Almanac Teams – Finals Fiends

 

 

This side is the opposite of last weeks. It is a team of players who have played the most finals with at least 25 finals matches. The team is as usual, since 1980. I have listed others pre-1980 at the bottom.  The team is hard to pick so it really is based on the most finals played of these players. Hope you enjoy.

 

 

FB:         Gary Ayres (Haw)                         Stephen Silvagni (Carl)               Heath Shaw (Coll/GWS)

 

CHB:      Bruce Doull (Carl)                        Chris Mew (Haw)                         Jarrad McVeigh (Syd)

 

C:         Scott Pendlebury (Coll)              Jimmy Bartel (Geel)                      Wayne Schimmelbusch (NM)

 

CHF:      Shaun Burgoyne (PA/Haw)     Lance Franklin (Haw/Syd)              Patrick Dangerfield (Adel/Geel)

 

FF:          Kevin Bartlett (Rich)                     Tom Hawkins (Geel)                    Leigh Matthews (Haw)

 

Ruck:        Adam Goodes (Syd)                     Michael Tuck (Haw)                    Joel Selwood (Geel)

 

Interchange: Gary Ablett Jnr (Geel/GCS), Jason Akermanis (Bris/WB), Dermott Brereton (Haw/Syd/Coll), Harry Taylor (Geel)

 

Sub: Martin Pike (Fitz/Mel/NM/Bris)

 

Others: Grant Birchall (Haw/Bris), John Blakey (Fitz/NM), Mark Blicavs (Geel), Jude Bolton (Syd), David Dench (NM), Mitch Duncan (Geel), Luke Hodge (Haw/Bris), Steve Johnson (Geel/GWS), Dean Kemp (WCE), Chris Langford (Haw), Jordan Lewis (Haw/Mel), Gary Rohan (Syd/Geel), Andrew Mackie (Geel), Sam Mitchell (Haw/WCE), Luke Parker (Syd/NM), Steele Sidebottom (Coll), Isaac Smith (Haw/Geel)

 

Gary Ayres

269 games Hawthorn (1978-1993)

28 finals

Eight grand finals for five premierships

Norm Smith Medal 1986 and 1988

Ayres played finals in 11 years from 16 years in total. Ayres did not play in any finals in his first four years from 1978-1981 in which he played 22 games. Ayres missed the 1990 Elimination Final due to injury.

 

Stephen Silvagni

312 games Carlton (1985-2001)

26 finals

Four grand finals for two premierships

Silvagni played finals in 11 years from 17 years in total. Silvagni was dropped for the 1986 Grand Final after playing the previous 13 games.

 

Heath Shaw

173 games Collingwood (2004-2013)

152 games Greater Western Sydney (2014-2020)

325 games (2004-2020)

27 finals

Four grand finals for one premiership and one draw

At Collingwood Shaw played finals in seven years from nine years in total. At Greater Western Sydney he played in three out of seven. In total Shaw played in ten years out of 16 years. Shaw missed the 2008 finals as he was suspended due to an off field incident.

 

Bruce Doull

356 games Carlton (1969-1986)

29 finals

Six grand finals for four premierships.

Norm Smith Medal 1981

Doull played finals in 12 years out 18 years in total. In Doull’s first three years he played 27 games but no finals even though Carlton made finals in 1969 and 1970 with his last game in Round 19 of each season.

 

Chris Mew

230 games Hawthorn (1980-1992)

28 finals

Eight grand finals for five premierships

Mew played finals in ten years out of 12 years in total.

 

Jarrod McVeigh

325 games Sydney (2004-2019)

28 finals

Four grand finals for one premiership

McVeigh played finals 13 years out of 16 years in total. McVeigh played thirteen games in the 2005 Premiership year with his last game in Round 17

 

Scott Pendlebury

422 games Collingwood (2006- )

32 finals

Five grand finals for two premierships and one draw

Norm Smith Medallist 2010

Pendlebury has played finals in 13 years out of 19 years in total.

 

Jimmy Bartel

305 games Geelong (2002-2016)

28 finals

Four grand finals for three premierships

Norm Smith Medallist 2011

Bartel played finals 11 years out of 15 years in total.

 

Wayne Schimmelbusch

306 games North Melbourne (1973-1987)

29 finals

Five grand finals for two premierships and one draw

Schimmelbusch played finals ten years out of 15 years in total.

 

Shaun Burgoyne

157 games Port Adelaide (2002-2009)

250 games Hawthorn (2010-2021)

407 games (2002-2021)

35 finals

Six grand finals for four premierships

At Port Adelaide Burgoyne played in finals five years out of eight years in Total. At Hawthorn Burgoyne played finals eight years out of 12 years in total. Burgoyne played finals for 13 years out of 20 years in total.

 

Lance Franklin

182 games Hawthorn (2005-2013)

172 games Sydney (2014-2023)

354 games (2005-2023)

28 finals

Six grand finals for two premierships

At Hawthorn Franklin played in finals six years out of nine years in total. At Sydney Franklin played finals in six years out of ten years. In total Franklin played finals 12 years out of 19. In 2015 Franklin missed finals due to illness and in 2020 he missed the whole year.

