2006 AFL finals series
| 2006 AFL premiership season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers | West Coast 3rd premiership |
| Minor premiers | West Coast 3rd minor premiership |
| Attendance | |
| Matches played | 9 |
| Total attendance | 532,178 (59,131 per match) |
The Australian Football League's 2006 finals series took place between the top eight ladder positions in the 2006 AFL season. It began on the weekend of 8 September 2006 and ended with the 110th AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 September 2006. The winner, West Coast Eagles, was crowned champion of the AFL after defeating Sydney by one point.
Eight teams qualified for the finals by finishing in the top eight of the premiership ladder.
With the top eight race effectively ending several rounds before the end of the season, the push for the final two positions in the top four heated up as all six teams below West Coast and Adelaide were vying for the crucial "double chance" with only a few rounds left. With wins in the final round, Fremantle and Sydney secured the "double chance" making it the first time in the game's history where the top four positions did not consist of a single Victorian team.
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Coast (P) | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2257 | 1874 | 120.4 | 68 | Finals series |
| 2 | Adelaide | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2331 | 1640 | 142.1 | 64 | |
| 3 | Fremantle | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2079 | 1893 | 109.8 | 60 | |
| 4 | Sydney | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2098 | 1630 | 128.7 | 56 | |
| 5 | Collingwood | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2345 | 1965 | 119.3 | 56 | |
| 6 | St Kilda | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2074 | 1752 | 118.4 | 56 | |
| 7 | Melbourne | 22 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 2146 | 1957 | 109.7 | 54 | |
| 8 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2311 | 2173 | 106.4 | 52 | |
| 9 | Richmond | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1934 | 2245 | 86.1 | 44 | |
| 10 | Geelong | 22 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 1982 | 2002 | 99.0 | 42 | |
| 11 | Hawthorn | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 1834 | 2140 | 85.7 | 36 | |
| 12 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1911 | 2151 | 88.8 | 32 | |
| 13 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1844 | 2239 | 82.4 | 28 | |
| 14 | Kangaroos | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1754 | 2167 | 80.9 | 28 | |
| 15 | Essendon | 22 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 2021 | 2469 | 81.9 | 14 | |
| 16 | Carlton | 22 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 1791 | 2415 | 74.2 | 14 |
Source: AFL ladder
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Summary of results
The finals system
The system is a final eight system. This system is different from the McIntyre Final Eight System, which was previously used by the AFL.
The top four teams in the eight receive what is popularly known as the "double chance", meaning that they cannot be eliminated from the finals in the first week match, the qualifying final. In contrast the bottom four of the eight play elimination finals in the first week, where only the winners move on to week two.
In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye (rest), while qualifying finals losers play the winners of the elimination finals. Home ground advantage goes to the team with the higher final 8 position.
In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals 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.[1]
Week One
The first week of the finals series would have significantly been different had Fremantle not been successful in its appeal regarding the result of their controversially drawn match against St Kilda in round five of the premiership season. Had the draw stood, St Kilda would have finished third, Fremantle fourth, defending premiers Sydney fifth and Collingwood sixth. Thus, instead of the below fixture, the week one finals fixture would have been:
- Qualifying finals
- West Coast vs Fremantle at Subiaco Oval
- Adelaide vs St Kilda at AAMI Stadium
- Elimination finals
- Sydney vs Western Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium
