Celebrating 50 years of the Big Mac - the new, bigger Grand Big Mac is available now at McDonald’s.
So, we’ve put together the 50 most memorable football commentary moments of our time.
The judge?
Our Top 50 expert Mike Sheahan!
Entries are now closed to predict Mike's Top 8 and go into the draw to win a Grand Mac Grand Final prize, including reserve seats, accommodation, a Grand Final memorabilia item signed by the premiership captain, and a $5000 McDonalds VIP card.
AFL Authorised GF Promotion: GFAFL18/60
The Grand Mac Grand Calls Top 50
| Number | Call |
|---|---|
| 50 | Talk about a He Man (1982) |
| 49 | Daniher soars (2016) |
| 48 | This is Sheedy's premiership (1984) |
| 47 | Blight's long bomb (1976) |
| 46 | Buddy’s 13 (2012) |
| 45 | Docker in the sky (2005) |
| 44 | 15 metres (1987) |
| 43 | Sweet redemption (2009) |
| 42 | The Fat Lady sings (2014 and various) |
| 41 | A cork in the ocean (1992) |
| 40 | Get the boy off (1985) |
| 39 | Speed thrills (2012) |
| 38 | Eagles and Swans epic take 2 (2006) |
| 37 | A rabbit out of the hat (2002) |
| 36 | Ablett finally shakes Martyn (1994) |
| 35 | The end of an arm wrestle (2009) |
| 34 | Party Trick (1989) |
| 33 | Was the ball out? (1979) |
| 32 | Mark of the century? (1995) |
| 31 | King Carey’s goal (1999) |
| 30 | Manassa’s run (1977) |
| 29 | Is this their time? (2010) |
| 28 | Jarman’s quarter for the ages (1997) |
| 27 | James Hird, you are a genius (2004) |
| 26 | The king of Geelong (1994) |
| 25 | Moorcroft launches (2001) |
| 24 | Golden goal (2003) |
| 23 | We'll be coming back (2010) |
| 22 | Michael Long Grand Final magic (1993) |
| 21 | Is that the Grand Final? (2012) |
| 20 | Three kicks three goals (1990) |
| 19 | The childhood dream (2016) |
| 18 | McGuane’s goal of the year (1994) |
| 17 | The Cat is still on the back (2012) |
| 16 | Showdown stopper (2018) |
| 15 | Zaharakis be a hero (2009) |
| 14 | It's all over! (2016) |
| 13 | The Miracle on Grass (2013) |
| 12 | Hawks dynasty peaks (2014) |
| 11 | Chapman breaks the deadlock (2009) |
| 10 | Boyd delivers (2016) |
| 9 | Yaaabbbletttt (1989 and various) |
| 8 | He's done it again (2010) |
| 7 | A star is born (2016) |
| 6 | What more can you say? (1989) |
| 5 | Jesaulenko you beauty (1970) |
| 4 | I see it but I don't believe it (2005) |
| 3 | Plugger’s 1300 (1999) |
| 2 | Ronnie Biggs comes to Sydney (2005) |
| 1 | The mark heard around the world (2005) |
Every Grand Mac Grand Call explained
15 metres (1987)
Melbourne hadn't reached the big dance since 1964 and in the 1987 preliminary final they led the team of the 80's all day but had hearts broken when Gary Buckenara kicked a goal after the siren after Jim Stynes gave away a 15 metre penalty. Bob Skilton and Peter McKenna called the drama.
A cork in the ocean (1992)
Dennis Cometti was famous for his catch phrases. “Centimetre perfect” was one, but when Peter Wilson nailed a goal in the ‘92 grand final his phrase a "cork in the ocean" was etched in history.
A rabbit out of the hat (2002)
Jason Akermanis was the reigning Brownlow Medallist, and Brisbane the reigning premiers. The Gabba was a fun place to be in the early 2000's and Kevin Bartlett's penchant for nailing expressions was never better than the night Aker kicked the goal of the year against the Blues.
A star is born (2016)
While the Bulldogs would break a premiership drought in 2016, the preliminary final was perhaps even more nerve-racking. Having lost seven prelim’s in a row from 1985-2010, the Bulldogs had to find a way. In an epic, Marcus Bontempelli's running goal gave the Dogs the lead, and Anthony Hudson found a way to bring it home.
Ablett finally shakes Martyn (1994)
The conclusion to the 1994 Prelim between Geelong and North Melbourne was extraordinary. Not only did Dennis Cometti sum that up, but he also described the battle within the game. Having held the great Gary Ablett all day, Mick Martyn had his heart broken with two seconds to play.
Blight's long bomb (1976)
Mike Williamson was there for many iconic football moments. Malcolm Blight's 80 metre goal after the siren was one of those. An amazing goal and a famous call.
