AFL grand final guide: Déjà vu strikes star Swans recruit Taylor Adams as nightmare fate confirmed
Updated . First published at
Veteran Swan Taylor Adams will heartbreakingly miss out on a shot at a premiership for the second time in as many years, as Sydney opted to leave out the veteran for their grand final clash against Brisbane on Saturday.
Adams missed both of the Swans finals in the lead up to the last Saturday in September, with the club electing to name Robbie Fox for last weekend's 36-point preliminary final win over the Power, to replace injured skipper Callum Mills.
But devastatingly, Adams has been here before.
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Last season, he missed out on Collingwood's premiership, after suffering a hamstring strain on the eve of the Pies' one-point preliminary final win over GWS.
Taylor Adams will miss the 2024 grand final for the Swans, much like he missed the 2023 grand final for Collingwood. Getty
He went on to miss out on their four-point grand final win over the Lions, just weeks later requesting a trade to the Swans in hopes of gaining a regular spot in their best 22.
This season, the storyline looks to be eerily similar.
He suffered a medial ligament strain in his knee during the pre season, which kept him out of the side, before a spot left by veteran Luke Parker due to a six-week VFL suspension gave him a chance to prove his worth to coach John Longmire.
AFL grand final teams
SYDNEY
In: Nil
Out: Nil
Preliminary Final sub: Robbie Fox
B: D.Rampe - C, T.McCartin, N.Blakey
HB: J.Lloyds, H.Cunningham, L.Melican
C: J.Jordan, Ch.Warner, O.Florent
HF: L.Parker, L.McDonald, E.Gulden
F: T.Papley, J.Amartey, W.Hayward
FOLL: B.Grundy, I.Heeney, J.Rowbottom
I/C: M.Roberts, B.Campbell, J.McInerney, H.McLean, R.Fox
Emergencies: A.Francis, P.Ladhams, C.Cleary
BRISBANE
In: Darcy Fort
Out: Oscar McInerney (shoulder)
Preliminary Final sub: Conor McKenna
B: D.Zorko, H.Andrews, C.McKenna
HB: D.Wilmot, J.Payne, R.Lester
C: J.Fletcher, W.Ashcroft, H.McCluggage
HF: C.Rayner, J.Daniher, J.Berry
F: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, Z.Bailey
FOLL: D. Fort, J.Dunkley, L.Neale - C
I/C: K.Lohmann, C.Ah Chee, L.Morris, B.Starcevich, N.Answerth
Emergencies: H.Sharp, H.Smith, D.Joyce
The subs for each side will be confirmed one hour before the grand final on Saturday afternoon.
What time will the grand final start?
The opening bounce of the grand final is set for 2.30pm (AEST) on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
2pm ACST (SA, NT)
12.30pm AWST (WA)
International
UK: 5.30am
Europe: 6.30am
USA: 9.30pm Friday (west coast), 12.30am Saturday (east coast)
New Zealand: 5.30pm
Japan: 1.30pm
Bali: 12.30pm
The AFL grand final will remain at the MCG until at least 2057. AFL Photos via Getty Images
What is the venue for the grand final?
The grand final will be played at the MCG, after returning to Melbourne in 2022.
Before that, during COVID-19, the 2020 grand final was held at the Gabba in Brisbane, while the 2021 grand final was held at Optus Stadium in Perth.
The MCG hold the rights to the grand final until 2057.
Grand final umpires
Matt Stevic is back on the big stage again, with the 2024 grand final his 12th with the whistle as field umpire.
Alongside him will be Simon Meredith in his ninth grand final, Craig Fleer who debuted last year and debutant Nick Foot. The emergency is Andrew Stephens.
Matthew Konetschka will boundary umpire his sixth grand final, with fellow boundary umpires Matt Tomkins (sixth grand final), Michael Barlow (second grand final) and debutant Daniel Field-Read. Their emergency is Damien Main.
The goal umpires are Matthew Dervan in his third grand final, alongside Sam Walsh in his second. Steven Piperno is their emergency.
