Why the 2010 Australian Football League season required a rare Grand Final replay

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 2010 Australian Football League season was the 114th edition of the country's premier competition. It concluded with a dramatic twist: after a drawn Grand Final, the Collingwood Football Club secured its 15th premiership by defeating St Kilda in a rare replay, highlighting the intense parity of the league.

The 2010 season, running from 25 March to 2 October, featured 16 clubs competing in a 22-game home-and-away schedule followed by a finals series. Because the number of teams made it impossible for every club to play each other twice, the league's draw created notable anomalies. For instance, while some Victorian-based teams like St Kilda traveled interstate six times, others like Essendon traveled only three. Scheduling quirks also meant that defending premiers Geelong played seven games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground despite not being a tenant there.

Competitive balance remained a central challenge, as evidenced by the varying difficulty of schedules. North Melbourne and Port Adelaide faced only two of the previous year's top eight teams twice, whereas Collingwood and Essendon played five. This parity extended to the field, where margins were often razor-thin. Several matches were decided by a single point, and the initial Grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda ended in a 68-68 draw, necessitating a replay to determine the champion.

Individual excellence was recognized through various accolades. Carlton's Chris Judd earned the Brownlow Medal with 30 votes, while Jack Riewoldt of Richmond claimed the Coleman Medal for his 78 goals. The AFL Rising Star award went to Sydney's Dan Hannebery, who received a perfect 45 votes. Meanwhile, the West Coast Eagles finished at the bottom of the ladder, receiving the wooden spoon, while Collingwood’s dominance was further reflected in their receipt of the McClelland Trophy and Dane Swan’s recognition as the league's Most Valuable Player.

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