2005 AFL finals series

(Redirected from 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 (regular season) ladder qualify for the Finals Series.

2005 AFL premiership season
Date2–24 September 2005
Teams8
PremiersSydney
4th premiership
Runners-upWest Coast (4th grand final)
Minor premiersAdelaide
1st minor premiership
Attendance
Matches played9
Total attendance480,064 (53,340 per match)
Highest91,828 Grand Final, West Coast vs. Sydney)
← 2004
2006 →

Ladder

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2005 AFL ladder
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts
1 Adelaide 22 17 5 0 2070 1517 136.5 68 Finals series
2 West Coast 22 17 5 0 2261 1824 124.0 68
3 Sydney (P) 22 15 7 0 1974 1696 116.4 60
4 St Kilda 22 14 8 0 2407 1806 133.3 56
5 Kangaroos 22 13 9 0 2053 2069 99.2 52
6 Geelong 22 12 10 0 2134 1906 112.0 48
7 Melbourne 22 12 10 0 2171 2266 95.8 48
8 Port Adelaide 22 11 10 1 2028 2066 98.2 46
9 Western Bulldogs 22 11 11 0 2385 2351 101.4 44
10 Fremantle 22 11 11 0 2041 2038 100.1 44
11 Brisbane Lions 22 10 12 0 2139 2164 98.8 40
12 Richmond 22 10 12 0 2022 2190 92.3 40
13 Essendon 22 8 14 0 2118 2302 92.0 32
14 Hawthorn 22 5 17 0 1904 2317 82.2 20
15 Collingwood 22 5 17 0 1884 2425 77.7 20
16 Carlton 22 4 17 1 2016 2670 75.5 18
Source: AFL ladder
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Separated only by percentage Adelaide (minor premier) and West Coast topped the ladder (W-L: 17–5), trailed by third placed Sydney (15–7). 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

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Qualifying and elimination finalsSemi-finalsPreliminary finalsGrand final
3 Sep, AAMI Stadium
1Adelaide8.9 (57)
4St Kilda10.5 (65)10 Sep, AAMI Stadium
Adelaide18.15 (123)
4 Sep, Telstra DomePort Adelaide5.10 (40)16 Sep, MCG
5Kangaroos11.11 (77)St Kilda9.11 (65)
8Port Adelaide26.8 (164)Sydney15.6 (96)24 Sep, MCG
Sydney8.10 (58)
3 Sep, MCG17 Sep, Subiaco OvalWest Coast7.12 (54)
6Geelong18.8 (116)West Coast14.9 (93)
7Melbourne9.7 (61)9 Sep, SCGAdelaide11.11 (77)
Sydney7.14 (56)
2 Sep, Subiaco OvalGeelong7.11 (53)
2West Coast10.9 (69)
3Sydney10.5 (65)

The finals system

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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.

8TeamBracket-PagePlayoff|RD2-RD3-cross=y|team-width=150 Explained (AFL.com.au) Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine

Week One

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First Qualifying Final (1 vs 4)

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Scorecard

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Team 1 2 3 4 Total
(1) Adelaide 3.3 3.5 5.7 8.9 8.9 (57)
(4) St Kilda 1.0 6.3 9.3 10.5 10.5 (65)
St Kilda won by 8 G.B G.B G.B G.B Final
Team Stats Ade StK
Kicks 186 214
Marks 73 102
Handballs 113 129
Tackles 61 61
Hitouts 47 22
Frees 14 17
Date Saturday, 3 September 2005 7PM ACST
Goals (Ade) 4: K McGregor
1: R Shirley, G Johncock, S Welsh, S Goodwin
Goals (StK) 3: R Harvey
2: N Riewoldt, J Gwilt
1: L Ball, J Blake, S Milne
Best Ade: Rutten, Bassett, Goodwin, McGregor,
Edwards, McLeod, Johncock
StK: Harvey, Dal Santo, Hayes, Jones
Fisher, Ball, Peckett
Injuries None
Reports None
Venue AAMI Stadium, Adelaide, SA
Attendance 48,768
Umpires Michael Vozzo, Stephen McBurney, Shaun Ryan

Second Qualifying Final (2 vs 3)

