2023 AFL Finals Series

[jeemak]

There has been a lot of talk since Saturday that the Grand Final was one of the best Grand Finals ever. (e.g. Jake Niall in The Age: -https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/was-pies-lions-epic-the-grandest-final-of-the-century-20231001-p5e8wp.html).

I was there and yes, it was enjoyable, yes it was close. But it really didn't have the feel of one of the greats to me. What do other WOOFers think? Had Brisbane kicked an extra goal in that last 90 seconds, then yes, an epic finish for sure.

Then last night I switched on NRL Grand Final. I nearly went to bed after Ezra Mam scored his electrifying three tries and I figured they had started engraving his name on the Clive Churchill Medal, only for us Nathan Cleary to will his way to lead his team to the most unlikely victory. For me, this was the greatest NRL Grand Final I'd seen. Incredible. The AFL by comparison, not so much.

It was a fantastic spectacle, though I think possibly due to the weather was more a free flowing contest than a high pressure grind and that's OK as a spectator.

[MrMahatma]

I attended and thought it was a ripping match. Lots of lead changes. Some unreal goals. Clutch moments. Had it all.

[Topdog]

I thought it was an incredible grand final, some great attacking football in particular in the 1st half. Maybe its because the last 4 GFs were terribly boring.

[Sedat]

I thought it was an incredible grand final, some great attacking football in particular in the 1st half. Maybe its because the last 4 GFs were terribly boring.

2021 gets a bad rap for the last 40 minutes. Up until then it had many momentum shifts and was turning into a classic until we crapped the bed.

2020 was a high standard GF with some big momentum shifts as well - Richmond did really well to dig deep and overpower the Cats in the last qtr. It was actually quite similar to 2021 except the Cats didn't crap the bed to the gratuitous extent that we did.

Agree that 2019 and 2022 were both rubbish as a spectacle - not the winners fault.

[Grantysghost]

Sam Walsh wins the Gary Ayres medal for best finals player as voted by the coaches.

23 Sam Walsh CARL
20.5 Keidean Coleman BL
19 Bobby Hill COLL
17 Tom Green GWS
16 Jack Crisp COLL
12 Josh Kelly GWS
10 Stephen Coniglio GWS
10 Jordan De Goey COLL
10 Josh Dunkley BL
10 Hugh McCluggage BL
9 Blake Acres CARL
9 Nick Daicos COLL
8.5 Joe Daniher BL
8 Max Gawn MELB
8 Jesse Hogan GWS
8 Steven May MELB
8 Isaac Quaynor COLL
8 Lachie Whitfield GWS
7 Connor Idun GWS
5 Tom McCartin SYD

[Grantysghost]

Lachie Neale won the umpires award.

[macca]

Lachie Neale won the umpires award.

He won it again ?

They should just rename it the Neal Umpire award.