2008 AFL finals series

The Australian Football League's 2008 Finals Series determined the top eight final positions of the 2008 AFL season. It began on the weekend of 5 September 2008 and ended with the 112th AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 27 September 2008. The Hawthorn Hawks were crowned the 2008 AFL Premiers, beating the Geelong Cats by 26 points in front of a mammoth crowd of 100,012.The eight teams qualified for the finals series by finishing in the top eight positions of the premiership ladder at the completion of the home and away series.

Final ladder

Summary of results

AFL finals system
QF1-details=Sep 7, MCG
QF1-team1=AFL Gee
QF1-score1=119
QF1-team2=AFL StK
QF1-score2=61
EF1-details=Sep 6, AAMI Stadium
EF1-team1=AFL Ade
EF1-score1=94
EF1-team2=AFL Col
EF1-score2=125
QF2-details=Sep 5, MCG
QF2-team1=AFL Haw
QF2-score1=127
QF2-team2=AFL WB
QF2-score2=76
EF2-details=Sep 6, ANZ Stadium
EF2-team1=AFL Syd
EF2-score1=110
EF2-team2=AFL Kan
EF2-score2=75
SF1-details=Sep 13, MCG
SF1-team1=AFL StK
SF1-score1=106
SF1-team2=AFL Col
SF1-score2=72
SF2-details=Sep 12, MCG
SF2-team1=AFL WB
SF2-score1=106
SF2-team2=AFL Syd
SF2-score2=69
PF1-details=Sep 19, MCG
PF1-team1=AFL Gee
PF1-score1=83
PF1-team2=AFL WB
PF1-score2=54
PF2-details=Sep 20, MCG
PF2-team1=AFL Haw
PF2-score1=118
PF2-team2=AFL StK
PF2-score2=64
GF-details=Sep 27, MCG
GF-team1=AFL Gee
GF-score1= 89
GF-team2=AFL Haw
GF-score2= 115

The finals system

The system is a final eight system. This system is different to the McIntyre Final Eight System, which was previously used by the AFL, and is currently used by the National Rugby League.

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-city advantage goes to the team with the higher seed in the first two weeks, and the qualifying final winners in the third week, with games in Victoria played at the MCG, regardless of the team's usual home ground.

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. [ [http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=1030 AFL Finals System Explained (AFL.com.au)] ]

Week One

First Qualifying Final (Geelong vs St Kilda)

AFLScorecard2008
team1 = Geelong
team1 abbr = Geelong
team1 q1 = 3.7 (25)
team1 q2 = 7.10 (52)
team1 q3 = 16.15 (111)
team1 total = 17.17 (119)
team2 = St Kilda
team2 abbr = St Kilda
team2 q1 = 1.1 (7)
team2 q2 = 3.2 (20)
team2 q3 = 5.5 (35)
team2 total = 8.13 (61)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 7 September 2008 – 2:40PM AEST
attendance = 71,653
umpires = Hayden Kennedy, Simon Meredith, Shane McInerney
team1 goals = 3: Mooney, Ottens
2: Bartel, Lonergan
1: G.Ablett, Chapman, S.Johnson, Ling, Rooke, Stokes, Varcoe
team2 goals = 2: Milne
1: X. Clarke, R. Clarke, Goddard, Montagna, Riewoldt, Schneider
team1 best = Bartel, Ottens, G. Ablett, Mooney, Corey, Milburn, Taylor, Ling
team2 best = Goddard, S. Fisher, Jones, Hayes
reports = St Kilda: Hayes for striking Selwood (Geelong) in the third quarter
Geelong: Nil
injuries = Geelong: Prismall (knee), Chapman (hamstring), S. Johnson (corked hamstring), Milburn (thumb)
St Kilda: Blake (wrist)
tv = Seven Network

St Kilda only earned 4th spot on the AFL Ladder after thrashing Essendon by 108 points in the final regular season match. They entered this match with the double chance and were beaten by 58 points. Onballer Lenny Hayes was booked for striking Geelong's Joel Selwood in the third quarter, a report that was later dropped. Geelong earned a bye and home preliminary final with its win, whilst St Kilda was forced to face Collingwood, a team that they had twice lost to in the regular season, in a semi-final.