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Scorecard

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Team 1 2 3 4 Total
(2) West Coast 4.1 5.4 5.7 10.9 10.9 (69)
(3) Sydney 3.1 5.2 8.3 10.5 10.5 (65)
West Coast won by 4 G.B G.B G.B G.B Final
Team Stats WCE Syd
Kicks 181 180
Marks 62 63
Handballs 110 101
Tackles 46 52
Hitouts 45 42
Free Kicks 21 14
Date Friday, 2 September 2005 6:30PM AWST
Goals (WCE) 2: M Gardiner, A Hunter, A Sampi
1: A Hansen, D Kerr, T Stenglein, M Seaby
Goals (Syd) 3: N Davis, M O'Loughlin
2: B Hall
1: R O'Keefe, A Schneider
Best WCE: Kerr, Judd, Cousins, Hunter,
Nicoski, Wirrpanda
Syd: Kirk, Davis, C Bolton, Buchanan,
Goodes, O'Loughlin, Kennelly, Williams
Injuries WCE: P Matera (hip)
Syd: Williams (ankle)
Reports None
Venue Subiaco Oval, Perth, WA
Attendance 43,302
Umpires Scott 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)

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Scorecard

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Team 1 2 3 4 Total
(5) Kangaroos 6.6 7.7 10.9 11.11 11.11 (77)
(8) Port Adelaide 6.1 12.3 20.6 26.8 26.8 (164)
Port Adelaide won by 87 G.B G.B G.B G.B Final
Team Stats Kan PA
Kicks 166 223
Marks 69 126
Handballs 87 128
Tackles 46 31
Hitouts 28 40
Frees 16 15
Date Sunday, 4 September 2005 2:30PM AEST
Goals (Kan) 3: C Jones
2: N Thompson, S Rocca
1: L Picoane, B Rawlings, D Wells, L Harding
Goals (PA) 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
Best Kan: Sinclair, Jones, Wells, Harris
PA: Tredrea, Kingsley, Lade, Pettigrew,
Mahoney, Montgomery, C. Cornes
Injuries None
Reports None
Venue Telstra Dome, Melbourne, VIC
Attendance 25,195
Umpires Hayden Kennedy, Brett Allen, Scott Jeffery

Second Elimination Final (6 vs 7)

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Scorecard

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Team 1 2 3 4 Total
(6) Geelong 5.4 12.5 16.8 18.8 18.8 (116)
(7) Melbourne 2.3 6.4 6.6 9.7 9.7 (61)
Geelong won by 55 G.B G.B G.B G.B Final
Team Stats Geel Melb
Kicks 242 162
Marks 136 79
Handballs 111 106
Tackles 41 54
Hitouts 31 27
Frees 19 21
Date Saturday, 3 September 2005 2:30PM AEST
Goals (Geel) 3: G Ablett, J Kelly
2: C Ling, A Mackie, C Mooney, H Playfair
1: N Ablett, S Johnson, K Kingsley, K Tenace
Goals (Melb) 4: R Robertson
2: P Wheatley
1: A Davey, B Holland, A Yze
Best Geel: Mooney, Milburn, Corey,
Bartel, Ling, Rooke, G. Ablett
Melb: Carroll, Brown, Moloney, Robertson
Injuries Geel: None
Melb: White (face), Rigoni (concussion), Johnstone (ankle),
Wheatley (adductor), McDonald (calf)
Reports Geel: Johnson for rough conduct against Holland
Venue Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, VIC
Attendance 65,018
Umpires Justin Schmitt, Stuart Wenn, Darren Goldspink

Week Two

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First Semi-final

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Scorecard

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Team 1 2 3 4 Total
(1) Adelaide 3.4 4.7 12.9 18.15 18.15 (123)
(8) Port Adelaide 2.1 3.6 4.6 5.10 5.10 (40)
Adelaide won by 83 G.B G.B G.B G.B Final
Team Stats Ade PA
Kicks 188 161
Marks 105 80
Handballs 118 117
Tackles 48 43
Hitouts 32 30
Frees 17 20
Date Saturday, 10 September 2005 7PM ACST
Goals (Ade) 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 (PA) 1: S Burgoyne, J Mahoney, D Pearce,
M Pettigrew, G Wanganeen
Best Ade: Edwards, Goodwin, Ricciuto, Clarke, Rutten,
Bassett, Burton, McLeod
PA: C. Cornes, K. Cornes, Montgomery, Wakelin
Injuries Ade: Johncock (calf), Biglands, Shirley (head knock)
PA: Wilson (hamstring)
Reports None
Venue AAMI Stadium, Adelaide, SA
Attendance 50,521
Umpires Michael Vozzo, Brett Allen, Scott McLaren

