Historic Moments That Shaped Australian Rules Football

Some of Australian football’s most memorable days are remembered for a single mark, a sudden comeback or a gesture that changed the conversation around the game. But the story stretches well beyond the grand final: it runs from informal matches in colonial Melbourne to a national league and the rise of women’s football.

These moments help explain how the game developed, why its traditions matter and what fans still look for when the ball is bounced.

From Melbourne paddocks to organised football

In 1858, Melbourne schoolboys and adults began playing versions of football during the cricket off-season. The matches were loosely organised and the rules varied. One early, much-told contest was between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College, with a series of matches beginning in August that year. The best-known spark for a local game came from cricketer Tom Wills, who wrote in July 1858 that a football club could help cricketers stay fit through winter.

The Melbourne Football Club formalised a set of rules in 1859. Wills was among the group involved, alongside figures including journalist James Thompson and cricketer William Hammersley. Those early rules were not identical to today’s, but they helped establish a distinct game, played with an oval ball on open grounds and shaped by running, marking and kicking.

Australian football changed as clubs and competitions grew. In 1896, eight clubs broke from the Victorian Football Association to form the Victorian Football League, which played its first season in 1897. The VFL eventually became the national Australian Football League in 1990, reflecting a competition that had expanded well beyond Victoria.

Moments that made grand final history

1970: Carlton’s comeback from 44 points down

At half-time in the 1970 VFL Grand Final, Collingwood led Carlton by 44 points. Carlton coach Ron Barassi made a bold change, moving the team into a more attacking formation and encouraging players to use handball to break through the opposition’s pressure. Carlton surged back to win 17.9 (111) to Collingwood’s 14.17 (101).

The comeback is still a reference point for what can happen when a team changes its approach rather than simply trying harder at the same plan. The match also helped popularise handball as a fast way to move the ball through traffic.

1977: A drawn grand final, then a replay

Collingwood and North Melbourne finished the 1977 Grand Final level at 10.16 (76) apiece. It was the first drawn VFL grand final, so the teams returned the following week for a replay. North Melbourne won that match by 27 points, claiming the club’s first VFL premiership.

The unusual two-week finish became part of the sport’s folklore. It also shows how a grand final can hinge on small details: a missed shot, a late clearance or one last contest in the forward line.

1989: Geelong’s fightback against Hawthorn

The 1989 Grand Final is remembered for its fierce physical contests and Geelong’s late charge. Hawthorn built a substantial lead, but the Cats kept attacking and eventually cut the margin to six points. Hawthorn held on to win 21.18 (144) to Geelong’s 21.12 (138). Geelong’s Gary Ablett Sr kicked nine goals, one of the most remarkable individual performances in a grand final.

It remains a vivid example of the sport’s mix of skill and endurance: a team can be behind for most of a match and still make an opponent defend every possession to the final siren.

1990: Collingwood ends a long wait

Collingwood’s 1990 premiership broke a 32-year drought. The Magpies defeated Essendon by 48 points, prompting an emotional celebration from supporters who had endured several painful near-misses. The drought had become part of the club’s identity; ending it gave the win meaning well beyond the final score.

It was also the first grand final played under the AFL name, following the competition’s 1990 renaming as it continued its national expansion.

2005: Leo Barry’s mark and Sydney’s first flag in 72 years

Sydney’s one-point win over West Coast in the 2005 Grand Final ended a 72-year premiership wait for the club and its South Melbourne predecessor. In the dying seconds, defender Leo Barry took a high-pressure mark in defence to secure possession and help seal the win. His leap is one of the most recognisable images in modern football.

The Swans and Eagles met again in the 2006 Grand Final, with West Coast winning by one point. Those back-to-back finishes made their rivalry a defining story of the era.

Expansion, new voices and a changing game

The AFL’s growth reshaped the competition. West Coast and Brisbane joined in 1987, Adelaide entered in 1991 and Fremantle followed in 1995. Port Adelaide became an AFL club in 1997, bringing a long-established South Australian football identity into the national league. Expansion gave more fans a local team and made a premiership race involving clubs from different states an ordinary part of the season.

Australian football’s history also includes the influence and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players. Sir Doug Nicholls played for Fitzroy in the 1930s and became a prominent community leader. In 1993, St Kilda’s Nicky Winmar lifted his jumper and pointed to his skin while responding to racist abuse from the crowd at Collingwood’s Victoria Park. The image became a powerful statement against racism in football and beyond.

Indigenous stars have shaped the game on the field, too. Polly Farmer, a brilliant ruckman for Geelong and West Perth, helped make the handball a central attacking weapon. Later generations, including Adam Goodes and many others, have continued to influence the sport while drawing attention to the challenges players face off the field.

Women’s football takes centre stage

The first AFL Women’s match was played in 2017, when Carlton hosted Collingwood at Ikon Park. A crowd of 24,568 watched Carlton win, underlining the appetite for a national women’s competition. Adelaide won the inaugural AFLW premiership later that season, defeating Brisbane in the grand final.

AFLW gave women’s football a bigger national stage and offered young players a visible pathway to the top level. Its arrival is one of the most significant changes in the sport’s modern history—not a footnote to the men’s competition, but a major chapter in Australian football’s growth.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When did Australian Rules Football begin?

Organised matches were being played in Melbourne by 1858. The Melbourne Football Club helped formalise rules in 1859, creating an important early foundation for the game.

What is considered the greatest AFL grand final comeback?

Carlton’s 1970 comeback is one of the most famous. The Blues overturned a 44-point half-time deficit to beat Collingwood by 10 points.

Why is the 1977 Grand Final famous?

Collingwood and North Melbourne drew 76–76, forcing a replay the following week. North Melbourne won the replay and claimed its first VFL premiership.

When did the AFL Women’s competition start?

The AFLW played its first match in February 2017, between Carlton and Collingwood at Ikon Park. Adelaide won the first premiership later that year.

Final Thoughts

Australian football’s history is built from more than premiership cups. The 1970 comeback shows the impact of tactical change; Leo Barry’s mark captures the drama of a last-minute contest; and Winmar’s stand and the launch of AFLW mark important shifts in who is seen, heard and celebrated in the game. Together, these moments tell the story of a sport that keeps changing while holding on to its distinctive character.