West Coast 12.13 (85) d Sydney Swans 12.12 (84)
Channel 10 commentator Anthony Hudson summed up the thrilling 2006 grand final when he screamed, “Who would have though the sequel would be as good as the original?”
The Eagles avenged their heartbreaking four-point loss to the Swans in 2005 (the original) by stealing the 2006 premiership by just one point, adding a new chapter to an intriguing sporting rivalry.
This match was the fifth consecutive contest between these sides to be decided by less than a goal, and it was the third grand final in history to be decided by a solitary point.
West Coast’s midfield was full of stars, including Brownlow Medallists Chris Judd and Ben Cousins, but it was the often-maligned Rowan Jones who provided one of the defining moments when he won a contested ball in the centre in a classic final quarter.
The coach: John Worsfold
“Rowan Jones was one of those players at the club that some supporters would wonder why he kept getting a game, but that’s exactly why he got a game, because of the way he played for the team and how hard he worked.
“In that last 10 minutes of the grand final everything was critical - every effort - but it’s those little things that you remember. He probably didn’t get a possession for it, but he saved us, he kept the game alive.
“It’s something that we all remember and most people involved with the team remember it as one of the defining moments. It was typical of him and that’s why he was so highly respected by his teammates and the club.
“It was a real sacrificial act for the team and it was certainly a big part of Rowan’s highlights tape when he retired.”
The player: Rowan Jones
“It was a game full of those moments and it was typical of the rivalry between West Coast and the Sydney Swans at that point in time.
“That contest was just one of those things where we both had to go for it and nullify each other. I was just trying to create a contest because if they had won possession they would have had an easy path up to their forward end.
“I was pretty tired. Through that last quarter I’d spent a lot of time trying to chase Ryan O’Keefe down, but every now and then it’s going to be your turn to have a say on the outcome of the game, so you really try and take those opportunities when they come. They don’t come that often.
“I was never the most talented bloke on the field, so I just tried to play my role for the team and take my turn when it came.”