Second Semi-final

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Scorecard

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Team 1 2 3 4 Total
(3) Sydney 2.2 2.6 3.12 7.14 7.14 (56)
(6) Geelong 2.6 5.8 6.11 7.11 7.11 (53)
Sydney won by 3 G.B G.B G.B G.B Final
Team Stats Syd Geel
Kicks 155 177
Marks 50 79
Handballs 111 93
Tackles 66 83
Hitouts 66 22
Frees 16 17
Date Friday, 9 September 2005 8PM AEST
Goals (Syd) 4: N Davis
2: M O'Loughlin
1: R O'Keefe
Goals (Geel) 2: S Johnson
1: C Gardiner, J Kelly, H Playfair,
J Rooke, D Johnson
Best Syd: Davis, Crouch, Kirk, Buchanan, Bolton
Geel: Kelly, Scarlett, Johnson, Ling, Corey, Sanderson
Injuries Syd: Williams (thigh)
Geel: King (hamstring)
Reports None
Venue Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, NSW
Attendance 39,079
Umpires Stuart 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

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First Preliminary Final

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Scorecard

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Team 1 2 3 4 Total
(4) St Kilda 3.1 5.5 9.7 9.11 9.11 (65)
(3) Sydney 5.1 6.3 8.6 15.6 15.6 (96)
Sydney won by 31 G.B G.B G.B G.B Final
Team Stats StK Syd
Kicks 157 196
Marks 65 91
Handballs 98 76
Tackles 64 73
Hitouts 42 37
Frees 19 11
Date Friday, 16 September 2005 8PM AEST
Goals (StK) 4: F Gehrig
2: N Riewoldt
1: L Montagna, N Dal Santo, L Hayes
Goals (Syd) 4: B Hall
3: A Schneider
2: M O'Loughlin, P Williams, R O'Keefe
1: N Davis, A Buchanan
Best StK: Dal Santo, Harvey, Hudghton, Jones
Gehrig, Baker, Montagna
Syd: O'Keefe, Hall, C. Bolton, J. Bolton,
Schneider, Kennelly, Ablett, Crouch,
Injuries None
Reports Syd: Hall for striking Maguire
Venue Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, VIC
Attendance 73,344
Metropolitan Free To Air TV audience 1.811 million
Umpires Michael 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. Leading by 15 points midway through the third quarter, the Saints were on the verge of putting the game out of reach but 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.

The Swans' win reversed two heavy losses to the Saints within the past twelve months, the latter of which proved to be a major turning point in their 2005 season.

Second Preliminary Final

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Scorecard

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Team 1 2 3 4 Total
(2) West Coast 2.2 6.5 11.8 14.9 14.9 (93)
(1) Adelaide 2.2 5.4 6.6 11.11 11.11 (77)
West Coast won by 16 G.B G.B G.B G.B Final
Team Stats WCE Ade
Kicks 204 184
Marks 91 82
Handballs 142 127
Tackles 52 50
Hitouts 36 31
Frees 15 8
Date Saturday, 17 September 2005 1PM AWST
Goals (WCE) 3: A Hansen, D Chick
2: A Embley
1: M Gardiner, A Sampi, B Cousins,
A Selwood, A Hunter, M Seaby
Goals (Ade) 3: K McGregor
2: T Hentschel, S Welsh
1: T Edwards, B Burton, I Perrie, S Goodwin
Best WCE: Kerr, Hunter, Wirrpunda, Embley,
Judd, Chick, Selwood, Stenglein
Ade: Edwards, Goodwin, Clarke, Burton,
McGregor, Perrie
Injuries WCE: Braun (leg)
Ade: Johncock (calf)
Reports None
Venue Subiaco Oval, Perth, WA
Attendance 43,009
Metropolitan Free To Air TV audience 1.490 million
Umpires Stephen McBurney, Brett Allen, Shaun Ryan

Grand final

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Team 1 2 3 4 Total
(3) Sydney 3.0 6.3 6.5 8.10 8.10 (58)
(2) West Coast 2.4 2.7 5.9 7.12 7.12 (54)
Sydney won by 4 G.B G.B G.B G.B Final
Date Saturday, 24 September 2005, 2:35pm AEST
Coin Toss Winner Sydney
Goals (Syd) 2: B Hall
1: D Jolly, A Schneider, M O'Loughlin,
T Kennelly, A Goodes, A Buchanan
Goals (WCE) 2: A Hunter
1: M Nicoski, D Cox, A Embley,
A Hansen, B Cousins
Best Syd: Roberts-Thomson, Goodes, Buchanan,
Kennelly, Fosdike, Kirk
WCE: Judd, Wirrpunda, Cousins,
Cox, Fletcher
Norm Smith Medal C Judd (WCE)
Injuries Syd: Ball (cut head), C Bolton (nose), Crouch (ankle)
WCE: Kerr (ankle), Gardiner (cut head)
Reports None
Venue Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, VIC
Attendance 91,898
Umpires Scott McLaren, Brett Allen, Darren Goldspink
Metropolitan Free To Air TV audience 3.386 million
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