 

Patrick Dangerfield

154 games Adelaide (2008-2015)

203 games Geelong (2016- )

357 games (2008- )

29 finals

Two grand finals for one premiership

At Adelaide Dangerfield played in finals three years out of eight years in total. At Geelong Dangerfield has played finals nine years out of ten years in total. In total Dangerfield has played finals 12 years out of 18 so far. Dangerfield played two games in Round 20 and 21 in 2008 when Adelaide finished fifth.

 

Kevin Bartlett

403 games Richmond (1965-1983)

27 finals

Seven grand finals for five premierships

Bartlett played finals for ten years out of 19.

 

Tom Hawkins

359 games Geelong (2007-2024)

32 finals

Four grand finals for three premierships

Hawkins played finals for 13 years out of 18 years. Hawkins did not play finals in his first two years at Geelong having played nine games in 2007 with his last in Round 16 and then the first ten games in 2008. In 2024 Hawkins was injured for the finals with his last game in Round 16.

 

Leigh Matthews

332 games Hawthorn (1969-1985)

29 finals

Seven grand finals for four premierships

Matthews played finals for ten years out of 17 years in total.

 

Adam Goodes

372 games Sydney (1999-2015)

28 finals

Four grand finals for two premierships.

Goodes played finals in 13 years out of 17 years in total. Goodes missed the 2015 finals after injuring his posterior cruciate ligament in Round 13.

 

Michael Tuck

426 games Hawthorn (1972-1991)

39 finals

11 grand finals for seven premierships

Tuck played finals in 15 years out of 20 years in total.

 

Joel Selwood

355 games Geelong (2007-2022)

40 finals

Six grand finals for four premierships

Selwood played finals in 15 years out of 16 years in total.

 

Gary Ablett Jnr

192 games Geelong (2002-2010)

110 games Gold Coast (2011-2017)

55 games Geelong (2018-2020)

357 games (2002-2020)

25 finals

Four grand finals for two premierships

Ablett played finals in nine years out of 12 years at Geelong but with Gold Coast not making finals until after his retirement, Ablett in total played nine finals for his AFL career of 19 years.

 

Jason Akermanis

248 games Brisbane (1995-2006)

77 games Western Bulldogs (2007-2010)

28 finals

Four grand finals for three premierships

Akermanis played finals in nine years out of 12 for Brisbane and two out of four years at the Bulldogs. In total Akermanis played finals in 11 years out 16 years in total. Akermanis was no in line to play at the Bulldogs with his last game in Round 10 when the Bulldogs made the finals in 2010.

 

Dermott Brereton

189 games Hawthorn (1982-1993)

7 games Sydney (1994)

15 games Collingwood (1995)

211 games (1982-1995)

26 finals

Eight grand finals for five premierships

 

Brereton made his debut in a semi final in 1982. He played finals ten years out of 11 years at Hawthorn (or 12 years if you count 1993 where he missed the whole year injured). Brereton did not play in finals at Sydney and Collingwood, meaning Brereton played in finals ten years out of 14 years in total.

 

Harry Taylor

280 games Geelong (2008-2020)

31 finals

Four grand finals for two premierships

Taylor played finals 12 years out of 13 years in total.

 

Martin Pike

24 games Melbourne (1993-1994)

36 games Fitzroy (1995-1996)

81 games North Melbourne (1997-2000)

106 games Brisbane (2001-2005)

247 games (1993-2005)

27 finals

Six grand finals for four premierships

Pike played one year of finals at Melbourne from two years and no finals at Fitzroy. He played four years of finals from the same at North Melbourne and then four more years of finals from five years at Brisbane. This meant Pike played nine years of finals from 13 years in total.

 

 

Others

Grant Birchall

248 games Hawthorn (2006-2019)

39 games Brisbane (2020-2021)

287 games (2006-2021)

27 finals

Five grand finals for four Premierships

Birchall played finals in eight years out of 13 years in total at Hawthorn. At Brisbane Birchall played finals in both years. In total Birchall played finals ten years out of 15 years in total. Birchall missed finals in 2010 and 2018 due to injuries.

 

John Blakey

135 games Fitzroy (1985-1992)

224 games North Melbourne (1993-2002)

359 games (1985-2002)

25 finals

Three grand finals for two premiership

Blakey played finals in one year out of eight years at Fitzroy. At North Melbourne he played finals nine years out of ten years. Blakey played finals in ten years out of 18 in total.

 

Mark Blicavs

292 games Geelong (2013- )

27 finals

Two grand finals for one premiership

Blicavs has played finals in 11 years out of 13 in total.

 

Jude Bolton

325 games Sydney (1999-2013)

26 finals

Three grand finals for two premierships

Bolton played finals 12 years out of 15 years in total.

 

David Dench

275 games North Melbourne (1969-1984)

25 finals

Five grand finals for two premierships and one draw

Dench has played finals in eight years out of 16 years in total. Dench missed the finals including the grand final in 1978.

 

Mitch Duncan

305 games Geelong (2010- )

28 finals

Three grand finals for two premierships.

