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AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

  • INTRODUCTION
  • WINNERS / TOP THREE PLACINGS
  • RUNNERS - CLUB BY CLUB
  • NAMING RIGHTS SPONSORS
  • VFL GRAND FINAL MILE
  • VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT
  • AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT
  • 1996 LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT
  • SOURCES
  • MISSING INFORMATION
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INTRODUCTION

The 1977 season was one of unprecedented change for the VFL. Under the leadership of Allen Aylett, the league adopted a number of innovations in order to market itself to a wider audience. These included the return of the Night Series, the relaunch of the Reserves competition (renamed the Commodore Cup with a game shown each Sunday on Channel Seven) and the first-ever live television broadcast of a VFL–AFL Grand Final.

Despite these changes, half-time entertainment at the biggest game of the year remained the same, with spectators at the 1977 Grand Final treated to a traditional marching and music display by the Combined Services Band. Everything changed when the match between Collingwood and North Melbourne was drawn, requiring a replay to be held the following weekend.
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Patrick Dangerfield (centre) wins the 2012 AFL Grand Final Sprint (Quinn Rooney/AFL Media)

Forced to create a second Grand Final day entertainment package at short notice, the VFL were willing to explore new options, choosing to abandon the traditional half-time entertainment in favour of a one-mile foot race between league footballers.  The mile race proved a success, generating enough public and media interest for the event to be held again at half-time of the 1978 Grand Final.

In 1979 the format was altered to a 100-metre sprint and this quickly developed into a key part of Grand Final day. Many fans still fondly remember Geoff Ablett, a.k.a. "The Fastest Man in Football", not for his efforts in the big match but for his near-annual domination of the half-time sprint. The race was replaced in 1986 by the Foster's Grand Final Entertainment Spectacular, which featured flag-waving and dancing. The response to this was lukewarm at best and the sprint was resurrected in 1987, only to make way the following season for a half-time dance spectacular.


The league continued to trial other forms of entertainment at half-time of the Grand Final and it wasn't until 2002 that the sprint made a popular return. During the 1977–1987 era, participation was optional for clubs playing in the Grand Final, with most choosing not to take part. However, since 2002 all clubs are required to participate, with the Grand Finalists usually represented by a fringe player not selected for the match. 2015 saw the introduction of non-league representatives for the first time, either as a sponsor competition winner or local club footballer.

A sprint race was also held at the 1996 AFL Lightning Premiership, run under the same format as the Grand Final Sprint with the fastest players in each heat advancing to the final, which was run prior to the Lightning Premiership Grand Final. Further details can be found below.
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WINNERS / TOP THREE PLACINGS

YEAR

WINNER

2ND

3RD

VFL GRAND FINAL MILE

1977

Andy Wilson (Ess)

Rodney Hughes (StK)

David Clarke (Geel)

1978

Doug Booth (StK)

Garry Cooke (Melb)

Shane Heard (Ess)

VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT (1979-87)

1979

Geoff Ablett (Haw)

Mick Conlan (Fitz)

Shane Heard (Ess)

1980

Geoff Ablett (Haw)

Frank Marchesani (Fitz)

unknown

1981

Geoff Ablett (Haw)

Doug Cox (StK)

Tony Elshaug (Melb)

1982

Mick Conlan (Fitz)

Frank Marchesani (Carl)

Doug Cox (StK)

1983

Frank Marchesani (Carl)

David Palm (Rich)

Daryl Cunningham (StK)

1984

Doug Cox (Ess)

Geoff Ablett (Rich)

Russell Richards (Melb)

1985

Geoff Ablett (StK)*

Michael Kol (Geel)*

Russell Richards (Melb)

1986

event not held

1987

Russell Richards (Melb)

unknown

unknown

AFL LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT (1996)

1996

Marcus Seecamp (Melb)

unknown

unknown

AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT (2002-)

2002

Jared Crouch (Syd)

Adam Chatfield (Geel)

Jordan McMahon (WB)

2003

James Walker (Frem)

Jared Crouch (Syd)

Damian Cupido (Ess)

2004

James Walker (Frem)

Michael Stevens (NM)

Luke Jericho (Adel)

2005

Brett Deledio (Rich)

Daniel Bell (Melb)

Shannon Byrnes (Geel)

2006

Brendan Fevola (Carl)

Jason Winderlich (Ess)

Nathan Foley (Rich)

2007

Jake King (Rich)

Nathan Krakouer (Port)

Will Schofield (WCE)

2008

Matthew White (Rich)

Stefan Martin (Melb)

Nathan Djerkurra (Geel)

2009

Rhys Stanley (StK)

Trent McKenzie (GC)

