2006 AFL finals series

Infobox AFL season
year = 2006 AFL Finals Series


imagesize = 320px
caption = Logo of the 2006 AFL Finals Series
teams = 8
premiers = West Coast Eagles
count = 3rd
minor premiers = West Coast Eagles
mpcount = 3rd
matches = 9
attendance = 532178
Coleman medalist = Brendan Fevola (84) (Carlton Football Club)
brownlow medallist = Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans)
norm smith medallist = Andrew Embley (West Coast Eagles )

The Australian Football League's 2006 finals series took place between the top eight ladder positions in the 2006 AFL season. It began on the weekend of 8 September 2006 and ended with the 110th AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 September 2006. The winner, West Coast Eagles, was crowned champion of the AFL after defeating the Sydney Swans by one point.

Eight teams qualified for the finals by finishing in the top eight of the premiership ladder.

With the top eight race effectively ending several rounds before the end of the season, the push for the final two positions in the top four heated up as all six teams below West Coast and Adelaide were vying for the crucial "double chance" with only a few rounds left. With wins in the final round, the Fremantle Dockers and Sydney Swans secured the "double chance" making it the first time in the game's history where the top 4 positions did not consist of a single Victorian team.

Final ladder

Summary of results

AFL finals system
score-width=70
QF1-details=Sep 9, Subiaco Oval
QF1-team1=AFL WC
QF1-score1=12.12 (84)
QF1-team2=AFL Syd
QF1-score2=13.7 (85)
EF1-details=Sep 10, MCG
EF1-team1=AFL Col
EF1-score1=11.14 (80)
EF1-team2=AFL Wes
EF1-score2=18.13 (121)
QF2-details=Sep 9, AAMI Stadium
QF2-team1=AFL Ade
QF2-score1=10.16 (76)
QF2-team2=AFL Fre
QF2-score2=7.4 (46)
EF2-details=Sep 8, MCG
EF2-team1=AFL StK
EF2-score1=10.12 (72)
EF2-team2=AFL Mel
EF2-score2=13.12 (90)
SF1-details=Sep 16, Subiaco Oval
SF1-team1=AFL WC
SF1-score1=16.17 (113)
SF1-team2=AFL Wes
SF1-score2=5.9 (39)
SF2-details=Sep 15, Subiaco Oval
SF2-team1=AFL Fre
SF2-score1=14.18 (102)
SF2-team2=AFL Mel
SF2-score2=11.8 (74)
PF1-details=Sep 22, Telstra Stadium
PF1-team1=AFL Syd
PF1-score1=19.13 (127)
PF1-team2=AFL Fre
PF1-score2=14.8 (92)
PF2-details=Sep 23, AAMI Stadium
PF2-team1=AFL Ade
PF2-score1=11.9 (75)
PF2-team2=AFL WC
PF2-score2=11.19 (85)
GF-details=Sep 30, MCG
GF-team1=AFL Syd
GF-score1=12.12 (84)
GF-team2=AFL WC
GF-score2=12.13 (85)

The finals system

The system is a final eight system. This system is different to the McIntyre Final Eight System, which was previously used by the AFL, and is currently used by the National Rugby League.

The top four teams in the eight receive what is popularly known as the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals; this means that if a top-four team loses in the first week, it still has a chance to redeem itself by getting a chance to play in a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight are forced to play what are called elimination finals, in which only the winners survive and move on to week two to play the losers of the qualifying finals.

In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week, while the losers of those qualifying finals must play the winners of the elimination finals for a chance to play the qualifying finals winners. Home-ground advantage goes to the team with the higher seed.

In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week, with the latter receiving home-ground advantage. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the new premier will be crowned. [ [http://afl.com.au/?pg=final8explained&spg=default AFL Finals System Explained (AFL.com.au)] ]

Week One

First Qualifying Final (West Coast Eagles vs Sydney Swans)