= Second Qualifying Final (Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs) =

AFLScorecard2008
team1 = Hawthorn
team1 abbr = Hawthorn
team1 q1 = 4.5 (29)
team1 q2 = 10.12 (72)
team1 q3 = 15.17 (107)
team1 total = 18.19 (127)
team2 = Western Bulldogs
team2 abbr = Western Bulldogs
team2 q1 = 2.1 (13)
team2 q2 = 4.4 (28)
team2 q3 = 7.7 (49)
team2 total = 11.10 (76)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 5 September 2008 – 7:50PM AEST
attendance = 76,703
umpires = Chris Donlon, Brett Rosebury, Shaun Ryan
team1 goals = 8: Franklin
4: Osborne
3: Roughead
1: Brown, Crawford, Lewis
team2 goals = 3: Akermanis
2: Giansiracusa, Cooney, Hill
1: Higgins, Johnson
team1 best = Franklin, Hodge, Mitchell, Osborne, Sewell, Lewis, Roughead
team2 best = Griffen, Cross, Akermanis, Boyd, Hill, Callan
reports = Nil
injuries = Hawthorn: Croad (ankle), Birchall (corked thigh), Ladson (AC joint), Stokes (corked thigh), Gilham (virus) replaced in the selected side by Stokes
Western Bulldogs: Gilbee (calf), Murphy (corked knee)
tv = Seven Network

For much of the second half of the season, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs looked certain to finish second and third (in some order), setting up this particular qualifying final; Hawthorn would ultimately be the home team after the Bulldogs' late-season form dropped. Hawthorn won the match comfortably, with Lance Franklin kicking eight goals (the most ever in a final by a Hawthorn player) to earn a week's break, whilst the Western Bulldogs were forced to host the Sydney Swans, whom they had beaten twice during the year, in a semi-final.

First Elimination Final (Adelaide vs Collingwood)

AFLScorecard2008
team1 = Adelaide
team1 abbr = Adelaide
team1 q1 = 2.2 (14)
team1 q2 = 9.6 (60)
team1 q3 = 11.7 (73)
team1 total = 14.10 (94)
team2 = Collingwood
team2 abbr = Collingwood
team2 q1 = 4.3 (27)
team2 q2 = 7.6 (48)
team2 q3 = 14.9 (93)
team2 total = 19.11 (125)
venue = AAMI Stadium, Adelaide
date = 6 September 2008 – 2:30PM AEST
attendance = 37,685
umpires = Mathew James, Scott McLaren, Matt Stevic
team1 goals = 6: Stevens
2: McLeod
1: Mackay, Edwards, Maric, Johncock, Bassett, Gill
team2 goals = 3: Dawes, Anthony
2: Swan, Maxwell
1: Cox, Davis, Fraser, Cloke, R. Shaw, Lockyer, Thomas, Clarke, Medhurst
team1 best = Stevens, Bassett, McLeod, Bock, Edwards, Moran
team2 best = Swan, O'Bree, Maxwell, Pendlebury, Anthony, Medhurst
reports = Nil
injuries = Nil
tv = Network Ten

Two teams who were early-season top-four candidates were playing for survival in this elimination final played at AAMI Stadium. Collingwood led early in the match but Adelaide got its game going, with a season's best second quarter, to lead at half-time before being run down in the second half. For the second year in succession, Adelaide were eliminated the first week of the finals, whilst Collingwood went on to face St Kilda in a semi-final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Second Elimination Final (Sydney vs North Melbourne)

AFLScorecard2008
team1 = Sydney
team1 abbr = Sydney
team1 q1 = 1.5 (11)
team1 q2 = 4.6 (30)
team1 q3 = 12.7 (79)
team1 total = 18.8 (110)
team2 = North Melbourne
team2 abbr = North Melbourne
team2 q1 = 4.1 (25)
team2 q2 = 6.4 (46)
team2 q3 = 10.5 (65)
team2 total = 11.9 (75)
venue = ANZ Stadium, Sydney
date = 6 September 2008 – 7:30PM AEST
attendance = 19,127
umpires = Ray Chamberlain, Stephen McBurney, Michael Vozzo
team1 goals = 3: Goodes, Hall, Jack
2: Moore, O'Keefe
1: Malceski, McVeigh, Richards, Veszpremi
team2 goals = 2: Harvey, Grant, Hale, Lower
1: Petrie, Sinclair, Thompson
team1 best = Kirk, Richards, Goodes, McVeigh, O'Keefe, Hall, Jack
team2 best = Harvey, Petrie, Pratt, Harris, Lower, Hale
reports = Nil
injuries = Sydney: Bird replaced in selected side by Veszpremi
North Melbourne: Hansen replaced in selected side by Urquhart
tv = Network Ten