Wade Thompson (Port)

2010

Luke Miles (StK)

Tim Golds (GWS)

Lewis Jetta (Syd)

2011

Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)

Tim Golds (GWS)

Lewis Jetta (Syd)

2012

Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)

Harry Cunningham (Syd)

Angus Litherland (Haw)

2013

Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)

Angus Litherland (Haw)

Jordan Murdoch (Geel)

2014

Jordan Murdoch (Geel)

Billy Hartung (Haw)

Jarrad Ellis (GC)

2015

Majak Daw (NM)

Charlie Cameron (Adel)

Dean Towers (Syd)

2016

James Shirley

Jed Bews (Geel)**

Majak Daw (NM)**

(Murrumbeena FNC)

2017

Connor Menadue (Rich)

Jarrod Pickett (Carl)

Josh Williams (NM)

2018

Godfrey Okereneyang

Melvin Monleh

Jordan Murdoch (Geel)

(Coolamon Hoppers FC)

(Melton South Panthers)

2019

Ben King (GC)

Sam Frost (Melb)

Jack Tarca (Geel)

2020

Jordan Clark (Geel)

Bradley Hill (StK)

Xavier Duursma (Port)

 

LIST OF WINNERS –​ NOTES

*1985

In the video of the 1985 race, Geoff Ablett is initially declared the winner by the commentary team but in replays it appears Geelong's Michael Kol may have stolen the race with a lunge at the line. The footage ends before the official result is announced. In an interview with the Sunday Press newspaper [29-9-1985], Ablett confirms that he held on to win by the barest of margins, reversing the 1984 result when he had been pipped at the post by Essendon's Doug Cox.
​

**2016

Many sources list Majak Daw as finishing 2nd and Jed Bews 3rd. However, video of the race shows Daw easing up about three metres short of the finish after James Shirley breaks away for an unassailable lead. As Daw slows down, Bews makes a final burst, just passing him on the line for 2nd place.

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RUNNERS – CLUB BY CLUB

ADELAIDE
BRISBANE
CARLTON
COLLINGWOOD
ESSENDON
FITZROY
FREMANTLE
GEELONG
GOLD COAST
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
HAWTHORN
MELBOURNE
NORTH MELBOURNE
PORT ADELAIDE
RICHMOND
ST KILDA
SYDNEY / SOUTH MELBOURNE
WEST COAST
W. BULLDOGS / FOOTSCRAY
NON-AFL
ADELAIDE

ADELAIDE CROWS

LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT

PLACING

 

1996

 

unknown

unknown

AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

2002

 

Andrew Crowell

Final (7th)

 

2003

 

Kris Massie

Heats

 

2004

 

Luke Jericho

Final (3rd)

 

2005

 

James Begley

Heats

 

2006

 

Andrew Jarman

Heats

 

2007

 

Simon Goodwin

Heats

 

2008

 

Bernie Vince

Heats

 

2009

 

Andy Otten

Heats

 

2010

 

Richard Douglas

Final (7th)

 

2011

 

Patrick Dangerfield

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

2012

 

Patrick Dangerfield

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

2013

 

Patrick Dangerfield

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

2014

 

Brodie Smith

Heats

 

2015

 

Charlie Cameron

Final (2nd)

 

2016

 

Brodie Smith

Heats

 

2017

 

Jordan Gallucci

Final (6th)

 

2018

 

Lachie Murphy

Final (6th)

 

2019

 

Jake Kelly

Heats

 

2020

 

Ben Keays

Final (7th)

 

Picture
Patrick Dangerfield wins the 2013 AFL Grand Final Sprint (Pat Scala/Fairfax)
BRISBANE

BRISBANE LIONS

VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

1987

 

Tony Beckett

-

LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT

PLACING

 

1996

 

unknown

-

AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

2002

 

Nathan Clarke

Final (4th)

 

2003

 

Anthony Corrie

Final (8th)

 

2004

 

Daniel Merrett

Heats

 

2005

 

Leigh Ryswyk

Final (6th)

 

2006

 

Tim Notting

Final (8th)

 

2007

 

Robert Copeland

Final (7th)

 

2008

 

Justin Sherman

Heats

 

2009

 

Tom Rockcliff

Heats

 

2010

 

Jack Redden

Final (8th)

 

2011

 

Daniel Rich

Heats

 

2012

 

Ben Hudson

Heats

 

2013

 

Richard Newell

Final (4th)

 

2014

 

Daniel McStay

Final (6th)

 

2015

 

Lewis Taylor

Final (8th)

 

2016

 

Mitch Robinson

Heats

 

2017

 

Dayne Zorko

Heats

 

2018

 

