AFL Rules

The McClelland Trophy

The AFL Grand Final – the two top footy teams in the league pitted against one another, in front of a sell out crowd of highly vocal fans, in a showdown of grit and determination. What more could any sports fan want!

Traditionally taking place on the final Saturday every September, the AFL Grand Final is held at the MCG and widely regarded as the biggest single sporting event on the Australian calendar. The winner of the match is awarded the highly coveted AFL Premiership Cup – a goal for every team at the tail end of the year.

At the end of the normal season which is made up of 22 rounds, the teams making up the top eight on the ladder move through to the knockout finals series which lasts for four weeks, before culminating in the desired AFL Grand Final.

With the game taking on such intense importance among AFL and sport fans around the country, it is the perfect time to place a punt, with highly lucrative odds offered at online betting sites!

Betting on the AFL Grand Final

With such a prestigious event as the AFL Grand Final, it is the perfect opportunity for true blue Aussies to get their wallet out and show loyalty to their team. It does not matter what time of year you feel the inclination to back your side, as online bookmakers have markets open as to which side will take home the flag come the end of the season before the season even bounces off. Remember – the earlier in the season you bet, the higher the payout, so when the AFL Grand Final comes about you could be winning more than you expected!

Along with the AFL Grand final winning team, you can also punt on whether or not your side will make it to the AFL Grand Final itself. The odds change from round to round, and so the bets get safer, but if you are confident early, place your bet before you see the odds go down.

Online bookies such as SportsBet offer a great variation of markets and odds to the avid AFL punter, and so when the AFL Grand Final bounces around, check out the great range they have on offer. Many fans often prefer the exotic bets, such as: the player to get the most possessions, player to score the most, or the individual team scorelines.

Another favourite is punting on the player to win the Norm Smith Medal. Awarded to the player judged by a panel of experts to have been the best player throughout the match, the Norm Smith Medal is one of the most prestigious individual accolades in the AFL, and another popular betting opportunity at Sportsbet.

AFL Grand Final History

Since the establishment of the AFL in 1990 – a move which made the competition a truly national event – the previously Victorian dominated Premiership has seen teams from other states claim the ultimate prize 10 times since.

In the 1990s, the AFL Grand Final did not bring about any thrilling games with the Eagles and North Melbourne the two more successful sides of the decade. However the New Millennium brought about some more interesting finishes.

The Brisbane Lions won three consecutive finals from 2001 – 2003, with the 2002 AFL Grand Final seeing the long outsiders Collingwood push the Lions to the very end in a superb example of top quality footy. Sydney and the West Coast formed a fierce rivalry over the 2005 and 2006 AFL Grand Finals, with the two forming the line-ups both years and saw one flag apiece. Geelong was a part of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 finals, losing the 2008 AFL Grand Final to Hawthorn, although claiming the other two.

Results Of The AFL Grand Final