
Kicks242162
Marks13679
Handballs111106
Tackles4154
Hitouts3127
Frees1921

DateSaturday, 3 September 2005 2:30PM AEST
Goals 3: G Ablett, J Kelly
2: C Ling, A Mackie, C Mooney, H Playfair
1: N Ablett, S Johnson, K Kingsley, K Tenace
Goals 4: R Robertson
2: P Wheatley
1: A Davey, B Holland, A Yze
BestGeel: Mooney, Milburn, Corey,
Bartel, Ling, Rooke, G. Ablett
Melb: Carroll, Brown, Moloney, Robertson
InjuriesGeel: None
Melb: White, Rigoni, Johnstone,
Wheatley, McDonald
ReportsGeel: Johnson for rough conduct against Holland
VenueMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, VIC
Attendance65,018
UmpiresJustin Schmitt, Stuart Wenn, Darren Goldspink

Week Two

First Semi Final

Scorecard


Team1234Total
Adelaide3.44.712.918.1518.15
Port Adelaide2.13.64.65.105.10
Adelaide won by 83G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal

Team StatsAdePA
Kicks188161
Marks10580
Handballs118117
Tackles4843
Hitouts3230
Frees1720

DateSaturday, 10 September 2005 7PM ACST
Goals 4: S Welsh
3: S Goodwin, I Perrie
2: K McGregor
1: T Edwards, T Hentschel, A McLoed, M Ricciuto,
B Rutten, R Shirley
Goals 1: S Burgoyne, J Mahoney, D Pearce,
M Pettigrew, G Wanganeen
BestAde: Edwards, Goodwin, Ricciuto, Clarke, Rutten,
Bassett, Burton, McLeod
PA: C. Cornes, K. Cornes, Montgomery, Wakelin
InjuriesAde: Johncock, Biglands, Shirley
PA: Wilson
Reports-
VenueAAMI Stadium, Adelaide, SA
Attendance50,521
UmpiresMichael Vozzo, Brett Allen, Scott McLaren

Second Semi Final

Scorecard


Team1234Total
Sydney2.22.63.127.147.14
Geelong2.65.86.117.117.11
Sydney won by 3G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal

Team StatsSydGeel
Kicks155177
Marks5079
Handballs11193
Tackles6683
Hitouts6622
Frees1617

DateFriday, 9 September 2005 8PM AEST
Goals 4: N Davis
2: M O'Loughlin
1: R O'Keefe
Goals 2: S Johnson
1: C Gardiner, J Kelly, H Playfair,
J Rooke, D Johnson
BestSyd: Davis, Crouch, Kirk, Buchanan, Bolton
Geel: Kelly, Scarlett, Johnson, Ling, Corey, Sanderson
InjuriesSyd: Williams
Geel: King
Reports-
VenueSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, NSW
Attendance39,079
UmpiresStuart Wenn, Shaun Ryan, Darren Goldspink


A thrilling victory for Sydney, and a heartbreaking loss for Geelong. The game seemed decided, with Geelong ahead by 23 points early in the final quarter - Sydney needed four goals to win, and had kicked only three for the night. But the Swans did come back, with Nick Davis kicking all four of the final quarter goals, including the game-winner with less than ten seconds remaining.

Week Three

First Preliminary Final

Scorecard


Team1234Total
St Kilda3.15.59.79.119.11
Sydney5.16.38.615.615.6
Sydney won by 31G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal

Team StatsStKSyd
Kicks157196
Marks6591
Handballs9876
Tackles6473
Hitouts4237
Frees1911

DateFriday, 16 September 2005 8PM AEST
Goals 4: F Gehrig
2: N Riewoldt
1: L Montagna, N Dal Santo, L Hayes
Goals 4: B Hall
3: A Schneider
2: M O'Loughlin, P Williams, R O'Keefe
1: N Davis, A Buchanan
BestStK: Dal Santo, Harvey, Hudghton, Jones
Gehrig, Baker, Montagna
Syd: O'Keefe, Hall, C. Bolton, J. Bolton,
Schneider, Kennelly, Ablett, Crouch,
Injuries-
ReportsSyd: Hall for striking Maguire
VenueMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, VIC
Attendance73,344
Metropolitan Free To Air TV audience1.811 million
UmpiresMichael Vozzo, Scott McLaren, Darren Goldspink


Sydney opened the game strongly, but once St. Kilda righted their effort they took the lead and steadily built upon it. With the Saints on the verge of putting the game out of reach they were unable to match Sydney's endurance. In the final quarter the Swans blew the game out of reach by kicking seven un-answered goals.

Second Preliminary Final

Scorecard


Team1234Total
West Coast2.26.511.814.914.9
Adelaide2.25.46.611.1111.11
West Coast won by 16G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal

Team StatsWCEAde
Kicks204184
Marks9182
Handballs142127
Tackles5250
Hitouts3631
Frees158

DateSaturday, 17 September 2005 1PM AWST
Goals 3: A Hansen, D Chick
2: A Embley
1: M Gardiner, A Sampi, B Cousins,
A Selwood, A Hunter, M Seaby
Goals 3: K McGregor
2: T Hentschel, S Welsh
1: T Edwards, B Burton, I Perrie, S Goodwin
BestWCE: Kerr, Hunter, Wirrpunda, Embley,
Judd, Chick, Selwood, Stenglein
Ade: Edwards, Goodwin, Clarke, Burton,
McGregor, Perrie
InjuriesWCE: Braun
Ade: Johncock
Reports-
VenueSubiaco Oval, Perth, WA
Attendance43,009
Metropolitan Free To Air TV audience1.490 million
UmpiresStephen McBurney, Brett Allen, Shaun Ryan

Grand final

Team1234Total
Sydney3.06.36.58.108.10
West Coast2.42.75.97.127.12
Sydney won by 4G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal

DateSaturday, 24 September 2005, 2:35pm AEST
Coin Toss WinnerSydney
Goals 2: B Hall
1: D Jolly, A Schneider, M O'Loughlin,
T Kennelly, A Goodes, A Buchanan
Goals 2: A Hunter
1: M Nicoski, D Cox, A Embley,
A Hansen, B Cousins
BestSyd: Roberts-Thomson, Goodes, Buchanan,
Kennelly, Fosdike, Kirk
WCE: Judd, Wirrpunda, Cousins,
Cox, Fletcher
Norm Smith MedalC Judd
InjuriesSyd: Ball, C Bolton, Crouch
WCE: Kerr, Gardiner
Reports-
VenueMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, VIC
Attendance91,898
UmpiresScott McLaren, Brett Allen, Darren Goldspink
Metropolitan Free To Air TV audience3.386 million