These two teams were clashing in a final for the first time since the 1996 AFL Grand Final, which was won by North Melbourne by 43 points. Sydney entered this match having won only three matches since Round 13, but, after a slow start and an ordinary first half, they got on with the job and ended the Kangaroos' season. It was also the last game for retiring Kangaroo and ex-Swan Shannon Grant. The Swans won the right to face the Western Bulldogs the next week at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where they had not won a final since the 2005 AFL Grand Final.Only 19,127 turned up to watch this exciting match in the pouring rain at ANZ Stadium, on the Saturday night in the Elimination Final, which was a huge dissapointment to the AFL and the AFL Sydney base community. It was the smallest attendance in a final for many years and journalists are critising the AFL because it was played in west Sydney, which is to be the home base of the proposed 18th AFL club. The small crowd here may indicate the AFL will not get a large numbers to many games played at this location by the new team.

Week Two

First Semi Final (St Kilda vs Collingwood)

AFLScorecard2008
team1 = St Kilda
team1 abbr = AFL StK
team1 q1 = 4.1 (25)
team1 q2 = 8.1 (49)
team1 q3 = 14.2 (86)
team1 total = 17.4 (106)
team2 = Collingwood
team2 abbr = AFL Col
team2 q1 = 3.4 (22)
team2 q2 = 4.11 (35)
team2 q3 = 5.16 (46)
team2 total = 9.18 (72)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 13 September 2008 – 7:30PM AEST
attendance = 76,707
umpires = Hayden Kennedy, Brett Rosebury, Scott McLaren
team1 goals = Riewoldt 5, Milne 3, Koschitzke 3, Gram 2, Dal Santo, McQualter, Schneider, Gwilt
team2 goals = Clarke, Brown, Medhurst, McCarthy, Cloke, Goldsack, Anthony, Swan, Lockyer
team1 best = Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Gram, R Clarke, Fisher, Blake, Koschitzke
team2 best = Pendlebury, Swan, R Shaw, O'Brien, O'Bree
reports = St Kilda: Koschitzke reported for rough conduct on Wakelin. Collingwood: nil.
injuries = St Kilda: Ball (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Allen, Allen (hip). Collingwood: Burns (calf) replaced in selected side by R Shaw, Prestigiacomo replaced in selected side by Wakelin.
tv = Network Ten

Collingwood came into the game as favourites to defeat St Kilda, who had been on the end of a heavy defeat at the hands of Geelong the week prior, and whom they had beaten twice during the year. St Kilda led by just three points at quarter time but kicked ten goals to Collingwood's two in the middle two quarters to take a 40-point lead going into the final quarter. Justin Koschitzke was reported for a dump tackle involving Shane Wakelin, but the charge was later dismissed. St Kilda progressed to play Hawthorn in the preliminary final, hoping to atone for two previous preliminary final losses (2004 and 2005) to make the Grand Final.

= Second Semi Final (Western Bulldogs vs Sydney) =

AFLScorecard2008
team1 = Western Bulldogs
team1 abbr = AFL WB
team1 q1 = 2.3 (15)
team1 q2 = 6.5 (41)
team1 q3 = 11.9 (75)
team1 total = 16.10 (106)
team2 = Sydney
team2 abbr = AFL Syd
team2 q1 = 2.4 (16)
team2 q2 = 5.7 (37)
team2 q3 = 5.13 (43)
team2 total = 9.15 (69)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 12 September 2008 – 7:50PM AEST
attendance = 42,731
umpires = Michael Vozzo, Stephen McBurney, Shaun Ryan
team1 goals = Murphy 3, Welsh 2, Hill 2, Eagleton 2, Johnson, Akermanis, Minson, Griffen, Lake, Hahn, Higgins
team2 goals = Hall 4, Bevan, Crouch, Goodes, Roberts-Thomson, Jolly
team1 best = Boyd, Morris, Griffen, Murphy, Gilbee, Minson
team2 best = Hall, C Bolton, Kirk, Kennelly, McVeigh
reports = Western Bulldogs: Nil.
Sydney Swans: Leo Barry for striking Shaun Higgins in the final quarter.
injuries = nil
tv = Seven Network

Sydney held a one-point lead at quarter time, but failed to score a major in the third quarter, and fell apart to lose by 37 points, thus ending their season at the semi-finals stage. Fullback Leo Barry was booked for striking Shaun Higgins but the report was thrown out. The Western Bulldogs were drawn to play defending premier Geelong in the preliminary final to battle for a Grand Final berth.