AFLScorecard2006
team1 = AFL WC
team1 abbr = West Coast
team1 q1 = 2.3 (15)
team1 q2 = 4.6 (30)
team1 q3 = 9.9 (63)
team1 total = 12.12 (84)
team2 = AFL Syd
team2 abbr = Sydney
team2 q1 = 3.2 (20)
team2 q2 = 7.3 (45)
team2 q3 = 10.6 (66)
team2 total = 13.7 (85)
venue = Subiaco Oval, Perth
date = 9 September 2006 – 5:30PM AWST
attendance = 43,116
Metropolitan Free To Air TV audience = 3.386 million
umpires = Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
team1 goals =2: Lynch, Hunter, Waters, Judd
1: Staker, Stenglein, Cousins, Armstrong
team2 goals =5: Hall
4: O'Loughlin
2: Schneider
1: Kirk, Goodes
team1 best =Judd, R. Jones, Selwood, Wirrpanda, Hunter, B. Jones, Cox
team2 best =Hall, Kirk, McVeigh, O'Loughlin, O'Keefe, Richards, Goodes
reports =West Coast: Chick (rough conduct, charge withdrawn by match review)
injuries =West Coast: Chick (shin)
time =

=Second Qualifying Final (Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle Dockers)=

AFLScorecard2006
team1 = AFL Ade
team1 abbr = Adelaide
team1 q1 = 1.3 (9)
team1 q2 = 3.8 (26)
team1 q3 = 5.12 (42)
team1 total = 10.16 (76)
team2 = AFL Fre
team2 abbr = Fremantle
team2 q1 = 4.2 (26)
team2 q2 = 5.2 (32)
team2 q3 = 7.4 (46)
team2 total = 7.4 (46)
venue = AAMI Stadium, Adelaide
date = 9 September 2006 – 2:30PM ACST
attendance = 42,208
umpires = Chamberlain, Ellis, McInery
team1 goals = 2: Bock, Torney, Biglands
1: Clarke, Reilly, Welsh, Perrie
team2 goals = 2: Pavlich, Farmer
1: Crowley, Black, Cook
team1 best = Doughty, Reilly, Torney, Thompson, Edwards, Bassett, Stevens, Bock, Johncock, Bode
team2 best = Black, Bell, Johnson, J. Carr, McPharlin
reports = —
injuries = Fremantle: Grover (back)
time =

First Elimination Final (Collingwood Magpies vs Western Bulldogs)

AFLScorecard2006
team1 = AFL Col
team1 abbr = Collingwood
team1 q1 = 5.6 (36)
team1 q2 = 6.9 (45)
team1 q3 = 6.13 (49)
team1 total = 11.14 (80)
team2 = AFL WB
team2 abbr = W. Bulldogs
team2 q1 = 4.2 (26)
team2 q2 = 8.7 (55)
team2 q3 = 14.10 (94)
team2 total = 18.13 (121)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 10 September 2006 – 2:30PM AEST
attendance = 84,284
umpires = Kennedy, Allen, Jeffery
team1 goals = 3: Tarrant
2: Holland
1: Fraser, Egan, Rusling, Lockyer, Rocca, Licuria
team2 goals = 4: Montgomery
3: Cooney, Robbins
2: Gilbee, Ray
1: Johnson, Giansiracusa, Minson, Smith
team1 best = R. Shaw, Johnson, Clement, Fraser, H. Shaw, Buckley
team2 best = West, Cross, Ray, Cooney, Morris, Montgomery, Johnson, Giansiracusa, Grant
reports = Collingwood: Holland (charging, received six week suspension)
injuries = W. Bulldogs: Gilbee (ankle)
time =

Second Elimination Final (St Kilda Saints vs Melbourne Demons)

AFLScorecard2006
team1 = AFL StK
team1 abbr = St Kilda
team1 q1 = 5.4 (34)
team1 q2 = 6.6 (42)
team1 q3 = 9.8 (62)
team1 total = 10.12 (72)
team2 = AFL Mel
team2 abbr = Melbourne
team2 q1 = 2.2 (14)
team2 q2 = 3.4 (22)
team2 q3 = 8.5 (53)
team2 total = 13.12 (90)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 8 September 2006 – 7:30PM AEST
attendance = 67,528
umpires = Rosebury, Schmitt, Goldspink
team1 goals = 3: Gehrig
2: Milne, Riewoldt
1: Koschitzke, Peckett, Baker
team2 goals = 4: Neitz
2: McLean
1: Miller, McDonald, Bruce, Robertson, Pickett, Bate, Yze
team1 best =Riewoldt, Harvey, Baker, S. Fisher, Milne, Ball, Gehrig
team2 best =McLean, Neitz, Bruce, Green, McDonald, White, Carroll
reports = St Kilda: A. Thompson (rough conduct, received reprimand)
injuries = St Kilda: R. Clarke (hamstring), Gehrig (ankle), X. Clarke (back), Harvey (hamstring)
Melbourne: Whelan (shoulder)
time =

