A season of razor-thin margins and historic anomalies in the AFL
In short: The 2006 AFL season was defined by extreme contrasts. While West Coast secured a dramatic one-point premiership victory, a struggling Carlton side produced a statistical rarity: a leading goalkicker from the team that finished last. From controversial siren errors to historic tactical shifts, it was a year of profound sporting drama.
The 2006 season, the 110th in the league's history, was marked by unprecedented shifts in the competitive landscape. For the first time in the history of the VFL/AFL, the top four was entirely composed of non-Victorian teams: West Coast, Adelaide, Fremantle, and Sydney. This signaled a significant shift in the traditional power balance of the competition.
The season was also defined by extreme statistical outliers and controversial officiating. Brendan Fevola of Carlton achieved a rare feat by winning the Coleman Medal as the league's leading goalkicker, despite his team finishing 16th and taking the wooden spoon. This was the first time such an occurrence had happened since 1965, and remains the most recent instance recorded as of 2022.
On-field drama extended to officiating errors that altered the season's trajectory. In a Round 5 match between Fremantle and St Kilda, the umpires failed to hear the final siren, leading to extra time that allowed St Kilda to level the scores. The AFL commission later overturned the result, a decision that proved crucial as it prevented St Kilda from finishing in the top four and denied them a double chance in the finals.
The season culminated in a high-stakes Grand Final where the West Coast Eagles defeated Sydney by a single point, securing their third premiership. This mirrored the scoreline of their Qualifying Final meeting earlier in the season, where Sydney had beaten the minor premiers by the same 85 to 84 margin.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2006 AFL season
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