- Collingwood vs Melbourne at MCG
First Qualifying Final (West Coast vs. Sydney)
| West Coast vs Sydney | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| West Coast | 2.3 (15) | 4.6 (30) | 9.9 (63) | 12.12 (84) |
| Sydney | 3.2 (20) | 7.3 (45) | 10.6 (66) | 13.7 (85) |
| Venue: | Subiaco Oval, Perth | |||
| Date and time: | 9 September 2006 – 5:30PM AWST | |||
| Attendance: | 43,116 | |||
| Umpires: | Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan | |||
| Goal scorers: | West Coast | 2: Lynch, Hunter, Waters, Judd 1: Staker, Stenglein, Cousins, Armstrong | ||
| Sydney | 5: Hall 4: O'Loughlin 2: Schneider 1: Kirk, Goodes | |||
| Best: | West Coast | Judd, R. Jones, Selwood, Wirrpanda, Hunter, B. Jones, Cox | ||
| Sydney | Hall, Kirk, McVeigh, O'Loughlin, O'Keefe, Richards, Goodes | |||
| Reports: | West Coast: Chick (rough conduct, charge withdrawn by match review) | |||
| Injuries: | West Coast: Chick (shin) | |||
Second Qualifying Final (Adelaide vs. Fremantle)
| Adelaide vs Fremantle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| Adelaide | 1.3 (9) | 3.8 (26) | 5.12 (42) | 10.16 (76) |
| Fremantle | 4.2 (26) | 5.2 (32) | 7.4 (46) | 7.4 (46) |
| Venue: | AAMI Stadium, Adelaide | |||
| Date and time: | 9 September 2006 – 2:30PM ACST | |||
| Attendance: | 42,208 | |||
| Umpires: | Chamberlain, Ellis, McInery | |||
| Goal scorers: | Adelaide | 2: Bock, Torney, Biglands 1: Clarke, Reilly, Welsh, Perrie | ||
| Fremantle | 2: Pavlich, Farmer 1: Crowley, Black, Cook | |||
| Best: | Adelaide | Doughty, Reilly, Torney, Thompson, Edwards, Bassett, Stevens, Bock, Johncock, Bode | ||
| Fremantle | Black, Bell, Johnson, J. Carr, McPharlin | |||
| Reports: | — | |||
| Injuries: | Fremantle: Grover (back) | |||
First Elimination Final (Collingwood vs. Western Bulldogs)
| Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| Collingwood | 5.6 (36) | 6.9 (45) | 6.13 (49) | 11.14 (80) |
| Western Bulldogs | 4.2 (26) | 8.7 (55) | 14.10 (94) | 18.13 (121) |
| Venue: | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | |||
| Date and time: | 10 September 2006 – 2:30PM AEST | |||
| Attendance: | 84,284 | |||
| Umpires: | Kennedy, Allen, Jeffery | |||
| Goal scorers: | Collingwood | 3: Tarrant 2: Holland 1: Fraser, Egan, Rusling, Lockyer, Rocca, Licuria | ||
| W. Bulldogs | 4: Montgomery 3: Cooney, Robbins 2: Gilbee, Ray 1: Johnson, Giansiracusa, Minson, Smith | |||
| Best: | Collingwood | R. Shaw, Johnson, Clement, Fraser, H. Shaw, Buckley | ||
| W. Bulldogs | West, Cross, Ray, Cooney, Morris, Montgomery, Johnson, Giansiracusa, Grant | |||
| Reports: | Collingwood: Holland (charging, received six-week suspension) | |||
| Injuries: | W. Bulldogs: Gilbee (ankle) | |||
Second Elimination Final (St Kilda vs. Melbourne)
| St Kilda vs Melbourne | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| St Kilda | 5.4 (34) | 6.6 (42) | 9.8 (62) | 10.12 (72) |
| Melbourne | 2.2 (14) | 3.4 (22) | 8.5 (53) | 13.12 (90) |
| Venue: | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | |||
| Date and time: | 8 September 2006 – 7:30PM AEST | |||
| Attendance: | 67,528 | |||
| Umpires: | Rosebury, Schmitt, Goldspink | |||
| Goal scorers: | St Kilda | 3: Gehrig 2: Milne, Riewoldt 1: Koschitzke, Peckett, Baker | ||
| Melbourne | 4: Neitz 2: McLean 1: Miller, McDonald, Bruce, Robertson, Pickett, Bate, Yze | |||
| Best: | St Kilda | Riewoldt, Harvey, Baker, S. Fisher, Milne, Ball, Gehrig | ||
| Melbourne | McLean, Neitz, Bruce, Green, McDonald, White, Carroll | |||
| Reports: | St Kilda: A. Thompson (rough conduct, received reprimand) | |||
| Injuries: | St Kilda: R. Clarke (hamstring), Gehrig (ankle), X. Clarke (back), Harvey (hamstring) Melbourne: Whelan (shoulder) | |||
Week Two
First Semi Final (West Coast vs. Western Bulldogs)
| West Coast Eagles vs Western Bulldogs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| West Coast Eagles | 4.3 (27) | 8.7 (55) | 9.12 (66) | 16.17 (113) |
| Western Bulldogs | 3.4 (22) | 4.6 (30) | 4.9 (33) | 5.9 (39) |
| Venue: | Subiaco Oval, Perth | |||
| Date and time: | 16 September 2006 – 5:30PM AWST | |||
| Attendance: | 43,219 | |||
| Umpires: | Kennedy, Allen, Schmitt | |||
| Goal scorers: | West Coast | 6: Lynch 4: Hunter 1: Waters, Hansen, Judd, Embley, Cousins, Cox | ||
| W. Bulldogs | 3: Johnson 1: Grant, Robbins | |||
