2014 – The Year That Was: Top 10 AFL Games

2014. Top 10 AFL

AFL fans weren’t the happiest lot in 2014 and crowds were down in Melbourne as people protested with their feet against a dodgy new ticketing system, shoddy schedules, the ASADA mess and games that looked more like rugby. But there were still some quality encounters this season and here are 10 of the best.

Round 1
GWS v Sydney

Don’t let the 32-point margin fool you; this was one of the most action-packed games of the season. GWS were bunnies heading in but on a stormy day in Blacktown they came from seven points down in the final quarter to reel off six unanswered goals and win the day. It was Lance Franklin’s first game for the Swans but he was well held by a heroic Phil Davis, who was rushed to hospital afterwards with a serious kidney injury. The game was also halted for a storm and the players forced off for 20 minutes as lightning lit up the skies. MATCH REPORT

Round 6  
Carlton v West Coast

The Eagles looked on track for a comfortable win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium on the day after ANZAC Day, but they hadn’t counted on a magnificent late rally from Carlton. Trailing by 24 points early in the fourth quarter, the Blues booted four goals in 10 minutes to find themselves right in the contest. Substitute Troy Menzel gave Carlton the lead but West Coast returned fire, although they could only hit the post twice as the Blues won by three. The result only added fuel to stories the Eagles didn’t have the fitness to run out games. MATCH REPORT

Round 7
Adelaide v Melbourne

Melbourne produced one of their best performances in years as they took it to the Crows at Adelaide Oval. It was typical of the Crows year as they were world beaters one week and pretenders the next. This time Melbourne worked their way out to a six-goal lead before the Crows woke from their slumber and produced a thrilling finale. The match was to have an intriguing aftermath as Jack Viney was suspended for his ricochet hit on Adelaide’s Tom Lynch, who was left with a broken jaw. Viney was ultimately cleared on appeal but not without a fan revolution as punters took to social media to complain the game was going soft. MATCH REPORT

Round 8
Sydney v Hawthorn

Once again a 19-point margin doesn’t do justice to the intensity of the contest as the season’s best two teams met in Lance Franklin’s first clash against the Hawks. Sydney threatened to blow Hawthorn away but were reeled in each time and when Jarryd Roughead kicked consecutive goals the margin was just four points late in the final term. Ultimately goals to Jarrad McVeigh and Dan Hannebery sealed the win for Hawthorn in a torrid affair that even included a noteworthy press conference as Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson accused Channel 7 commentator and former Geelong skipper Tom Harley of trying to get Roughead suspended. MATCH REPORT

Round 12
Geelong v Carlton

Both clashes between these sides were nailbiters in 2014 but the first one probably takes the cake as Geelong led by 24 points before the Blues booted six goals in a row to wrest back the advantage. However late goals to George Horlin-Smith and Joel Selwood on the run gave Geelong the edge before the two sides produced a pitched battle in the Carlton forward line in a desperate finale as the Cats held on. This match was also notable for Carlton almost taking the field in the wrong colour shorts. MATCH REPORT

Round 13
Sydney v Port Adelaide

This was the match where Sydney supporters fully embraced the genius that is Lance Franklin. His accuracy was dodgy in the first half but he was there when it counted, booting five second-half goals to help the Swans to a gritty win. John Longmire’s side led at every change but couldn’t quite put away the determined Power. In the end, the Swans relied on Franklin to boot two clutch goals as Sydney held on by four points. MATCH REPORT

Round 13
Essendon v Melbourne

Another comeback and this time it was Melbourne delivering some heartbreak for Essendon. Just days after 34 past-and-present Bombers players were issued show cause notices by ASADA, Essendon looked on track to at least end the week on a high as they led Melbourne by 33 points. But in a Sunday twilight thriller, the Dees came home with a wet sail, delivering an amazing coast-to-coast move at the death that saw youngster Christian Salem drill the winning goal with 19 seconds left on the clock. MATCH REPORT

Round 20
Geelong v Fremantle

For the last few years the rivalry between these two sides has been slowly building into one of the AFL’s best. The likes of Ryan Crowley, Hayden Ballantyne, Steve Johnson and now retired Cats defender Matthew Scarlett has meant there’s little love lost between these teams, along with the fact they have also battled each other in some cut-throat finals. This clash down at the Cattery wasn’t at that level but there was still plenty of drama as Geelong built a four-goal lead by the last change. The Dockers kept coming and ensured this one went down to the wire as David Mundy missed an after-the-siren shot that would have given Freo the win. MATCH REPORT

Round 23
Carlton v Essendon

The only draw of the season and one of the most seesawing games seen in many a year! Carlton led by 30 at quarter-time before Essendon fired up in the second quarter and were five goals up themselves midway through the third term. Not the for the first time in 2014, Carlton launched a late rally and in a dramatic finale Bryce Gibbs almost won it for the Blues with a booming late kick that just fell short. The result was still good enough for the Bombers to lock up seventh and a spot in the finals. MATCH REPORT

Preliminary Final
Hawthorn v Port Adelaide

The Hawks love giving their fans a scare in preliminary finals – six of their last seven prelims have been decided by an average margin of just five-points – and 2014 was no different. A dominant second half had seen Hawthorn take wipe aside an early challenge from Port as they led by 29 points 14 minutes into the final term. But the never-say-die Power responded with four goals in 10 minutes to set up a nerve-shredding finale as they launched one attack after another, only to be repelled by some Hawthorn defensive heroics and questionable umpiring in a three-point result. MATCH REPORT

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