Eric Hipwood

Heats

 

2019

 

Noah Answerth

Final (7th)

 

2020

 

Charlie Cameron

Final (4th)

 

CARLTON

CARLTON

VFL GRAND FINAL MILE

PLACING

 

1977

 

Ken Sheldon

-

 

Michael Young

-

 

1978

 

Vin Cattogio

-

 

Peter Halsall

-

VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

1979

 

(did not participate - it was voluntary for GF teams)

 

1980

 

Peter Francis

-

 

1981

 

(did not participate - it was voluntary for GF teams)

 

1982

 

Frank Marchesani

Second

 

1983

 

Frank Marchesani

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

1984

 

Alex Marcou

-

 

1985

 

Fraser Murphy

-

 

1986

 

(event not held)

 

1987

 

(did not participate - it was voluntary for GF teams)

LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT

PLACING

 

1996

 

unknown

-

AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

2002

 

Brendan Fevola

Final (8th)

 

2003

 

Anthony Franchina

Heats

 

2004

 

Jordan Bannister

Heats

 

2005

 

Jordan Bannister

Final (7th)

 

2006

 

Brendan Fevola

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

2007

 

Simon Wiggins

Final (8th)

 

2008

 

Simon Wiggins

Final (7th)

 

2009

 

Andrew Walker

Heats

 

2010

 

Marc Murphy

Heats

 

2011

 

unknown

Heats

 

2012

 

Kane Lucas

Final (6th)

 

2013

 

Chris Yarran

Final (5th)

 

2014

 

Kane Lucas

Heats

 

2015

 

Andrejs Everitt

Final (10th)

 

2016

 

Liam Sumner

Final (7th)

 

2017

 

Jarrod Pickett

Final (2nd)

 

2018

 

Cameron Polson

Final (9th)

 

2019

 

Paddy Dow

Final (8th)

 

2020

 

(Did not participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic)

 

Picture
Brendan Fevola wins the 2006 AFL Grand Final Sprint (news.com.au)
COLLINGWOOD

COLLINGWOOD

VFL GRAND FINAL MILE

PLACING

 

1977

 

(did not participate - it was voluntary for GF teams)

 

 

1978

 

Ted Carroll

-

 

Wayne Gordon

-

VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

1979

 

(did not participate - it was voluntary for GF teams)

 

1980

 

(did not participate - it was voluntary for GF teams)

 

1981

 

(did not participate - it was voluntary for GF teams)

 

1982

 

Geoff Miles

-

 

1983

 

Geoff Miles

-

 

1984

 

Darren Millane

-

 

1985

 

Alan Eade

-

 

1986

 

(event not held)

 

1987

 

Terry Keays

-

LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT

PLACING

 

1996

 

unknown

-

AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

2002

 

Damien Adkins

Heats

 

2003

 

Glenn Freeborn

Final (7th)

 

2004

 

Matthew Lokan

Heats

 

2005

 

Chris Egan

Heats

 

2006

 

Heath Shaw

Heats

 

2007

 

Tyson Goldsack

Final (6th)

 

2008

 

John Anthony

Heats

 

2009

 

Brad Dick

Final (7th)

 

2010

 

Ryan Cook

Heats

 

2011

 

Luke Rounds

Final (5th)

 

2012

 

Paul Seedsman

Heats

 

2013

 

Paul Seedsman

Heats

 

2014

 

Ben Kennedy

Heats

 

2015

 

Darcy Moore

Heats

 

2016

 

Jordan De Goey

Heats

 

2017

 

Will Hoskin-Elliott

Heats

 

2018

 

Ben Crocker

Heats

 

2019

 

Will Hoskin-Elliott

Heats

 

2020

 

Josh Thomas

Final (8th)

 

ESSENDON

ESSENDON

VFL GRAND FINAL MILE

PLACING

 

1977

 

Wayne Primmer

-

 

Andy Wilson

GF MILE WINNER

 

1978

 

Shane Heard

Third

 

Wayne Primmer

-

VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

1979

 

Shane Heard

Third

 

1980

 

Stephen Carey

-

 

1981

 

Neil Clarke

-

 

1982

 

Mark Eustice

-

 

1983

 

(did not participate - it was voluntary for GF teams)

 

1984

 

Doug Cox

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

1985

 

Steven Clark

-

 

1986

 

(event not held)

 

1987

 

Brian Winton

-

LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT

PLACING

 

1996

 

unknown

-

AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

2002

 

Rob Forster-Knight

Heats

 

2003

 

Damian Cupido

Final (3rd)

 

2004

 

Damian Cupido

Final (5th)

 

2005

 

Ricky Dyson

Heats

 