Boyd delivers (2016)
The Bulldogs needed a hero in 2016 and they got more than one, but perhaps none bigger than Tom Boyd who played the game of his life and drilled a long bomb called wonderfully by Dennis Cometti.
Buddy’s 13 (2012)
Buddy wound back the clock with a massive bag of goals against the Kangaroos in Launceston and no-one was into it more than Anthony Hudson.
Chapman breaks the deadlock (2009)
Geelong and St Kilda staged an epic battle in the 2009 decider. The toe-poke in the middle, Ablett long to the square and Chapman in the right place at the right time. The flag was Geelong's and Gerard Whateley nailed it.
Daniher soars (2016)
When Joe Daniher took an amazing hanger in 2016, Dwayne Russell was seconds ahead of the game and forecast what was about to happen.
Docker in the sky (2005)
In a game later dubbed the "whispers in the sky" affair, the Dockers kept their season alive after a towering mark and goal by Justin Longmuir after the siren got them home, and Eddie McGuire called it big time.
Eagles and Swans epic take 2 (2006)
"Who would have thought the sequel would be just as good as the original?" Anthony Hudson produced this gem as the Eagles and Swans decider of 2006 went down to the wire again for the second year running.
Get the boy off (1985)
Collingwood's John Bourke had a minute of madness in an Army Reserve Cup game in 1985. Ray ‘Slug’ Jordan produced the famous line about the infamous incident that saw Bourke banned for 10 years for decking an umpire.
Golden goal (2003)
Chris Tarrant goaled after the siren to sink Adelaide and Tim Lane built the suspense expertly and made the moment more memorable for his call.
Hawks dynasty peaks (2014)
Hawthorn was a dominant team from 2013 to 2015. But they never played better than they did in the 2014 Grand Final and it wasn’t lost on Bruce McAvaney.
He's done it again (2010)
Buddy Franklin produced not one but two moments of brilliance down the members’ wing at the MCG on a cold Friday night in 2010. Gerard Whateley summed up the enormity of a rare talent in full flight.
I see it but I don't believe it (2005)
Another moment superbly captured by Anthony Hudson as Nick Davis kicked four goals straight including the matchwinner to sink the Cats in one of the most extraordinary finishes in AFL history.
Is that the Grand Final? (2012)
2012 was one of the great Grand Finals of the modern era and it was Nick Malceski who sealed the deal for the Swans. Dennis Cometti nailed the suspense of Malceski’s matchwinner.
Is this their time? (2010)
St Kilda hadn't won a premiership for 44 years. After trailing all day in the 2010 decider, Brendon Goddard launched himself into the air and took one of the all-time great marks to put his team in front. Matt Granland was at the mic.
It's all over! (2016)
62 years in waiting for the Bulldogs, and when Picken slammed home his third goal the deal was done and the drought was over. Sometimes less is more, and Bruce McAvaney got it right.
James Hird, you are a genius (2004)
The Bombers were 0-2 and James Hird had been fined $20,000 for umpire abuse the week before. With scores level and only seconds to play, Hird sharked the contest, kicked the winning goal, hugged a fan, left with the four points and was proclaimed by Stephen Quartermain as a genius.
Jarman’s quarter for the ages (1997)
Adelaide won its first flag in 1997, Darren Jarman's fifth goal of the last quarter closed the deal and sent Bruce McAvaney into raptures.
Jesaulenko you beauty (1970)
Carlton's Grand Final win over Collingwood in 1970 is one of the game's most famous. And in it was one of the game's most famous marks. Mike Williamson's contribution to that Jezza hanger will be remembered forever.
King Carey’s goal (1999)
In the 1990's, Wayne Carey was the king of the clutch moment. In 1999, he kicked an amazing goal on his way to 10 at the MCG. Again less is more, and Drew Morphett let his natural reaction do all the talking.
Manassa’s run (1977)
Phil Manassa produced arguably the greatest goal ever kicked in a Grand Final in the 1977 replay, and Peter Ewin took him the length of the ground as he did it.
Mark of the century? (1995)
The person with the camera behind the goals had perfect timing when Shaun Smith took a screamer, but so did Bruce McAvaney as the Demon high-flyer produced a skyscraper.
McGuane’s goal of the year (1994)
One of the great aspects of commentary is slowly building a moment up as the excitement grows in the crowd. The Magpies were on the move against Carlton and Mick McGuane kicked the goal of the year out of the middle after six bounces with Ian Robertson calling the action.
Michael Long Grand Final magic (1993)
Sandy Roberts’ brilliant call of Michael Long's running goal in the first quarter of the 1993 Grand Final. One of the game's most iconic moments captured superbly. Long would go on to win the Norm Smith Medal and Essendon the flag.
