AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT
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. |
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 in the 1996 LIGHTNING SPRINT tab above.
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) |
Austinn Jones (StK) |
Anthony McGregor
(Fitz) |
|
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) |
|
2021 |
Josh Rotham (WCE) |
Jack Petruccelle (WCE) |
Liam Ryan (WCE) |
|
2022 |
Hugo Ralphsmith (Rich) |
Latham Vandermeer (WB) |
Bradley Hill (StK) |
*1985
**2016
RUNNERS – CLUB BY CLUB
|
ADELAIDE CROWS |
||||
|
LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1996 |
|
unknown |
Heats |
|
AFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
2002 |
|
Andrew Crowell |
Final (7th) |
|
|
2003 |
|
Kris Massie |
Heats |
|
|
2004 |
|
Luke Jericho |
Final (3rd) |
|
|
2005 |
|
James Begley |
Heats |
|
|
2006 |
|
Richard Douglas |
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) |
|
|
2021 |
|
(did not participate due to the COVID-19
pandemic) |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Sam Berry |
Heats |
|
BRISBANE LIONS |
||||
|
VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1987 |
|
Tony Beckett |
- |
|
LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1996 |
|
unknown |
Heats |
|
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) |
|
|
2021 |
|
(did not participate due to the COVID-19
pandemic) |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Darcy Wilmot |
Heats |
|
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: the race was optional
for GF teams) |
|
|
|
1980 |
|
Peter Francis |
- |
|
|
1981 |
|
(did not participate: the race was optional
for GF teams) |
|
|
|
1982 |
|
Frank Marchesani |
Second |
|
|
1983 |
|
Frank Marchesani |
GF SPRINT WINNER |
|
|
1984 |
|
Alex Marcou |
- |
|
|
1985 |
|
Fraser Murphy |
- |
|
|
1986 |
|
(the Grand Final Sprint was not held) |
|
|
|
1987 |
|
(did not participate: the race was optional
for GF teams) |
|
|
LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1996 |
|
Glenn Manton |
Final (5th) |
|
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) |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
(did not participate due to the COVID-19
pandemic) |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Matthew Cottrell |
Final (7th) |
|
COLLINGWOOD |
||||
|
VFL GRAND FINAL MILE |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1977 |
|
(did not participate: the race was optional
for GF teams) |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
1978 |
|
Ted Carroll |
- |
|
|
Wayne Gordon |
- |
||
|
VFL GRAND FINAL SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1979 |
|
(did not participate: the race was optional
for GF teams) |
|
|
|
1980 |
|
(did not participate: the race was optional
for GF teams) |
|
|
|
1981 |
|
(did not participate: the race was optional
for GF teams) |
|
|
|
1982 |
|
Geoff Miles |
- |
|
|
1983 |
|
Geoff Miles |
- |
|
|
1984 |
|
Darren Millane |
- |
|
|
1985 |
|
Alan Eade |
- |
|
|
1986 |
|
(the Grand Final Sprint was not held) |
|
|
|
1987 |
|
Terry Keays |
- |
|
LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1996 |
|
unknown |
Heats |
|
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) |
|
|
2021 |
|
(did not participate due to the COVID-19
pandemic) |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Isaac Quaynor |
Final (5th) |
|
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: the race was optional
for GF teams) |
|
|
|
1984 |
|
Doug Cox |
GF SPRINT WINNER |
|
|
1985 |
|
Steven Clark |
- |
|
|
1986 |
|
(the Grand Final Sprint was not held) |
|
|
|
1987 |
|
Brian Winton |
- |
|
LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1996 |
|
unknown |
Heats |
|
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) |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
(did not participate due to the COVID-19
pandemic) |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Jake Kelly |
Heats |
|
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 |
|
(the Grand Final Sprint was not held) |
|
|
|
1987 |
|
Darren Kappler |
- |
|
LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1996 |
|
Anthony McGregor |
Final (3rd) |
|
FREMANTLE |
||||
|
LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP SPRINT |
PLACING |
|||
|
|
1996 |
|
unknown |
Heats |
|
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 |
|||