2000 AFL Grand Final

2000 AFL Grand Final
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the 2000 AFL Grand Final took place

Essendon

Melbourne
19.21 (135) 11.9 (75)
1 2 3 4
ESS 4.8 (32) 10.16 (76) 16.17 (113) 19.21 (135)
MEL 3.3 (21) 5.5 (35) 8.8 (56) 11.9 (75)
Date2 September 2000
StadiumMelbourne Cricket Ground
Attendance96,249
FavouriteEssendon
UmpiresDarren Goldspink (32), Brett Allen (10), Hayden Kennedy (7)
Coin toss won byDavid Neitz, Melbourne
Kicked towardCity End
Ceremonies
Pre-match entertainmentThe Idea of North, Trish Delaney-Brown, Megan Corson, Andrew Piper and Nick Begie
National anthemBachelor Girl
Post-match entertainmentMike Brady, Russell Morris and Rick Price
Accolades
Norm Smith MedallistJames Hird (Essendon)
Jock McHale MedallistKevin Sheedy (Essendon)
Broadcast in Australia
NetworkSeven Network
CommentatorsBruce McAvaney (host and commentator)
Sandy Roberts (commentator)
Jason Dunstall (expert commentator)
Gerard Healy (expert commentator)
Malcolm Blight (expert commentator)
Tony Lockett (boundary rider)
Anthony Hudson (boundary rider)
Robert DiPierdomenico (boundary rider)
← 1999 AFL Grand Final 2001 →

The 2000 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and the Melbourne Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 2 September 2000 rather than in its usual last Saturday of September date to avoid conflicting with the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. It was the 104th annual grand final (counting replays) of the Australian Football League (formerly the Victorian Football League),[1] staged to determine the premiers for the 2000 AFL season. The match, attended by 96,249 spectators, was won by Essendon by a margin of 60 points. It was Essendon's 16th premiership, drawing the club equal for the most VFL/AFL premierships.

  1. ^ In 1897 and 1924 there were no grand finals and instead the premier was decided by a finals play-off. In 1948 and 1977 there were grand final replays after initial draws.