1996 AFL Grand Final

The 1996 AFL Grand Final took place on September 28, 1996 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between AFL clubs North Melbourne and Sydney. Sydney were playing in a grand final for the first time since relocating from South Melbourne. The match, attended by 93,102 people, was won by North Melbourne by 43 points, their third premiership.

Match Summary

The AFL's Centenary year was crowned by North Melbourne which made amends for the dissapointment of three successive failed finals campaigns. The Roos won their third flag (and the only Gold Premiership Cup in history) despite a slow start against a side which was playing in its first Grand Final since 1945. The Sydney Swans might have been South Melbourne back then, but they added a new dimension and although overwhelmed at the finish, perdormed admirably. Led by the bullocking Glenn Archer and superstars Corey McKernan and Wayne Carey, the Roos were hellbent in their premiership quest.
Tony Lockett tried hard for the Swans in his first ever Grand Final, booting 6 goals.

Teams

Aussie rules team | title = North Melbourne
backpocket1 = Robert Scott
fullback = Michael Martyn
backpocket2 = Glenn Archer
halfbackflank1 = Wayne Schwass
centrehalfback = Ian Fairley
halfbackflank2 = John Blakey
wing1 = David King
centre = Adam Simpson
wing2 = Dean Laidley
halfforwardflank1 = Glenn Freeborn
centrehalfforward = Wayne Carey (c)
halfforwardflank2 = Brett Allison
forwardpocket1 = Craig Sholl
fullforward = Corey McKernan
forwardpocket2 = Darren Crocker
ruck = Matthew Capuano
ruckrover = Anthony Rock
rover = Anthony Stevens
interchange1 = Stuart Anderson
interchange2 = Mark Roberts
interchange3 = Peter Bell
interchange4 =
interchange5 =
interchange6 =
coach = Denis Pagan

Aussie rules team | title = Sydney
backpocket1 = Brad Seymour
fullback = Andrew Dunkley
backpocket2 = Mark Bayes
halfbackflank1 = Adam Heuskes
centrehalfback = Paul Roos
halfbackflank2 = Michael O'Loughlin
wing1 = Wade Chapman
centre = Daryn Cresswell
wing2 = Shannon Grant
halfforwardflank1 = Troy Luff
centrehalfforward = Jason Mooney
halfforwardflank2 = Dale Lewis
forwardpocket1 = Craig O'Brien
fullforward = Tony Lockett
forwardpocket2 = Stuart Maxfield
ruck = Greg Stafford
ruckrover = Kevin Dyson
rover = Paul Kelly (c)
interchange1 = Derek Kickett
interchange2 = Daniel McPherson
interchange3 = Simon Garlick
interchange4 =
interchange5 =
interchange6 =
coach = Rodney Eade

tatistics

core

Goal kickers

Norm Smith Medal

The Norm Smith Medal was won by Glenn Archer of North Melbourne for his work in defence.

External links

* [http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1996/NMSY19960928.html Match details at Rleague]

ee also

* 1996 AFL season