AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT
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Last updated 2/12/2018
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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. 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. |
Hawthorn's Geoff Ablett wins the 1980 Grand Final Sprint
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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 Finallists usually represented by a fringe player not selected for the match.
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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1982 - reigning champion Geoff Ablett was a late scratching due to a groin injury (Sunday Press 26-9-1982). It is not known if he was replaced by another Hawthorn player or if the sprint was held minus one runner.
2007 - Brent Guerra was originally named as Hawthorn's representative but was replaced by Clinton Young.
2015 - Angus Litherland was originally Hawthorn's representative but withdrew after being named as an emergency for their Grand Final team.
MELBOURNE
2011 - Sam Blease was the Demons' representative but did not appear for his race due to a family function! The heat went ahead without a replacement runner from the Demons. [My thanks to Adam from DemonBlog and DemonWiki for digging this info out of the twitter archives and sending it through]
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