The Rewatchables: Your club's games that never get old

Every footy fan has their favourite. You might be bored, sick in bed or needing that footy fix to lift your spirits.

It’s the game from the past that you’ve watched countless times and will never tire of watching for evermore.

Taking our cue from the popular Bill Simmons podcast, these are our ‘Rewatchables’.

Adelaide’s first Grand Final win in 1997 would have to be one of the most memorable for Crows fans and would be continually on replay.

The Crows trailed St Kilda for much of the first half and were 13 points down at half-time. But it was a Malcolm Blight coaching masterclass which saw Adelaide rise to the occasion, and a special performance from Australian Football Hall of Famer Darren Jarman in kicking five goals in the final term to seal the historic premiership and send all of South Australia, save for pockets around Alberton, into delirium.

Honourable mention: The preliminary final the previous week was also special, with the Crows coming from four goals down in the final term, to win. Sorry ‘Libba’, but that was clearly a behind.

Beating Port in the only Showdown final in 2005 is still on high rotation for Crows fans.

Harry Cumming

Oh, to be a Brisbane Lions fan in recent years … seemingly endless big finals and a pair of premierships.

But one game stands above the rest – the 2024 semi-final against the GWS. The Lions looked like they’d wasted a sixth year of flag contention when they fell 44 points behind 18 minutes into the third term … but Chris Fagan’s team wouldn’t die wondering.

Five goals in the final 10 minutes of that quarter brought the margin back to 25 points at the last break before Joe Daniher took over in the fourth to deliver the Lions a clutch five-point win.

Honourable mention: The 2002 decider against Collingwood was the closest of Brisbane’s 21st century Grand Final wins. The Lions kicked the final three goals to win an epic by nine points, the biggest margin of the entire game.

Lachlan Geleit

Plug the 1999 preliminary final into my veins. Especially these days.

Rank underdogs going into the game against Essendon, one of the most despised enemies, the drama that unfolded on that day remains as vivid and enthralling now as it was 27 years ago.

In fact, watching it over and over fails to entirely dull the sense of apprehension so many Bluebaggers took to the MCG that Saturday afternoon!

Rewatching them snatch the ascendancy by three-quarter time, the majesty of what followed is pure football box-office.

‘Kouta’s’ heroics, Fraser Brown’s tackle, the looks on their faces as reality set in ... might go and watch it again now.

Honourable mention: Chris Judd taking charge and steering the Blues home against Richmond in that manic 2013 elimination final.

Andy Maher

It’s the last round of 2022.

Carlton needing to win to play finals. Collingwood needing a win to make the top four … and oh, 88,287 passionate fans at the MCG.

Down by four goals at three-quarter time, this one looked too far gone. But the comeback kids of 2022 had one last rally in them and stormed home, with Jamie Elliott kicking the match-winner in the dying minutes to run out one-point winners.

Collingwood closed like the Grim Reaper … and ripped out Carlton hearts while doing it.

Honourable mention: The 2023 Grand Final. Straight to the final quarter. Scrap that. Even the last 10 minutes will do.

Lachlan Geleit

Essendon has taken part in some of football’s great home and away games; however, this one is above the rest.

During their premiership defence in 2001, the Bombers faced North Melbourne at the MCG in round 16 and were widely expected to win.

However, the Roos made a blistering start, booting 15 goals from 16 scoring shots to lead by 69 points early in the second term.

Incredibly, the Bombers clawed back, kicking nine straight goals to reduce the margin. After taking the lead 11 minutes into the final term, they won the shootout 27.9 (171) to 25.9 (159).

Honourable mention: Thrashing Melbourne by 10 goals in the 2000 Grand Final.

Jaiden Sciberras

The 2013 qualifying final was an instant classic for Fremantle fans in a season that took it to the Grand Final.

In the only final played at Kardinia Park, the Dockers got off to a slow start but reeled in a Cats team that was a hot favourite on its home deck.

A young Nat Fyfe was scintillating alongside Matthew Pavlich, who had a crucial back-with-the-flight spoil in the dying stages.

Stephen Hill sealed the game with a memorable goal coming off the bench and having five bounces before waltzing in to send Fremantle to a home preliminary final. That prelim win over Sydney would be a close second.

Honourable mention: Freo won the fights and the footy in the now-infamous ‘Demolition Derby’ against West Coast in 2000.

Harry Cumming

The 1994 preliminary final was memorable not just for the spine-tingling finish that saw Geelong superstar Gary Ablett kick the winning goal after the siren, but a commentary masterclass from two of the best of all time – Drew Morphett and Dennis Cometti.

