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
Teams8
PremiersSydney
(4th premiership)
Minor premiersAdelaide
(1st minor premiership)
Matches played9
Attendance480,064 (53,340 per match)

Ladder
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
  Qualifying / Elimination finals Semi-finals Preliminary finals Grand final
                                   
  QF1: 3 Sep, AAMI Stadium  
1  Adelaide 8.9 (57)  
4  St Kilda 10.5 (65)     SF1: 10 Sep, AAMI Stadium  
     Adelaide 18.15 (123)    
EF1: 4 Sep, Telstra Dome      Port Adelaide 5.10 (40)       PF1: 16 Sep, MCG
5  Kangaroos 11.11 (77)        St Kilda 9.11 (65)  
8  Port Adelaide 26.8 (164)          Sydney 15.6 (96)     GF: 24 Sep, MCG
         Sydney 8.10 (58)
  EF2: 3 Sep, MCG       PF2: 17 Sep, Subiaco Oval      West Coast 7.12 (54)
6  Geelong 18.8 (116)          West Coast 14.9 (93)  
7  Melbourne 9.7 (61)     SF2: 9 Sep, SCG        Adelaide 11.11 (77)  
     Sydney 7.14 (56)    
QF2: 2 Sep, Subiaco Oval      Geelong 7.11 (53)    
2  West Coast 10.9 (69)  
3  Sydney 10.5 (65)  

The finals system
Main article: AFL final eight 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, 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.

AFL Finals System Explained (AFL.com.au)

Week One

First Qualifying Final (1 vs 4)

Scorecard
Team1234Total
(1) Adelaide3.33.55.78.98.9 (57)
(4) St Kilda1.06.39.310.510.5 (65)
St Kilda won by 8G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal
Team StatsAdeStK
Kicks186214
Marks73102
Handballs113129
Tackles6161
Hitouts4722
Frees1417
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)

Scorecard
Team1234Total
(2) West Coast4.15.45.710.910.9 (69)
(3) Sydney3.15.28.310.510.5 (65)
West Coast won by 4G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal
Team StatsWCESyd
Kicks181180
Marks6263
Handballs110101
Tackles4652
Hitouts4542
Free Kicks2114
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)

Scorecard
Team1234Total
(5) Kangaroos6.67.710.911.1111.11 (77)
(8) Port Adelaide6.112.320.626.826.8 (164)
Port Adelaide won by 87G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal
Team StatsKanPA
Kicks166223
Marks69126
Handballs87128
Tackles4631
Hitouts2840
Frees1615
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)

Scorecard
Team1234Total
(6) Geelong5.412.516.818.818.8 (116)
(7) Melbourne2.36.46.69.79.7 (61)
Geelong won by 55G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal
Team StatsGeelMelb
Kicks242162
Marks13679
Handballs111106
Tackles4154
Hitouts3127
Frees1921
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

First Semi Final

Scorecard
Team1234Total
(1) Adelaide3.44.712.918.1518.15 (123)
(8) Port Adelaide2.13.64.65.105.10 (40)
Adelaide won by 83G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal
Team StatsAdePA
Kicks188161
Marks10580
Handballs118117
Tackles4843
Hitouts3230
Frees1720
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

Scorecard
Team1234Total
(3) Sydney2.22.63.127.147.14 (56)
(6) Geelong2.65.86.117.117.11 (53)
Sydney won by 3G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal
Team StatsSydGeel
Kicks155177
Marks5079
Handballs11193
Tackles6683
Hitouts6622
Frees1617
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

First Preliminary Final

Scorecard
Team1234Total
(4) St Kilda3.15.59.79.119.11 (65)
(3) Sydney5.16.38.615.615.6 (96)
Sydney won by 31G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal
Team StatsStKSyd
Kicks157196
Marks6591
Handballs9876
Tackles6473
Hitouts4237
Frees1911
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. With the Saints on the verge of putting the game out of reach 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.

Second Preliminary Final

Scorecard
Team1234Total
(2) West Coast2.26.511.814.914.9 (93)
(1) Adelaide2.25.46.611.1111.11 (77)
West Coast won by 16G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal
Team StatsWCEAde
Kicks204184
Marks9182
Handballs142127
Tackles5250
Hitouts3631
Frees158
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
Main article: 2005 AFL Grand Final
Team1234Total
(3) Sydney3.06.36.58.108.10 (58)
(2) West Coast2.42.75.97.127.12 (54)
Sydney won by 4G.BG.BG.BG.BFinal
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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