Duncan has played finals in 12 years out of 16 years in total. Duncan was not picked for finals in his first year in 2010, playing eight games with his last in Round 15.

 

Luke Hodge

305 games Hawthorn (2002-2017)

41 games Brisbane (2018-2019)

346 games (2002-2019)

25 finals

Five grand finals for four premierships

Hodge was Norm Smith Medallist in 2008 and 2014.

Hodge has played finals in nine years out of 16 years at Hawthorn. At Brisbane Hodge played finals in one of his two years. In total Hodge has played finals ten years out of 18 years.

 

Steve Johnson

253 games Geelong (2002-2015)

40 games Greater Western Sydney (2016-2017)

293 games (2002-2017)

26 finals

Four grand finals for three premierships

Norm Smith Medallist 2017

Johnson played nine years in finals out of 14 years at Geelong. At Greater Western Sydney Johnson played finals in both years. In total Johnson played finals 11 years out of 16 years. He missed the finals in 2012 due to suspension.

 

Dean Kemp

243 games West Coast (1990-2001)

25 finals

Three grand finals for two premierships

Norm Smith Medallist 1994

Kemp played finals ten years out of 12 years in total.

 

Chris Langford

303 games Hawthorn (1983-1997)

25 finals

Six grand finals for four premierships

Langford played in finals in 12 years out of 15 years in total. Langford was not selected in 1983 finals. In 1984 he was dropped at the last minute for the grand final despite playing the semifinal and warming up with the team.

 

Jordan Lewis

264 games Hawthorn (2005-2016)

55 games Melbourne (2017-2019)

26 finals

Five grand finals for four premierships

Lewis played finals for nine years out of 12 years at Hawthorn. At Melbourne Lewis played finals in one year out of three years. In total Lewis played finals for 10 years out of 15 years.

 

Andrew Mackie

280 games Geelong (2004-2017)

26 finals

Four grand finals for three premierships

Mackie played finals for 11 years out of 14 years out of total. Mackie was not selected for the 2004 finals.

 

Sam Mitchell

307 games Hawthorn (2002-2016)

22 games West Coast (2017)

329 games (2002-2017)

26 finals

Five grand finals for four premierships

Mitchell played finals for nine years out of 15 years at Hawthorn. West Coast played finals in his only year there. Mitchell played finals for ten years out of 16 years in total.

 

Luke Parker

293 games Sydney (2011-2024)

22 games North Melbourne (2025- )
315 games (2011- )

Five grand finals for one premiership

Parker played in finals 11 years out 14 years in total at Sydney and a total of 11 years out of 15 years in total. Parker missed the finals in 2015 due to injury.

 

Gary Rohan

106 games Sydney (2010-2018)

98 games Geelong (2019-2024)

204 games (2010-2024)

26 finals

Four grand finals for one premiership

Rohan played in finals in six years out of nine years in total at Sydney. Rohan played finals in 4 years out of 6 years at Geelong. In total Rohan played in finals ten years out of 15 years in total. Rohan was not selected for finals in 2010 with his last game in Round 22. In 2012 Rohan was injured and was dropped for the finals in 2024.

 

Steele Sidebottom

352 games Collingwood (2009- )

27 finals

Five grand finals for two premierships and one draw

Sidebottom has played in finals 10 years out of 17 years in total. Sidebottom missed finals in 2020 due to injury.

 

Isaac Smith

210 games Hawthorn (2011-2020)

70 games Geelong (2021-2023)

26 finals

Five grand finals for four premierships

Norm Smith Medallist 2022

Smith played finals seven years out of ten years at Hawthorn. At Geelong he played finals two years out of three. In total Smith played finals nine years out of 13 years.

 

 

Most finals

Joel Selwood 40

Michael Tuck 39

Shaun Burgoyne 35

 

Players prior to 1980

Gordon Coventry 31

Bill Hutchinson 28

Dick Reynolds 27

Harry Collier 27

Albert Collier 26

Rod McGregor 25

 

Current players most finals

Scott Pendlebury 32

Patrick Dangerfield 29

Mitch Duncan 28

Mark Blicavs 27

Steele Sidebottom 27

Luke Parker 26

Charlie Cameron 24

Lachie Neale 24

Dane Rampe 23

Jed Bews 20

Luke Breust 20

Jake Lloyd 20

Callan Ward 20

Josh Dunkley 19

Travis Boak 18

Jeremy Cameron 18

Jack Gunston 18

Josh Kelly 18

Rhys Stanley 18

Lachie Whitfield 18

Harris Andrews 17

Zac Bailey 17

Jarrod Berry 17

Jack Darling 17

Taylor Duryea 17

Toby Greene 17

Isaac Heeney 17

Jack Henry 17

Harry Himmelberg 17

Hugh McCluggage 17

Dayne Zorko 17

Gryan Miers 16

Tom Stewart 16

Nick Vlastuin 16

Jack Crisp 15

Brandon Starcevich 15

Harry Cunningham 15

Bradley Hill 15

Brodie Mihocek 15

Tom Papley 15

Ollie Wines 15

 

 

 

 

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