With 30 seconds remaining, North Melbourne full-back Mick Martyn, who had held Ablett all day, barrelled the ball out of defence, only for his kick to be marked by Leigh Colbert.

His kick deep to the forward line went straight through the hands of John Barnes but ever-alert small forward Leigh Tudor crumbed it and centred a left-foot pass to Gary Ablett in the goalsquare.

Cometti: “He’ll kick after the siren! Oh, my goodness me.”

Morphett: “There were two seconds on the clock when Ablett took the mark.”

Cometti: “There is no justice in football, that was the look on the face of Michael Martyn. The master all day and this game will be delivered with this kick … Gary Ablett five metres out, any score will do … Geelong are in the Grand Final.”

Honourable mention: Games decided after the siren have a special place in Geelong hearts, and none more so than when it’s inflicting pain on the old enemy Hawthorn.

Take your pick – Tom Hawkins’ goal in round 19, 2012, or Jimmy Bartel’s behind in round 17, 2009.

Michael Lovett

Having waited 15 years for this occasion, the Suns’ September debut in last year’s elimination final made for an absolute epic.

Travelling across the country to face Fremantle, Gold Coast’s nerves were on display early, with a 1.6 first quarter, but the Suns found their groove thereafter and took control.

But the Dockers hit back hard late and looked set to steal the game when Luke Jackson marked over Mac Andrew just outside the goalsquare to take the lead.

Moments later however, Andrew got his redemption and tied the scores at 79-all.

From there, the Suns secured their fairytale ending with inaugural Sun David Swallow kicking the winning behind after announcing his retirement less than a week earlier.

Honourable mention: Round 18, 2025, v Collingwood.

Friday night, a sold-out Carrara and against the ladder-leading Magpies, the Suns secured their 100th AFL win with an impactful six-point victory.

Nicholas Quinlan

Richmond and Collingwood seemed to be destined for a blockbuster 2019 Grand Final that would have almost shut Melbourne down.

But GWS flipped the script on the footballing world, in a four-point preliminary final win over the Magpies, achieved with Toby Greene suspended and Lachie Whitfield injured.

The Giants were overwhelming underdogs, but chaos prevailed as the rain descended upon the MCG.

Honourable mention: David slew Goliath in the 2016 qualifying final, with the Giants prevailing over Sydney in a fiery encounter.

Nicholas Quinlan

When your team has won 13 flags – all in the TV era – chances are you can flick on Fox Footy or open up YouTube and spend countless hours reliving premiership glory.

They’re all special, and the 1989 Grand Final is universally regarded as one of the all-time great flag deciders.

But in terms of drama during the game and the euphoria that followed, nothing beats the Kennett Curse-busting preliminary final win over the Cats in 2013.

After countless viewings, I still get anxious every time Travis Varcoe straightens up and kicks for goal in the dying seconds.

Honourable mentions: Watching the Hawks beat up the Swans (and ‘Buddy’) in the 2014 Grand Final, while Hawk fans already have this year’s Easter Monday classic on high rotation.

Ashley Browne

Before the first bounce of the 2021 AFL Grand Final, there were 60-somethings who could not remember the last Melbourne premiership. Six decades of pain evaporated in the space of 45 exhilarating minutes of football.

At the 16-minute mark of the third term, the Dogs led by 19 points. Flicking the most almighty of switches, the Demons then booted 16 of the next 17 goals to romp home by 74 points.

Yes, it wasn’t at the MCG. Granted, Melbourne hasn’t won a final since.

But you won’t find a more watchable quarter-and-a-half for Melbourne fans than that magical night in Perth. Bang, bang … BANG!

Honourable mention: The 2021 preliminary final when Max Gawn turned into Superman, the Austin Wonaeamirri-inspired 51-point comeback against Fremantle in 2008, and the Brad Green-led qualifying final win over Carlton in 2000.

Hook them all to my veins simultaneously!

Tom Morris

The Kangaroos were giants in the 1970s, playing in six straight Grand Finals (including the 1977 draw) and winning two flags.

It took them until the mid-1990s to return to the big dance, but they did come back with a vengeance.

After coughing up six goals to Sydney in the first term of the 1996 Grand Final, Denis Pagan’s Roos kicked 16 of the next 23 majors to demolish the Swans by 43 points.

It narrowly shadows the ’99 triumph over Carlton.

Honourable mention: Also on the short list was the 2014 elimination final win over Essendon after trailing by 27 points at half-time – Drew Petrie’s ‘Frank the Tank’ game.

Throw in the 1994 qualifying final victory over Hawthorn when North kicked 3.5 in extra-time to win by 23 points.

