TALES OF THE WEIRD AND WHACKY

The interchange infringement drama which cost North Melbourne what turned out to be the winning goal for Sydney last week was the latest in a long line of AFL/VFL events that you could never think possible. Here are just some of the craziest finishes recorded in the game’s history.

ROUND 1, 1900

u St Kilda had lost its first 48 VFL games before holding Melbourne to a draw to open the new millennium. Or so it seemed. St Kilda protested that the umpire had not properly signalled the end of the third quarter, allowing Melbourne to score a behind. The League (and the Redlegs) agreed and St Kilda had its first VFL win. Melbourne went on to win its first premiership.

ROUND 6, 1909

u The Saints defeated Geelong by one point at Corio Oval, but the Pivotonians protested the result, saying St Kilda’s Billy Stewart should not have played after receiving a one-week suspension in a midweek game for Eaglehawk against Bendigo in the Bendigo association. Investigations proved this and the result was overturned.

SEMI-FINAL, 1910

u Carlton sensationally omitted three of its best players – Alex Lang, Doug Gillespie and Doug Fraser, and stood down trainer Edward McInerney – before the game against South Melbourne, after they were accused of throwing games. Lang admitted receiving a bribery attempt, but denied carrying through. Gillespie and McInerney were cleared, but Lang and Fraser were suspended for 99 matches.

ROUND 21, 1971:

u Famously known as the ‘Fog Game’, Fitzroy kicked seven goals in the second quarter to lead Carlton by 25 points before fog descended on the Junction Oval in the third term. Players couldn’t see a kick away, umpire Bill Deller had to tell goal umpires what score had occurred and timekeepers had to estimate stoppages. Fitzroy led by six points at the last change amid discussions on whether to continue, but play resumed and the Lions won by 23 points. Ironically, the fog cleared soon after the final siren.

GRAND FINAL, 1979

u Carlton led Collingwood by four points late when Wayne Harmes miscued a kick to the forward pocket. He chased and whacked the ball towards the goalsquare, where Ken Sheldon nailed the sealer. Depending on who you ask, it was either in the field of play or in the carpark. Recently uncovered footage appears to show the former, but Collingwood fans will never accept it was in.

ROUND 10, 1996 u Essendon led St Kilda by 20 points after 22 minutes of the third quarter when the stadium went dark due to a nearby car accident and chaos ensued. The crowd invaded the field, with a fire lit in the centre and behind posts snapped off and paraded around. The match resumed on the Tuesday night and the Bombers won by 22 points.

ROUND 5, 2006 u Dubbed ‘Sirengate’, Fremantle led St Kilda by a point in Launceston when the siren sounded as a ball-up was called 30m from the Saints’ goal. But no umpire heard it and play continued despite Fremantle’s protests. Steven Baker levelled the scores as Docker officials charged on to the ground. The drama continued with Baker awarded a free kick, but he missed again, leaving it as a draw. An AFL investigation awarded Fremantle the win.

ROUND 8, 2019 u Sydney led by five points when Essendon’s David Myers marked 65m out on the siren. As he kicked, Swans defender Dane Rampe climbed the goalpost. The umpires decided he hadn’t shaken the post, which would have been a free kick. However, Rampe later received a suspended $1000 fine.

ROUND 2, 2022 u Lance Franklin needed four goals to be the sixth man to kick 1000. The moment arrived with six minutes left, a 35m set shot. The kick sailed through (luckily, because the crowd was already charging on). Play resumed after 40 minutes, with Chad Warner and Ollie Florent being seen walking down Driver Ave after escaping the throng at the opposite end.

ROUND 2, 2023 u The Brisbane Lions led Melbourne by 40 points at the Gabba with 12 minutes left when the lights suddenly went out. After a 40-minute delay that included a light tower catching fire, the Demons kicked five quick goals to get within 11 points and create some nervous moments for the Lions before time ran out.