Week Three

= First Preliminary Final (Geelong vs Western Bulldogs) =

AFLScorecard2008
team1 = Geelong
team1 abbr = AFL Gee
team1 q1 = 5.3 (33)
team1 q2 = 8.8 (56)
team1 q3 = 10.9 (69)
team1 total = 12.11 (83)
team2 = Western Bulldogs
team2 abbr = AFL WB
team2 q1 = 4.3 (27)
team2 q2 = 5.5 (35)
team2 q3 = 7.9 (51)
team2 total = 7.12 (54)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 19 September 2008 - 7:40PM AEST
attendance = 70,140
umpires = Michael Vozzo, Stephen McBurney, Shaun Ryan
team1 goals = Rooke 2, S. Johnson 2, Stokes, Bartel, Wojcinksi, Lonergan, Harley, Ottens, Varcoe, Mooney
team2 goals = Higgins 2, Harbrow 2, Johnson, Akermanis, Eagleton
team1 best = Mackie, Ling, Harley, Corey, Selwood, Bartel
team2 best = Harbrow, Gilbee, Hargrave, Lake, Murphy, Callan
reports = Geelong: NilWestern Bulldogs: Josh Hill for making head-high contact with Andrew Mackie in the third quarter.
injuries = Geelong: NilWestern Bulldogs: Giansiracusa (ankle)
tv = Seven Network

Geelong progressed to their second straight Grand Final but had to, for the second year in succession, withstand a late challenge from their preliminary final opponent. The Western Bulldogs had much of the play, but missed shots on goal in the second half when they were available. This was the Western Bulldogs's furthest finish in a season since 1998, when they made back-to-back preliminary finals.

Second Preliminary Final (Hawthorn vs St Kilda)

AFLScorecard2008
team1 = Hawthorn
team1 abbr = AFL Haw
team1 q1 = 4.4 (28)
team1 q2 = 11.5 (71)
team1 q3 = 15.8 (98)
team1 total = 18.10 (118)
team2 = St Kilda
team2 abbr = AFL StK
team2 q1 = 2.3 (15)
team2 q2 = 3.6 (24)
team2 q3 = 7.7 (49)
team2 total = 9.10 (64)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 20 September 2008 - 7:00PM AEST
attendance = 77,002
umpires = Hayden Kennedy, Brett Rosebury, Scott McLaren
team1 goals = Williams 5, Roughead 4, Rioli 2, Young 2, Bateman, Brown, Crawford, Franklin, Osborne
team2 goals = Riewoldt 3, Fisher 2, Fiora, Milne, Montagna, Schneider
team1 best = Lewis, Mitchell, Williams, Sewell, Young, Hodge, Guerra, Birchall
team2 best = Hudghton, Goddard, Fisher, Clarke, Hayes
reports = Nil
injuries = Hawthorn: Hodge (ribs)St. Kilda: Nil
tv = Network Ten

Hawthorn defied a poor recent record against the Saints to post one of their best wins of the season, with strong performances by much of the team making up for Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin being kept to a single goal by Saints backman Max Hudghton. The loss was the 383rd and last game for St Kilda's Robert Harvey who left the game as the most capped player without an AFL premiership.

Week Four

Grand Final (Geelong vs Hawthorn )

AFLScorecardGF2006
team1 = AFL Gee
team1 abbr = AFL Gee
team1 q1 = 5.3 (33)
team1 q2 = 6.12 (48)
team1 q3 = 9.18 (72)
team1 total = 11.23 (89)
team2 = AFL Haw
team2 abbr = AFL Haw
team2 q1 = 5.2 (32)
team2 q2 = 8.3 (51)
team2 q3 = 14.5 (89)
team2 total = 18.7 (115)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 27 September 2008 – 2:30PM AEST
attendance = 100,012
umpires = Scott McLaren, Michael Vozzo, Shaun Ryan
team1 goals = 2: Mooney, Ablett, Rooke, Lonergan
1: Chapman, Milburn, Johnson
team2 goals = 3: Williams
2: Rioli, Dew, Franklin, Roughead
1: Bateman, Ellis, Brown, Young, Hodge, Mitchell, Ladson
team1 best = Ablett, Scarlett, Selwood, Chapman, Corey
team2 best = Hodge, Sewell, Crawford, Dew, Ellis, Osborne, Williams
reports = Nil
injuries = Geelong: Harley (concussion)
Hawthorn: Croad (foot), Young (ankle)
coin toss = AFL Gee
nsm = Luke Hodge
tv = Seven Network
national anthem = Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack
time =

See also

*2008 AFL Season

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.afl.com.au AFL official website]
* [http://realfooty.theage.com.au RealFooty by The Age (Melbourne) Online]
* [http://www.sportsaustralia.com SportsAustralia (news and views)]