Andrew Slevison

Port’s 2004 Grand Final win over the Brisbane Lions was a triumph, especially after three years of home and away dominance cut short by September failings.

The Power and the all-conquering Lions, who were chasing their fourth straight flag, engaged in a back-and-forth battle until late in the third term, where the Power booted four goals in quick succession – two from superstar Gavin Wanganeen – to lead by 17 points.

Wanganeen went on to kick two more within the first six minutes of the final term, building an insurmountable margin for the Power to claim their first AFL premiership.

Honourable mention: Robbie Gray booting five in a quarter during Showdown 44 in 2018 is worthy of a nomination, while Kane Cornes’ 250th game in 2013 saw the Power come from 41 points down to beat the Eagles by five.

Jaiden Sciberras

When a club has not tasted the ultimate success in almost four decades, and then breaks that drought, there tends to be a palpable sense of relief.

That was evident in 2017 when Richmond won its first flag since 1980 when dismantling Grand Final favourites Adelaide by 48 points. The Tigers were unrelenting as ‘Dusty’ capped a stellar season with the Norm Smith Medal.

Swan St was absolutely raucous afterwards. It was pure catharsis followed by unbridled celebration.

There’s been a few in recent history, including both the 2019 and 2020 Grand Finals, but this would have to be the most rewatchable.

Honourable mention: The previous week’s preliminary final win over the GWS Giants was special, as was the prelim final win over Geelong in 2019.

Given where the Tigers are now, the 2020 Grand Final win over the Cats is one to watch on repeat.

Andrew Slevison

The round 14 game against Geelong in 2009 is hard to match. Both teams undefeated on 13 wins, 54,444 fans at Marvel Stadium (an AFL record to this day) and a game decided by one goal.

It’s hard to go past this clash of two teams who would meet again in the same year’s Grand Final as most rewatchable. This game showed what could have been for Saints fans with their strongest team in decades, potentially ever, and the optimism at an all-time high for a drought-breaking second premiership.

It also came before the heartbreak of two failed Grand Final attempts … something Saints fans would love to forget as they watch Michael Gardiner take that mark with scores level and 1:20 left on the clock.

Honourable mention: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s performance against Melbourne last year in round 20 to come from 46 points down will perennially be on rotation for Saints fans.

And every fan should know the commentary of the 1966 premiership win by heart.

Ethan Clark

It’s Sunday, June 27, 1993, and Sydney is in a desperate battle for survival – 26 losses in a row but now under the legendary Ron Barassi in his fifth game of a life-saving stint that started with a 162-point loss to Brisbane.

A 13-year-old lying on the bed in a Mulwala holiday resort villa expecting another defeat … and the Swans won!

And not just won, but blew Melbourne away with a 10-goal third quarter that set up a 40-point triumph.

A month earlier Richard Osborne was convulsing on the SCG after a head clash against Geelong, but he remarkably missed only one week and in his third game back slammed on 10 goals in a stunning display that will never be forgotten.

Fox Footy, please bring it back!

Honourable mention: We’ve been blessed as Swans fans almost ever since – picking the two premierships in 2005 and 2012 would have been easy – along with the prelims of 1996 (‘Plugger’s’ point) and 2005 (Adam Schneider’s last quarter), just a week after Nick Davis came to save us in possibly the most remarkable semi-final of all time.

There’s also Plugger’s 1000- and 1300-goal milestones and Buddy’s special 1000-goal game to savour.

Brendan Rhodes

Down by 29 points at one stage against the red-hot Pies in the 2018 Grand Final, the Eagles clawed back, levelling the scores at three-quarter time and once again, Collingwood struck first to hold the lead heading to the final siren.

Two points down, two minutes to play. McGovern, to Vardy, to Ryan, to Sheed. Queue that goal.

Honourable mention: Holding on to secure the premiership over the Swans in 2006 was special. Low-scoring and excruciatingly tight, just like the flag decider the year before but with a better result.

Jaiden Sciberras

The 2016 Grand Final triumph, the first in 62 years, set the tone for the most recent drought-breakers, inspiring Richmond the following year and Melbourne in 2021.

In Luke Beveridge’s second season at the helm, the Dogs enjoyed a fairytale ride to win four finals and claim the flag from seventh.

Who could forget Tom Boyd’s goal, Liam Picken’s outrageous performance, Shane Biggs, Jason Johannisen’s Norm Smith Medal-winning display and ‘Bevo’s’ spine-tingling medal gesture for injured skipper Bob Murphy.

Generations of Doggies fans celebrated together, shedding tears of joy.

Honourable mention: The remarkable prelim final triumph the week before over the Giants on the road would be a close second.

Andrew Slevison