Week Two

First Semi Final (West Coast Eagles vs Western Bulldogs)

AFLScorecard2006
team1 = West Coast Eagles
team1 abbr = West Coast
team1 q1 = 4.3 (27)
team1 q2 = 8.7 (55)
team1 q3 = 9.12 (66)
team1 total = 16.17 (113)
team2 = Western Bulldogs
team2 abbr = W. Bulldogs
team2 q1 = 3.4 (22)
team2 q2 = 4.6 (30)
team2 q3 = 4.9 (33)
team2 total = 5.9 (39)
venue = Subiaco Oval, Perth
date = 16 September 2006 – 5:30PM AWST
attendance = 43,219
umpires = Kennedy, Allen, Schmitt
team1 goals = 6: Lynch
4: Hunter
1: Waters, Hansen, Judd, Embley, Cousins, Cox
team2 goals = 3: Johnson
1: Grant, Robbins
team1 best = Hunter, Judd, Lynch, Hansen, Kerr, Chick, Cousins, Selwood, Butler
team2 best = West, Johnson, Morris, Smith
reports = W. Bulldogs: Harris (striking, received two week suspension)
injuries = West Coast: Wirrpanda (hamstring)
time =

= Second Semi Final (Fremantle Dockers vs Melbourne Demons) =

AFLScorecard2006
team1 = AFL Fre
team1 abbr = Fremantle
team1 q1 = 3.3 (21)
team1 q2 = 7.9 (51)
team1 q3 = 11.15 (81)
team1 total = 14.18 (102)
team2 = AFL Mel
team2 abbr = Melbourne
team2 q1 = 3.0 (18)
team2 q2 = 7.3 (45)
team2 q3 = 10.4 (64)
team2 total = 11.8 (74)
venue = Subiaco Oval, Perth
date = 15 September 2006 – 6:30PM AWST
attendance = 42,505
umpires = Vozzo, McInerney, Goldspink
team1 goals = 2: Murphy, Farmer, M. Carr, Pavlich
1: Cook, Webster, Schammer, Mundy, Longmuir, Headland
team2 goals = 3: Neitz, Robertson
2: Davey
1: McLean, Yze, Miller
team1 best = Black, J. Carr, Schammer, Bell, Parker, M. Carr, Sandilands
team2 best = Miller, Carroll, Brown, Green, McLean, Ward, Johnstone
reports = —
injuries = Fremantle: McPharlin (ankle)
time =

Week Three

= First Preliminary Final (Sydney Swans vs Fremantle Dockers)=

AFLScorecard2006
team1 = Sydney Swans
team1 abbr = Sydney
team1 q1 = 3.6 (24)
team1 q2 = 8.7 (55)
team1 q3 = 14.8 (92)
team1 total = 19.13 (127)
team2 = Fremantle Dockers
team2 abbr = Fremantle
team2 q1 = 3.2 (20)
team2 q2 = 6.2 (38)
team2 q3 = 11.6 (72)
team2 total = 14.8 (92)
venue = Telstra Stadium, Sydney
date = 22 September 2006 – 8:00PM AEST
attendance = 61,373
umpires = Vozzo, McBurney, Allen
team1 goals = 6: Hall
4: O'Keefe, O'Loughlin
2: Bolton
1: Davis, Dempster, Goodes
team2 goals = 4: Pavlich 4
3: Bell
2: Cook, Crowley
1: Farmer, Murphy, Peake
team1 best = Hall, Kirk, O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, C. Bolton, J. Bolton, Goodes
team2 best = Pavlich, Bell, J. Carr, Crowley, Hayden, Sandilands
reports = Fremantle: Jeff Farmer (Fre) for striking Craig Bolton (Syd), reprimand with 95.85 carryover points; Justin Longmuir (Fre) for striking Barry Hall (Syd), reprimand with 42.18 carryover points.
injuries = Fremantle: Farmer (leg), M.Carr (knee)
time =

