Best SANFL GF you have been to and why?

[Valleysvirgin]

I am old enough and lucky enough to have attended the following GF's:
1969
1970
1973 The best GF ever, the game had everything. It was a very hot day,Tregenza and Hammond played blinders
1974
1976Comes a close 2nd to '73 primarily because of Rick Davies performance. Absolutely outstanding.
1977
1980
1981
1982
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1990
1991
1992
2002

[Pseudo]

(Perhaps the funniest moment was after the final siren when Nunan spat the dummy and had a go at a Footy Times snapper.)

Mick wasn't the most gracious of losers... Remember in '86 he led his team straight off the oval after the siren.

[Mr66]

A blast from the past from my Football Times collection.
It might have been Darel Hart having a go at the photographer,
and as 'The Hatchet' says in his column, pity North didn't show
the same aggression during the GF.

[Magpiespower]

Gold 66!

Apologies to Mr. Nunan.

From memory, there's a great moment in that game when Greg Phillips comes steaming out of CHB, and the 'engine room' back-pedal...

[FlyingHigh]

Given its that time of the year, thought it was be a good time to revive this thread.

Been to: 85, 86, 87, 89-98, 01-06. Missed 3 in 22 years.

Agree Macca, the atmoshpere before the start of that 95 GF is the best I have experienced anywhere. 98 was also a great atmosphere, with Sturt's rejuvenation.

Obviously 93 and 06 are the highlights, because of the result. Neutral football supporter might not say they have been the most exciting games.

1999 is one I wish I had been at. This game is an underrated classic.

85 was great, being the first one I went too. 91 was exciting, even if it was for the wrong reasons.

94 was the absolute worst day of my footballing experience full stop, whether it be playing, watching or supporting.

Can I put in '86 1st semi as an honorary mention for a great day at the footy?!!

[hearts on fire]

1990 Port v Glenelg - the sweetest win of all.

1994 Port v Eagles - the most exciting win of all.

Agreed.

[hearts on fire]

I'd say 1994 was probably the best. Another GF where I cheered for Port as I hated the merged side so much!

How much were the Eagles up by in the 2nd quarter? if my memory serves me correct is was over 8 goals...

Ginevar, Williams, Carter et al were awesome in the 3rd and 4th quarters their relentless attack on the ball just pushing it back into the Forward line was sensantional...

I was at that game. The margin sounds about right, as I remember (perhaps due to my lack of age - I was only 10 at the time) saying to my mum "we'll win this game" with her reply being "bullshit".

Sure enough, Port got up, and to this day it remains my favourite SANFL Grand Final, and my 2nd favourite game overall (the 2005 CDJFL Under 15's Grand Final between Salisbury North and Smithfield was a corker).

[youngster]

Been to the following:
76 - bit too young to remember much unfortunately.
77
78 - as an 8 year old was devastated.
81
82
83 - Westies were a class above that year.
86
87
89 - Didn't see anything after half time, got smashed in corporate tent
91 - Biffo!
93 - Legs were about as good as Port in the 07 AFL final
94 - Remember Giniver sucking someone in (maybe Campo?) and getting a free for Port's first goal late in the first quarter after the Eags had kicked the first five or six and had totally dominated the game. Told my mate at the time that Port would win. Sure enough...
96 -I remember the line dancers as pre game entertainment. WTF????
98 - The rebirth. Devastated after Blues were top all year and were pipped at the post. I thought we were destined to win that one...
99 - Drove from Alice Springs in time to watch Blues reserves win the flag. Legs v Port was a corker too.
02 - Sweeeeeet, again drove down from Alice for that one, great party afterwards in the Shed.
05
Best one definitely 2002!

However as a contest probably 98 and 99 were better...

[leftlegger]

Been to:
1975 Gl v Nwd - Pissed off we played like crap and were destroyed by the umps I was very young and i cried.
1977 Gl v Port - Good hard game. Proud of the Tigers getting close.
1978 Nwd v St - Dont remember too much other than it was very close.
1979 Port v South - Boring
1980 Port v Nwd - Most vivid memory was watching the new star Michael Aish
1981 Gl v Port - oh crap
1982 Gl v Nwd - oh crap, We played our GF the week before when we beat Port
1983 West v St - Very enjoyable. A Westies junior at the time they were good times!
1985 Gl v North - Fantastic
1986 Gl v North - Back to Back Fantastic
1990 Gl v Port - AAARGH!
1991 West v North - Violent
1992 Gl v Port - Just got back from my first trip OS. Sadly Nothing had changed
1995 Port v Cent - Was that the first one Centrals were in? Crowd more interesting than the match.
Since then I havent been to any SANFL GFs. Might go this year though.

Also, I went to the 1989 VFL GF Hawthorn v Geelong and that was the best match I have ever seen.

Best of the SANFL GFs.
For the quality of the football 1983 and 1985.

[Dirko]

85/86 all others crap that I was old enough to attend....
Haven't missed one in the past 8 years...I might be the Dogs omen

[GWW]

I've been to 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 and 99.

My favourite would be 88 because it was the first GF i saw live that Port won, and the fact that it was 7 years since our last flag.

[Wedgie]

As far as a spectacle and closeness, probably the 94 GF. I was actually barracking for Port too!
First GF was 85, missed 88 and then stopped going after the 96 GF.
Started going again in 2004.

[Magpiespower]

On 1994...

Eagles led by six goals early on after kicking the first six goals of the game.

Was the biggest lead of the day until Port's barnstorming last quarter....

[Footy Chick]

Been to every grand final since 1982. Last years was the first I missed...

Best (Involving my team)- 1990 - for many reasons, last of the classic GF's, Glenelg loses yet another GF to Port etc etc...

Worst (involving my team)- 1984 - because I left my lucky scarf at home (as I did in '97) and look what happened...


Not involving my team....
'91 was memorable probably for all the wrong reasons, yet still entertaining despite the score. '93 was good too, purely because it proved (at the time) that the merge was good for football.. 2002 - the ultimate underdog claiming victory story, heightened by the fact that they unfortunatley did not all live happily ever after..

Worst not involving my team....

Which years have Central won again?... starting to lose count...

[Dogwatcher]

You shouldn't lose count FC - you can count them on one hand at the moment

[Footy Chick]

You shouldn't lose count FC - you can count them on one hand at the moment

Lets hope it stays that way..

[Dogwatcher]

Best of luck.

[Zorro]

I was there in 1991 when I was 14. It was enjoyable for the win but a pretty violent game. Also at the time I didn't appreciate the occasion and didn't realise it would be 16 years before another GF.

I went in 2000 with my wife (Centrals supporter) and was supporting them for their first flag. The last qtr atmosphere was amazing and I was happy for them. Of course I didn't realise it would be the first of 8 GFs in a row and 5 flags for them (yes 5 flags, not 6)

[Interceptor]

Went to 1982, 1988, 1993, 1997, 1999.

1997 is easily the pick for me as it broke the Legs' premiership drought.

1999 was a cracker of a game, but ultra painful to lose after hitting the front.

[WWT Freak 1049]

Only been to 2000,01,02,04 and 06, and have only followed the eagles since 1996 so 2006 would have to be my best as we beat our biggest rivals. Having only seen one without my team in it I can't really comment on other games but hopefully this years will be an absolute ripper.