AFL field umpire, Nick Foot is seen injured during the elimination final between the Dogs and Hawks. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Head-to-head
This season
The last time the Lions and Swans met was in round 19 of the home-and-away season at the Gabba. And wasn't that match just a cracker?
The Lions snatched a two-point victory over the ladder-leading Swans, in one of the games of the year.
Brisbane came from 15 points down at the final break, to kick four goals to two in the last quarter. It was Lion Callum Ah Chee who kicked the winner, allowing his side to hold on to snag the four points.
Lions power forward Joe Dainher kicked three and so did his teammate Hugh McCluggage.
Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko had a match-leading 29 disposals, while Swans star middle man Errol Gulden trailed closely behind with 27 touches.
Callum Ah Chee kicked the winning goal over Sydney in round 19, giving Brisbane a two-point win. via Getty Images
Last meeting in a grand final
Well, we're not sure if many would remember the last time the Swans and Lions met in a grand final.
It was way back in 1897, with the then-Fitzroy Lions defeated the then-South Melbourne Swans by a single point (3.9. 27. to 3.8. 26.).
The match was held at the Junction Oval in St Kilda, just on Albert Park Lake.
There were 4,823 spectators in attendance.
The Swans 2012 premiership side celebrate the day after at the SCG with fans. Getty
Last time they made the grand final
Sydney were here just two years ago, in 2022. They went down to geelong by 81 points.
It was the Lions who were also on the big stage in 2023, going down to Collingwood by four points.
The last time Sydney won the premiership was in 2012, defeating Hawthorn. Since then, they have lost the 2014, 2016 and 2022 grand finals.
The Lions have not won a grand final since 2003, when they overcame Collingwood.
Finals form
The Swans earned the week off before their preliminary final, while the Lions, who finished fifth, had to get to the big dance the hard way.
In the Swans' qualifying final against GWS at the SCG, they trailed the Giants by 28 points at the final break, before heroics from Isaac Heeney clawed them to a six-point victory.
Two weeks later, they cruised to a 36-point preliminary final win over Port Adelaide, also at the SCG.
As for the Lions, they did not get a break, defeating Carlton by a comfortable 27 points in their elimination final at the Gabba. They led 60-0 at one stage of the match.
A week later, they came from behind to defeat a sluggish GWS by five points, at Engie Stadium.
It was key forward Joe Daniher who kicked a freak set shot goal on the boundary line to advance them to a preliminary final against the Cats.
It a tight tussle, the Lions took their poor MCG history in their stride and overcame a rested Geelong by 10 points, kicking two late goals to seal the victory.
Geelong led by as many as 19 points before a late Lions surge got them home.
It was unfortunately the end of the road for Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney's finals campaign, after a double shoulder dislocation in that win over Geelong.
Oscar McInerney looked in agony after a shoulder dislocation in the preliminary final. Getty
Odds (Sportsbet)
Sydney $1.77, Brisbane $2.10 (correct as of 4pm AEST, Thursday, September 26, 2024).
Norm Smith Medal
Isaac Heeney $5.50
Chad Warner $8
Lachie Neale $8
Errol Gulden $9
Hugh McCluggage $13
First goal scorer
Joe Daniher (Lions) $11
Tom Papley (Swans) $12
Charlie Cameron (Lions) $12.50
Joel Amartey (Swans) $13
Logan McDonald (Swans) $13
Grand final tickets
Tickets have sold out.
How to watch AFL grand final
The match will be live on Channel 7, and also streamed for the first time on 7plus.
