WHEN Geelong coach Mark Thompson addressed the media at Skilled Stadium on Tuesday in the lead-up to Saturday night’s blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG he had this pearl of wisdom for the many reporters gathered.
“If we do end up meeting in the grand final, then based on recent events … we should probably go out and lose this game,” Thompson said with a chuckle. So what on earth is he talking about?
Well, in each of the last eight seasons the grand final result has been a reverse of the previous meeting between the competing teams.
It sounds crazy, but for those of you who love wacky facts, here’s the proof.
2002
Round eight: Collingwood 17.12 (114) d Brisbane Lions 16.15 (111) at Docklands
Grand final: Brisbane Lions 10.15 (75) d Collingwood 9.12 (66) at the MCG
2003
Qualifying final: Collingwood 9.12 (66) d Brisbane Lions 7.9 (51) at the MCG
Grand final: Brisbane Lions 20.14 (134) d Collingwood 12.12 (84) at the MCG
2004
Round 11: Brisbane Lions 18.15 (123) d Port Adelaide 12.14 (86) at the Gabba
Grand Final: Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) d Brisbane Lions 10.13 (73) at the MCG
2005
Qualifying final: West Coast 10.9 (69) d Sydney Swans 10.5 (65) at Subiaco Oval
Grand final: Sydney Swans 8.10 (58) d West Coast 7.12 (54) at the MCG
2006
Qualifying final: Sydney Swans 13.7 (85) d West Coast 12.12 (84) at Subiaco Oval
Grand final: West Coast 12.13 (85) d Sydney Swans 12.12 (84) at the MCG
2007
Round 21: Port Adelaide 16.10 (106) d Geelong 15.11 (101) at Skilled Stadium
Grand final: Geelong 24.19 (163) d Port Adelaide 6.8 (44) at the MCG
2008
Round 17: Geelong 12.16 (88) d Hawthorn 11.11 (77) at the MCG
Grand final: Hawthorn 18.7 (115) d Geelong 11.23 (89) at the MCG
2009
Round 14: St Kilda 14.7 (91) d Geelong 13.7 (85) at Etihad Stadium
Grand final: Geelong 12.8 (80) d St Kilda 9.14 (68) at the MCG
