The 2000 AFL finals series was the postseason tournament of the Australian Football League (AFL) that determined the premier for the 2000 season. It was contested by the eight highest‑placed teams on the AFL ladder after the home‑and‑away season and was conducted under the McIntyre final eight system, which was the league’s standard finals format from 1994 to 1999 and continued through the 2000 season.
Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | 9 September – 2 September 2000 (Grand Final) |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Finals format | McIntyre final eight system |
| Venue for Grand Final | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne |
| Champion | Essendon Football Club (their 16th VFL/AFL premiership) |
| Runner‑up | Melbourne Football Club |
| Grand Final attendance | 96,249 spectators |
Qualified teams
The eight teams that qualified for the 2000 finals, in order of their ladder position after the regular season, were:
- Essendon Football Club – Minor premiers (first‑place finish)
- Melbourne Football Club
- Port Adelaide Football Club
- Western Bulldogs
- West Coast Eagles
- Adelaide Crows
- Geelong Football Club
- North Melbourne Kangaroos
Match results
Week 1 – Qualifying and Elimination Finals (9–10 September 2000)
- Qualifying Final 1: Essendon 12.13 (85) defeated Western Bulldogs 5.10 (40) – MCG
- Qualifying Final 2: Melbourne 12.13 (85) defeated Port Adelaide 7.7 (49) – MCG
- Elimination Final 1: West Coast 15.13 (103) defeated North Melbourne 13.7 (85) – Subiaco Oval
- Elimination Final 2: Adelaide 11.13 (79) defeated Geelong 9.9 (63) – Football Park
Week 2 – Semi‑finals (16–17 September 2000)
- Semi‑final 1: Western Bulldogs 16.13 (109) defeated West Coast 12.9 (81) – MCG
- Semi‑final 2: Port Adelaide 13.13 (91) defeated Adelaide 8.12 (60) – AAMI Stadium
Week 3 – Preliminary Finals (23–24 September 2000)
- Preliminary Final 1: Essendon 19.21 (135) defeated Port Adelaide 12.14 (86) – MCG
- Preliminary Final 2: Melbourne 12.12 (84) defeated Western Bulldogs 8.14 (62) – MCG
Week 4 – Grand Final (2 September 2000)
- Grand Final: Essendon 19.21 (135) defeated Melbourne 11.9 (75) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
Significance
- Essendon’s victory marked their first premiership since 1993 and completed a dominant season in which the club recorded a 24‑win, 0‑loss record in the home‑and‑away competition, the best regular‑season record in VFL/AFL history up to that point.
- The 2000 Grand Final was the first to be held on a Saturday in September since 1977, reflecting a shift in scheduling by the AFL.
- The finals series featured a notable upset when the seventh‑placed Geelong were eliminated by Adelaide, despite Geelong having a strong offensive record during the regular season.
Broadcasting and media
All finals matches were televised live on the Seven Network, which held the national broadcast rights for the AFL from 1991 to 2001. Radio coverage was provided by the Australian Football League’s official broadcast partners, including 3AW (Melbourne) and 6PR (Western Australia).
Legacy
The 2000 AFL finals series is frequently referenced in discussions of dominant premiership campaigns due to Essendon’s comprehensive performance throughout both the regular season and finals. It also marked the final year of the McIntyre final eight system before the AFL adopted the current final eight arrangement (the “final eight” system) in 2000‑2001.
References (selected)
- Australian Football League. “2000 Season Review.” AFL.com.au.
- Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim. The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 10th ed., BAS Publishing, 2000.
- Ross, John. The Australian Football League: A History. Penguin, 2002.
(All data reflect publicly available league records and match reports from the 2000 AFL season.)
