A record-breaking landslide and a historic underdog run
In short: The 2019 AFL Grand Final wasn't just a victory; it was a demolition. Richmond Football Club secured their twelfth premiership with an 89-point margin, the largest in their history. Yet, the path to that dominance featured a rare feat: a team reaching the final without finishing in the top four.
The match, held on September 28, 2019, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before 100,014 spectators, saw Richmond overwhelm Greater Western Sydney (GWS). While Richmond entered as heavy favorites with $1.44 odds, their dominance was fueled by a late-season surge. After struggling early in 2019—sitting ninth on the ladder at Round 14—the Tigers won nine consecutive home-and-away games to finish third. They retained much of their 2017 core while integrating new key forward Tom Lynch, allowing them to dismantle GWS with a relentless scoring run. In contrast, GWS provided one of the most unique paths in modern league history. After losing co-captain Callan Ward and star midfielder Stephen Coniglio to injury, they finished the regular season in sixth place. They became only the second team since 2000 to reach a grand final from outside the top four.
Their journey was defined by narrow escapes: three-point and four-point victories in their semi-final and preliminary final respectively, before finally being overwhelmed by Richmond's offensive output. The game itself was a masterclass in momentum. After a scoreless first twenty minutes, Richmond took control in the second quarter, scoring five unanswered goals to build a 35-point lead at half time. They extended this to a 62-point cushion by three-quarter time. The final margin of 89 points surpassed Richmond's previous record of 81 points set in 1980. Dustin Martin anchored the performance, winning his second Norm Smith Medal with a unanimous 15-vote tally, cementing his status as one of the league's elite icons.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2019 AFL Grand Final
- Also: Wikidata — 2019 AFL Grand Final · CC0
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