2006

 

Jason Winderlich

Final (2nd)

 

2007

 

Paddy Ryder

Final (4th)

 

2008

 

Ricky Dyson

Heats

 

2009

 

Paddy Ryder

Final (5th)

 

2010

 

Jake Melksham

Heats

 

2011

 

Jake Melksham

Final (7th)

 

2012

 

Stewart Crameri

Final (7th)

 

2013

 

Paddy Ryder

Heats

 

2014

 

Patrick Ambrose

Final (8th)

 

2015

 

Elliott Kavanagh

Heats

 

2016

 

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

Final (6th)

 

2017

 

Kyle Langford

Heats

 

2018

 

Kyle Langford

Heats

 

2019

 

Dylan Clarke

Heats

 

2020

 

(Did not participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic)

 

Picture
Andy Wilson, 1977 VFL Grand Final Mile winner (Football Record, 1978)
FITZROY

FITZROY LIONS

VFL GRAND FINAL MILE

PLACING

 

1977

 

Chris Hansen

-

 

Peter Johnson

-

 

1978

 

Mick Conlan

-

 

Garry Wilson

-

VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

1979

 

Mick Conlan

Second

 

1980

 

Frank Marchesani

Second

 

1981

 

Peter Francis

-

 

1982

 

Mick Conlan

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

1983

 

Richard Osborne

-

 

1984

 

Bill Lokan

-

 

1985

 

Richard Osborne

-

 

1986

 

(event not held)

 

1987

 

Darren Kappler

-

LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT

PLACING

 

1996

 

unknown

-

 

Picture
1982 VFL Grand Final Sprint winner, Mick Conlan receives his medallion and cheque from Essendon legend, Dick Reynolds (Football Record Almanac, 1996)
FREMANTLE

FREMANTLE

LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT

PLACING

 

1996

 

unknown

unknown

AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

2002

 

Troy Simmonds

Heats

 

2003

 

James Walker

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

2004

 

James Walker

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

2005

 

Byron Schammer

Heats

 

2006

 

Brett Peake

Final (5th)

 

2007

 

Paul Haselby

Heats

 

2008

 

Garrick Ibbotson

Final (4th)

 

2009

 

Stephen Hill

Final (4th)

 

2010

 

Garrick Ibbotson

Final (6th)

 

2011

 

Josh Mellington

Heats

 

2012

 

Tendai Mzungu

Heats

 

2013

 

Alex Forster

Heats

 

2014

 

Zac Dawson

Heats

 

2015

 

Hayden Krozier

Final (5th)

 

2016

 

Darcy Tucker

Final (5th)

 

2017

 

Tommy Sheridan

Heats

 

2018

 

Matt Taberner

Final (8th)

 

2019

 

Andrew Brayshaw

Final (6th)

 

2020

 

(Did not participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic)

 

Picture
Fremantle's James Walker in the heats of the 2003 AFL Grand Final Sprint (Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
GEELONG

GEELONG

VFL GRAND FINAL MILE

PLACING

 

1977

 

David Clarke

Third

 

Murray Witcombe

-

 

1978

 

Jeff Fehring

-

 

Tom Floyd

-

VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

1979

 

Michael Turner

-

 

1980

 

Stephen Lunn

-

 

1981

 

Robert Neal

-

 

1982

 

Bernard Toohey

-

 

1983

 

Michael Kol

-

 

1984

 

Michael Kol

-

 

1985

 

Michael Kol

Second

 

1986

 

(event not held)

 

1987

 

Michael Kol

-

LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT

PLACING

 

1996

 

unknown

-

AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT

PLACING

 

2002

 

Adam Chatfield

Final (2nd)

 

2003

 

David Wojcinski

Final (4th)

 

2004

 

Mark Blake

Heats

 

2005

 

Shannon Byrnes

Final (3rd)

 

2006

 

Shannon Byrnes

Heats

 

2007

 

Joel Reynolds

Heats

 

2008

 

Nathan Djerkurra

Final (3rd)

 

2009

 

Taylor Hunt

Heats

 

2010

 

Daniel Menzel

Final (4th)

 

2011

 

Dawson Simpson

Final (9th)

 

2012

 

Billie Smedts

Heats

 

2013

 

Jordan Murdoch

Final (3rd)

 

2014

 

Jordan Murdoch

GF SPRINT WINNER

 

2015

 

Darcy Lang

Heats

 

2016

 

Jed Bews

Final (2nd)

 

2017

 

Mark O'Connor

Heats

 

2018

 

Jordan Murdoch

Final (3rd)

 

2019

 

Jack Tarca

Final (3rd)

 

2020