2006 AFL finals series

The Australian Football League's 2006 finals series took place between the teams that finished in the top eight 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.

2006 AFL premiership season
Date	8–30 September 2006
Teams	8
Premiers	West Coast 3rd premiership
Runners-up	Sydney (14th grand final)
Minor premiers	West Coast 3rd minor premiership
Attendance
Matches played	9
Total attendance	532,178 (59,131 per match)
Highest	97,431 (Grand Final, Sydney vs. West Coast)

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

2006 AFL 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

Summary of results

	Qualifying and elimination finals					Semi-finals						Preliminary finals					Grand final
	Sep 9, Subiaco Oval
	1	West Coast	12.12 (84)
	4	Sydney	13.7 (85)			Sep 16, Subiaco Oval
						West Coast		16.17 (113)
	Sep 10, MCG					Western Bulldogs		5.9 (39)				Sep 22, Telstra Stadium
	5	Collingwood	11.14 (80)									Sydney		19.13 (127)
	8	Western Bulldogs	18.13 (121)									Fremantle		14.8 (92)			Sep 30, MCG
																	Sydney		12.12 (84)
	Sep 8, MCG											Sep 23, AAMI Stadium					West Coast		12.13 (85)
	6	St Kilda	10.12 (72)									Adelaide		11.9 (75)
	7	Melbourne	13.12 (90)			Sep 15, Subiaco Oval						West Coast		11.19 (85)
						Fremantle		14.18 (102)
	Sep 9, AAMI Stadium					Melbourne		11.8 (74)
	2	Adelaide	10.16 (76)
	3	Fremantle	7.4 (46)

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.

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.

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

Source

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

Main article: 2006 AFL Grand Final

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

References

Week One

• Burgan, Matt (8 September 2006). "Demons chase down Saints". afl.com.au (official AFL website). Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2006.

• Phelan, Jason (9 September 2006). "Crows overrun Dockers". afl.com.au (official AFL website). Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2006.

• Paul, Gough (9 September 2006). "Super Swans by one point". afl.com.au (official AFL website). Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2006.

• Burgan, Matt (10 September 2006). "Dogs make a mess of Pies". afl.com.au (official AFL website). Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2006.

Week Two

• Gough, Paul (15 September 2006). "Freo's finals breakthrough". afl.com.au (official AFL website). Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2006.

• Gough, Paul (16 September 2006). "Eagles back to their best". afl.com.au (official AFL website). Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2006.

Week Three

• Gough, Paul (22 September 2006). "Swans earn right to defend". afl.com.au (official AFL website). Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 23 September 2006.

• Shiell, Alan (23 September 2006). "Eagles surge to victory". afl.com.au (official AFL website). Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 23 September 2006.

External links

• AFL official website
• RealFooty by The Age (Melbourne) Online Archived 25 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
• SportsAustralia (news and views)