Grand Final, 2021
Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs
Saturday 25 September
Venue: Perth Stadium
Attendance: 61,118
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.5 | 5.9 | 12.11 | 21.14.140 |
| Western Bulldogs | 1.2 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 10.6.66 |
Melbourne win by 74 points
Goalkickers: Bayley Fritsch 6, Ben Brown 3, Tom McDonald 2, Christian Petracca 2, Angus Brayshaw 1, Luke Jackson 1, Ed Langdon 1, Alex Neal-Bullen 1, Clayton Oliver 1, Christian Salem 1, Charlie Spargo 1, Tom Sparrow 1
Milestones:
Biggest win in a Grand Final
Highest score at Perth Stadium
After 57 years, Melbourne broke a premiership drought dating back to 1964. After finishing top of the ladder and qualifying with a landslide victory over Geelong, the Demons started favourites and got off to a hot start, taking a 21 point lead into quarter time. The nervous Bulldogs settled in the second quarter, taking an eight point lead into half time.
The first two goals of the third quarter left the Bulldogs 19 points in front and on the verge of an upset victory. Three goals in three minutes, two through Bayley Fritsch and one to Ben Brown, put Melbourne back into the contest before Angus Brayshaw regained the lead. The Demons then played one of the most remarkable minutes in Grand Final history, kicking three goals in 45 seconds of playing time before three quarter time - through Christian Petracca, Tom Sparrow and Clayton Oliver.
Now 24 points in front, the game was Melbourne's to lose, and when Brown and Fritsch both goalled in the opening minutes the game was all but over. They made sure of it with seven of the remaining eight goals, including one to Tom McDonald on the siren, capturing their 13th league premiership.
Best were Christian Petracca (who won the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground), Fritsch and Viney. James Jordon was unused substitute.
Team:
B: Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Jake Lever
HB: Jake Bowey, Harrison Petty, Christian Salem
C: Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca, Ed Langdon
HF: Kysaiah Pickett, Tom McDonald, James Harmes
F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Brown, Bayley Fritsch
Foll: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney
Int: Luke Jackson, Charlie Spargo, Trent Rivers, Tom Sparrow
Sub: James Jordon
Video
Links
Demonblog match review