Moorcroft launches (2001)
A great mark, and a superbly timed call that let the moment do the talking. Vintage McAvaney.
Party Trick (1989)
Many regard Gary Ablett’s 1989 preliminary final performance as his best. The superstar ran amok with eight goals and did as he pleased to lift the Cats into the Grand Final. One mark was akin to a party trick, according to Dennis Cometti.
Plugger’s 1300 (1999)
Tony Lockett became the first player ever to reach 1300 goals in the VFL/AFL, and Bruce McAvaney was there when it happened.
Ronnie Biggs comes to Sydney (2005)
Nick Davis etched his name in history. We've heard Huddo’s take, but a call of equal significance that night was the brilliant Clinton Grybas who captured the sustained drama of the final 30 seconds of the game.
Showdown stopper (2018)
Steven Motlop found a way when all looked lost in the first showdown of 2018. After three straight goals in as many minutes, the Crows hit the front before Motlop did his thing. And so did Anthony Hudson.
Speed thrills (2012)
Two of the game's speedsters came together in a famous moment during the first term of the 2012 Grand Final. Lewis Jetta of Sydney kept Cyril Rioli at arm’s length in a battle befitting an Olympic 100m final, and Dennis Cometti knew it was something special.
Sweet redemption (2009)
The 2008 Grand Final was an upset and the Cats made a point never to lose to Hawthorn again. For years they kept their word, but in late 2009 they had to pull something special out to win. After trailing by 28 points in the last term it took a Jimmy Bartel behind after the siren to secure the famous victory as expertly called by Kelli Underwood.
Talk about a He Man (1982)
Leigh Matthews was as tough as they come, and that was never more evident than at Windy Hill when an upright came off second best. Matthews snapped the post and nobody was more impressed than the great Lou Richards.
The Cat is still on the back (2012)
Hawthorn came from 51 points down to hit the front late against the Cats on a Friday night before ‘the Kennett curse’ returned as Tom Hawkins nailed a goal from outside 50 after the siren. Dennis Cometti captured it in his own special way.
The childhood dream (2016)
Everyone loves a goal after the siren. Sam Lloyd got his chance in 2016 as the Tigers looked to snap a six-game losing streak. Brian Taylor called the big moment.
The end of an arm wrestle (2009)
The dying stages of the 2009 Grand Final were akin to a never-ending arm wrestle. Tim Lane brought listeners home.
The Fat Lady sings (2014 and various)
Another signature move of Rex Hunt was the fat lady entering the box to declare the contest over. Few examples were better than in the 2014 Grand Final.
The king of Geelong (1994)
1994 was a tough season for Billy Brownless, but when it mattered most he delivered with a clutch goal after the siren against the Bulldogs and Sandy Roberts nailed the moment.
The mark heard around the world (2005)
The Swans hadn't won a flag in 72 years and it took one Herculean effort from Leo Barry to deny the last Eagles’ charge. Stephen Quartermain stepped up to the famous moment beautifully.
The Miracle on Grass (2013)
The Miracle on Ice was in 1980, but the Miracle on Grass came about 33 years later as the Lions turned a 52-point deficit into a win. Ashley McGrath sealed the deal in his 200th game while Anthony Hudson sealed the deal in the commentary box.
This is Sheedy's premiership (1984)
The Bombers broke the drought in 1984 on the back of some tactical genius at three quarter time. Lou Richards knew the significance of the moment and his passionate declaration summed it up.
Three kicks three goals (1990)
One of the great commentary feats is to anticipate something correctly. With Peter Daicos, it was often a sure bet he'd nail the clutch goal from an impossible position and Drew Morphett read the script in advance.
Was the ball out? (1979)
Wayne Harmes won the first ever Norm Smith Medal in 1979, but more famously produced a crucial goal by chasing down his own kick. Pies fans claim the ball was in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel when he tapped it back in but play on was called and Peter Landy produced one of the best examples of quickly summing up the unfolding drama with precise detail.
We'll be coming back (2010)
We hadn't had a drawn Grand Final in 33 years but when Lenny Hayes' long shot bounced away from Steven Milne and through for a point it was very much on the cards, and Bruce McAvaney saw it unfolding.
What more can you say? (1989)
Gary Ablett produced many moments that left you shaking your head in amazement. Sandy Roberts summed up one of those beautifully when Ablett weaved his magic against Collingwood at the MCG.
Yaaabbbletttt (1989 and various)
One of the most iconic football calls is Rex Hunt’s cry of “Yaaabbbllleettt” when either Senior or Junior produced something special.
Zaharakis be a hero (2009)
The Bombers were gone on Anzac Day in 2009. As the rain came down David Zaharakis nailed a running goal and became a hero, just as Matt Granland’s call predicted.