bm_afl_grand_final

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 * One Day In September**

The AFL Grand Final is that one day in September that all footballers dream of playing in. It is held on the last Saturday of September at the one and only MCG. The Grand Final is now part of the Australian culture, it is a religion, and has been a growing tradition over the years. Eight teams contest throughout the final series for a Grand Final berth and the quest for the Holy Grail. With a huge line up of entertainment and the game itself, the Grand Final is one of the biggest days of the year and states that Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world.

The Grand Final has not always been played at the MCG. On a few occasions it has been played at Lake Oval and the Junction Oval and also at Princes Park during the horrible times of World War II when the MCG was being used as barracks for the American troops. When the MCG was being redeveloped in 1991 the Grand Final was played at Waverly Park.

The AFL Grand Final has had loads of history over the years from the early years of the VFL, to the rough and tough of the 60's, 70's and 80's and finally to the modern day AFL era. The first concept of a final series and Grand Final came to be when the VFL decided to scrap the idea of the winner of the home and away season winning the preimership and allow the top four teams play in semis and then the final itself. So in 1898, the first Grand Final was contested between Essendon and Fitzroy. Fitzroy ended up winning, the score was 38 to 23. Four years later, the Grand Final moved to the MCG, even though the dominating cricket season was being played. Over the years the attendances were becoming larger and larger, so in 1912 the decision to build new stands at the MCG was made.

With crowd attendances being broken every year and the Grand Final picking up popurlarity the southern stand was built in 1937. Two years later the crowd record was again broken and 95,000 plus people. They all squeezed in to watch Collingwood take on Carlton. With the Olympic Games fast approaching the MCG underwent even more construction, crowds were lower than other years, however 85,000 packed into the 'G' in 1954. Two years later, in 1956, the Grand Final was predicted to be a flop because of the Olympics, but it was the complete opposite. 115,000 people rocked up, with 30,000 to 50,000 people getting turned away. Some also stood on the roof of the Southern Stand to watch the game. No one saw it coming. A crowd of 121,696 watched history unfold when Carlton came back from 7 goals down late in the third quarter and won in front of the record crowd. Throughout the 1990's, since the AFL has become, the quality of Grand Finals has not been the best. For the nineteen years the AFL Grand Final has been played ten premierships have been won by interstate teams. In 2007 Geelong smashed by a record margin of 119 points. Geelong have now won two Grand Finals from their past three appearances. The 2 goal margin that Geelong won by against St. Kilda this year has been stated as one of the best Grand Finals.

The start of the Grand Final week is the Brownlow Medal Night. This prestigoius award is given to the best and fairest player of the home and away season. The umpires vote for the three best players of each game. The best player recieves 3 points, next best 2 and finally 1 point for the third best player. The player with the most votes at the end of the night gets to take "Charlie" home. Players who win more than one Brownlow Medal become part of an elite group, this group includes players like Robert Harvey and Adam Goodes. After many interviews, photo opportunities and news coverage the Grand Final Parade comes along. Many fans line Swantson and Collins street in the city to watch the players and coaches drive up to the steps of the Old Treasury Building for the captains and coaches last minute speeches. The parade had in some years has attracted crowds of more than 100,000 people. Grand Final day also has a line massive line up of entertainment. Some of the famous performers that have entertained the crowd are: John Farnham, Jimmy Barnes and Tina Arena, along with many other legendary performers. After the entertainment, the crowd sit back and relax to watch one of the biggest events in Austraila being played. After many tears, bone crunching moments, screams, beers, pies, stressfull moments and plays that would go down in history the winner is decided. The presentation is made and the team song sung back in the change rooms. That night the players would have a big night out on the town and on Monday have their teams "Mad Monday" celebration. The winning team receives $1,000,000, a large pennant which is unfurled at the winning team's first game the next season and a preimership cup made out of silver. Each player from the premiership team recieves a medallion and for the best player on the ground, the Norm Smith medal is awarded. The winning coach receives the Jock McHale medal.
 * __THE PRIZE__**