| Best: | West Coast | Hunter, Judd, Lynch, Hansen, Kerr, Chick, Cousins, Selwood, Butler | ||
| W. Bulldogs | West, Johnson, Morris, Smith | |||
| Reports: | W. Bulldogs: Harris (striking, received two-week suspension) | |||
| Injuries: | West Coast: Wirrpanda (hamstring) | |||
Second Semi Final (Fremantle vs. Melbourne)
| Fremantle vs Melbourne | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| Fremantle | 3.3 (21) | 7.9 (51) | 11.15 (81) | 14.18 (102) |
| Melbourne | 3.0 (18) | 7.3 (45) | 10.4 (64) | 11.8 (74) |
| Venue: | Subiaco Oval, Perth | |||
| Date and time: | 15 September 2006 – 6:30PM AWST | |||
| Attendance: | 42,505 | |||
| Umpires: | Vozzo, McInerney, Goldspink | |||
| Goal scorers: | Fremantle | 2: Murphy, Farmer, M. Carr, Pavlich 1: Cook, Webster, Schammer, Mundy, Longmuir, Headland | ||
| Melbourne | 3: Neitz, Robertson 2: Davey 1: McLean, Yze, Miller | |||
| Best: | Fremantle | Black, J. Carr, Schammer, Bell, Parker, M. Carr, Sandilands | ||
| Melbourne | Miller, Carroll, Brown, Green, McLean, Ward, Johnstone | |||
| Reports: | — | |||
| Injuries: | Fremantle: McPharlin (ankle) | |||
Week Three
First Preliminary Final (Sydney vs. Fremantle)
| Sydney Swans vs Fremantle Dockers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| Sydney Swans | 3.6 (24) | 8.7 (55) | 14.8 (92) | 19.13 (127) |
| Fremantle Dockers | 3.2 (20) | 6.2 (38) | 11.6 (72) | 14.8 (92) |
| Venue: | Telstra Stadium, Sydney | |||
| Date and time: | 22 September 2006 – 8:00PM AEST | |||
| Attendance: | 61,373 | |||
| Umpires: | Vozzo, McBurney, Allen | |||
| Goal scorers: | Sydney | 6: Hall 4: O'Keefe, O'Loughlin 2: Bolton 1: Davis, Dempster, Goodes | ||
| Fremantle | 4: Pavlich 4 3: Bell 2: Cook, Crowley 1: Farmer, Murphy, Peake | |||
| Best: | Sydney | Hall, Kirk, O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, C. Bolton, J. Bolton, Goodes | ||
| Fremantle | Pavlich, Bell, J. Carr, Crowley, Hayden, Sandilands | |||
| Reports: | Fremantle: Jeff Farmer (Fre) for striking Craig Bolton (Syd), reprimand with 95.85 carryover points; Justin Longmuir (Fre) for striking Barry Hall (Syd), reprimand with 42.18 carryover points. | |||
| Injuries: | Fremantle: Farmer (leg), M.Carr (knee) | |||
Second Preliminary Final (Adelaide vs. West Coast)
| Adelaide vs West Coast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| Adelaide | 3.3 (21) | 6.5 (41) | 8.8 (56) | 11.9 (75) |
| West Coast | 0.4 (4) | 2.7 (19) | 6.12 (48) | 11.19 (85) |
| Venue: | AAMI Stadium, Adelaide | |||
| Date and time: | 23 September 2006 – 3:00PM ACST | |||
| Attendance: | 50,514 | |||
| Umpires: | Ellis, Ryan, Goldspink | |||
| Goal scorers: | Adelaide | 3: Bock 2: Bode, Burton 1: Edwards, Welsh, Clarke, McLeod | ||
| West Coast | 4: Hunter 2: Embley 1: Lynch, Kerr, Cousins, Butler, Hansen | |||
| Best: | Adelaide | Johncock, Goodwin, McLeod, Edwards, Reilly, Burton, Thompson | ||
| West Coast | Cox, Judd, Cousins, Embley, Hunter, Butler, Kerr | |||
| Reports: | — | |||
| Injuries: | Adelaide: Biglands (knee) | |||
Week Four
Grand Final (Sydney vs. West Coast)
| Sydney vs West Coast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| Sydney | 1.4 (10) | 4.6 (30) | 8.11 (59) | 12.12 (84) |
| West Coast | 4.2 (26) | 8.7 (55) | 10.10 (70) | 12.13 (85) |
| Venue: | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | |||
| Date: | 30 September 2006 – 2:30PM AEST | |||
| Attendance: | 97,431 | |||
| Umpires: | Vozzo, Allen, Goldspink | |||
| Goal scorers: | Sydney | 3: O'Loughlin, Davis 1: Mathews, Roberts-Thomson, Goodes, Schneider, O'Keefe, Malceski | ||
| West Coast | 3: Lynch 2: Embley, Hansen, Cousins 1: Judd, Armstrong, Hunter | |||
| Best: | Sydney | Fosdike, Richards, Kennelly, O'Loughlin, McVeigh, Kirk, Goodes | ||
| West Coast | Embley, Chick, Judd, Glass, Lynch, Selwood, Braun, Cox, Cousins, Kerr | |||
| Reports: | — | |||
| Injuries: | Sydney: Ablett (shoulder) | |||
| Coin toss winner: | West Coast Eagles | |||
| Norm Smith Medal: | Andrew Embley | |||
| Australian television broadcaster: | Network Ten | |||
| National Anthem: | Brian Mannix, John Paul Young, Daryl Braithwaite and Shane Howard | |||
Notes
References
Week One
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Week Two
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Week Three
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