The 2001 AFL Grand Final was contested between Essendon and the Brisbane Lions. Essendon were defending their 2000 premiership crown, and went into the game finishing on top of the ladder on percentage ahead of second placed Brisbane (both had won 17 games). Brisbane were chasing their sixteenth successive win in the Grand Final, a streak which was started with a major upset of Essendon at the Gabba in round 10. Essendon were the dominant team between 1999 and 2001, losing just 11 games from the start of 1999 until the start of the 2001 Grand Final. In the lead up to the match, Jason Akermanis won the Brownlow Medal.
Match Summary
Brisbane started off the game well, getting the first goal for the match from a free kick awarded to Lynch for holding against Fletcher. Essendon fought back late in the first quarter then took control of the game in the second quarter. Brisbane's poor kicking for goal almost put them out of the game in the second quarter as Essendon blew their lead out to 20 points late in the second quarter. Brisbane kicked 5.11 at half time.
Brisbane managed to overrun Essendon in the third quarter kicking six goals to two and turing a 14 point deficit into a 16 point lead. Brisbane's pace in the midfield and the tiring legs of most of the Essendon players played a pivital role in Brisbane taking full control of the game in the second half to win comfortably. Essendon had scored two late goals in the last quarter after being down by as much as 38 points.
James Hird in his post match speech was visually shattered and disappointed, a quick congratulations to Brisbane for winning in his short speech was followed by saying sorry to Bombers fans for letting them down.
This was Brisbane's first flag since they joined the AFL in 1987 as well as the first flag since the merger in 1997.
Teams
These are the selected teams as they were announced prior to the game.
Result
| Essendon vs Brisbane Lions |
| Team |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Final |
| Essendon |
3.2 (20) |
8.6 (54) |
9.8 (62) |
12.10 (82) |
| Brisbane Lions |
3.7 (25) |
5.10 (40) |
11.12 (78) |
15.18 (108) |
|
| Venue: |
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne |
| Date: |
September 29, 2001 |
| Attendance: |
91,482 |
| Umpires: |
Scott McLaren, Martin Ellis, Mathew James |
| Goal scorers: |
Essendon |
5: Lloyd
4: Lucas
1: Caracella, Johnson, Misiti |
| Brisbane Lions |
3: L Power
2: Akermanis, J Brown, N Lappin, A Lynch
1. Ashcroft, Notting, Pike, M Voss |
| Best: |
Essendon |
Lloyd, Lucas, J Johnson |
| Brisbane Lions |
Hart, Johnson, Voss, Lappin, Power |
| Reports: |
nil |
| Injuries: |
nil |
|
| Coin toss winner: |
Michael Voss, Brisbane Lions |
| Norm Smith Medal: |
Shaun Hart, Brisbane Lions |
| Australian television broadcaster: |
Seven Network |
| National Anthem: |
Julie Anthony |
| Team Stats |
(Bris) |
(Ess) |
| Kicks |
176 |
165 |
| Marks |
73 |
60 |
| Handballs |
78 |
90 |
| Tackles |
34 |
54 |
| Hitouts |
39 |
26 |
| Frees |
22 |
19 |
|
