The underdog upset that forced a national rule change
In short: In 1999, Carlton pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Australian rules football history by reaching the Grand Final from sixth place. Their unexpected run was so controversial it triggered an immediate overhaul of the league's finals system to prevent similar 'miracles' from recurring.
The 1999 AFL season was expected to be dominated by the Essendon Bombers, who finished as minor premiers. However, Carlton stunned the league by qualifying for the decider from sixth place—a feat achieved only twice before in history (Melbourne in 1900 and South Melbourne in 1899). They reached this position by upsetting Essendon in a preliminary final, while the second-placed Kangaroos moved on after defeating the Brisbane Lions. The Kangaroos entered the Grand Final as heavy favorites, but Carlton proved resilient enough to keep the match close until the third quarter.
The game was a high-stakes battle of momentum. While Carlton showed early dominance with a goal from Brett Ratten at the six-minute mark, the Kangaroos' defense held firm. Key moments included Corey McKernan’s inspirational goals and a 43-point lead established by three-quarter time. Despite having 29 scoring shots—the same number as their opponents—Carlton fell short, losing by 35 points. Shannon Grant won the Norm Smith Medal, seeking redemption for a poor performance in the previous year's final.
The outcry over Carlton’s path to the final was so significant that the AFL acted swiftly in 2000. They redesigned the finals system to ensure teams finishing between 5th and 8th had to win every match to progress; a single loss would result in elimination. This change aimed to protect the integrity of the top four seeds. Additionally, the league renegotiated venue contracts to allow higher-ranked teams to host matches in their home states, ending a period where contractual obligations often forced neutral-site games at the MCG.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 1999 AFL Grand Final
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