Second Preliminary Final (Adelaide Crows vs West Coast Eagles)

AFLScorecard2006
team1 = AFL Ade
team1 abbr = Adelaide
team1 q1 = 3.3 (21)
team1 q2 = 6.5 (41)
team1 q3 = 8.8 (56)
team1 total = 11.9 (75)
team2 = AFL WC
team2 abbr = West Coast
team2 q1 = 0.4 (4)
team2 q2 = 2.7 (19)
team2 q3 = 6.12 (48)
team2 total = 11.19 (85)
venue = AAMI Stadium, Adelaide
date = 23 September 2006 – 3:00PM ACST
attendance = 50,514
umpires = Ellis, Ryan, Goldspink
team1 goals = 3: Bock
2: Bode, Burton
1: Edwards, Welsh, Clarke, McLeod
team2 goals = 4: Hunter
2: Embley
1: Lynch, Kerr, Cousins, Butler, Hansen
team1 best = Johncock, Goodwin, McLeod, Edwards, Reilly, Burton, Thompson
team2 best = Cox, Judd, Cousins, Embley, Hunter, Butler, Kerr
reports = —
injuries = Adelaide: Biglands (Dislocated Knee/ACL)
time =

Week Four

Grand Final (Sydney Swans vs West Coast Eagles)

AFLScorecardGF2006
team1 = AFL Syd
team1 abbr = Sydney
team1 q1 = 1.4 (10)
team1 q2 = 4.6 (30)
team1 q3 = 8.11 (59)
team1 total = 12.12 (84)
team2 = AFL WC
team2 abbr = West Coast
team2 q1 = 4.2 (26)
team2 q2 = 8.7 (55)
team2 q3 = 10.10 (70)
team2 total = 12.13 (85)
venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
date = 30 September 2006 – 2:30PM AEST
attendance = 97,431
umpires = Vozzo, Allen, Goldspink
team1 goals = 3: O'Loughlin, Davis
1: Mathews, Roberts-Thomson, Goodes, Schneider, O'Keefe, Malceski
team2 goals = 3: Lynch
2: Embley, Hansen, Cousins
1: Judd, Armstrong, Hunter
team1 best = Fosdike, Richards, Kennelly, O'Loughlin, McVeigh, Kirk, Goodes
team2 best = Embley, Chick, Judd, Glass, Lynch, Selwood, Braun
reports = —
injuries = Sydney: Ablett (shoulder)
coin toss = West Coast Eagles
nsm = Andrew Embley
tv = Network Ten
Metropolitan Free to Air TV audience = 3.145million
national anthem = Brian Mannix, John Paul Young, Daryl Braithwaite and Shane Howard
time =

Notes

References

Week One

* cite news
last = Burgan
first = Matt
title = Demons chase down Saints
publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
date = 8 September 2006
url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=296393
accessdate = 10 September

* cite news
last = Phelan
first = Jason
title = Crows overrun Dockers
publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
date = 9 September 2006
url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=296491
accessdate = 10 September

* cite news
last = Paul
first = Gough
title = Super Swans by one point
publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
date = 9 September 2006
url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=296517
accessdate = 10 September

* cite news
last = Burgan
first = Matt
title = Dogs make a mess of Pies
publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
date = 10 September 2006
url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=296599
accessdate = 10 September

Week Two

* cite news
last = Gough
first = Paul
title = Freo's finals breakthrough
publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
date = 15 September 2006
url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=298178
accessdate = 15 September

* cite news
last = Gough
first = Paul
title = Eagles back to their best
publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
date = 16 September 2006
url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=298264
accessdate = 16 September

Week Three

* cite news
last = Gough
first = Paul
title = Swans earn right to defend
publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
date = 22 September 2006
url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=299545
accessdate = 23 September

* cite news
last = Shiell
first = Alan
title = Eagles surge to victory
publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
date = 23 September 2006
url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=299636
accessdate = 23 September

External links

* [http://www.afl.com.au AFL official website]
* [http://realfooty.theage.com.au RealFooty by The Age (Melbourne) Online]
* [http://www.sportsaustralia.com SportsAustralia (news and views)]