Recent AFL grand final history
2023: Collingwood 12. 18. (90) defated Brisbane 13. 8. (86)
2022: Geelong 20. 13. (133) defeated Sydney Swans 8. 4. (52)
2021: Melbourne 21. 14. (140) defeated Western Bulldogs 10. 6. (66)
2020: Richmond 12. 9. (81) defeated Geelong 7. 8. (50)
2019: Richmond 17. 12. (114) defeated GWS Giants 3. 7. (25)
2018: West Coast Eagles 11. 13. (79) defeated Collingwood 11. 8. (74)
2017: Richmond 16. 12. (108) defeated Adelaide Crows 8. 12. (60)
2016: Western Bulldogs 13. 11. (89) defeated Sydney Swans 10. 7. (67)
2015: Hawthorn 16. 11. (107) defeated West Coast Eagles 8. 13. (61)
2014: Hawthorn 21. 11. (137) defeated Sydney Swans 11. 8. (74)
2013: Hawthorn 11. 11. (77) defeated Fremantle 8. 14. (62)
2012: Sydney Swans 14. 7. (91) defeated Hawthorn 11. 15. (81)
2011: Geelong 18. 11. (119) defeated Collingwood 12. 9. (81)
2010 (replay): Collingwood 16. 12. (108) defeated St Kilda 7. 10. (52)
Chris Fagan after the Lions' 2023 premiership loss to Collingwood. via Getty Images
Grand final entertainment line-up
Pre-match entertainment
- Katy Perry
- Cody Simpson
- Christine Anu
- Zipporah Corse-Anu
- Mike Brady AM
Half-time entertainment
- To be announced
What happens if there's a drawn result?
In the event of a draw at the end of ordinary time, additional time will be played to crown a winner.
If scores are even at full-time, a six-minute break will occur before two three-minute halves (plus time on) are played to determine a result. At the end of the first additional period, the teams will change ends without a break.
If scores are still tied after the completion of both halves, the process will be repeated until a winner is declared.
Both clubs will receive 10 interchanges for each half (excluding the medical substitute). Any leftover interchanges from each half will not carry over.
Team runners may only head onto the field after a goal, during an extended stoppage in play or at the conclusion of the first half as the players change ends.
The Sydney Swans celebrate a goal in their qualifying final against GWS. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is presented to the player judged to be best on ground in the grand final. The honour is decided by an independent panel of football experts through a 3-2-1 voting structure.
The Norm Smith Medal cannot be shared between multiple players. In the event of a tie, a count-back-like situation of the higher votes received will determine a winner.
The judging panel for 2024 are Jack Riewoldt (former premiership Tiger), Riley Beveridge (journalist), Shaun Burgoyne (former Hawthorn and Port Adelaide premiership player), Anna Harrington (journalist) and Rory Sloane (Former Adelaide captain).
This year, it will be presented by 2007 winner, Steve Johnson of Geelong.
2023: Bobby Hill, Collingwood
2022: Isaac Smith, Geelong
2021: Christian Petracca, Melbourne
2020: Dustin Martin, Richmond
2019: Dustin Martin, Richmond
2018: Luke Shuey, West Coast Eagles
2017: Dustin Martin, Richmond
2016: Jason Johannisen, Western Bulldogs
2015: Cyril Rioli, Hawthorn
2014: Luke Hodge, Hawthorn
2013: Brian Lake, Hawthorn
2012: Ryan O'Keefe, Sydney
2011: Jimmy Bartel, Geelong
2010 (replay): Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood
Bobby Hill. via Getty Images
Premiership cup, Jock McHale and Ron Barassi Medal presentation
If Brisbane wins the flag, it will be their triple premiership coach, Leigh Matthews who will present the side with their first cup since back when he coached in 2003.
If the Swans get up, it will be former captain Stuart Maxfield, who missed out on the Swans 2005 premiership due to injury and retired at season's end.
There is also a new medal being presented in 2024, which will be handed to the premiership winning captain of Brisbane or Sydney.
This medal is the Ron Barassi Medal named in honour of the late, great legend of Australian Rules football.
Ron Barassi. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Barassi won six VFL premiership playing and captaining Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s, going on to coach Carlton to two premierships in 1968 and 1970.
From there, he coached a further two flags at North Melbourne. Their inaugural premiership in 1975 and another two years later in 1977.
The medal will be presented by the oldest living V/AFL premiership captain, Geelong's Fred Wooler, who led the Cats to their 1963 premiership.
For the Jock McHale Medal, which is presented to the premiership winning coach, it is Carlton champion David Parkin who will do the honour.
