Queensland’s AFL Grand Final History

By Peter Blucher

Sam Reid is set become the 25^th Queenslander to play in an AFL Grand Final on Saturday.

And desperately hoping to join him is teammate and would-be 26^th Queensland grand final player Lachy Keeffe.

It is a who’s who of Queensland football, headed by Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall, a five-time grand final player, and the Brisbane quartet of Michael Voss, Jason Akermanis, Mal Michael and Clark Keating, plus Hawthorn forward David Hale, who each played in four grand finals.

For Reid and Keeffe, all will hinge on the final GWS GIANTS’ selection tomorrow for the premiership decider against Richmond at the MCG.

Reid, who has played every game this season, is a lock. Keeffe, superb in the preliminary final last week as a late inclusion, is on the cusp as the GIANTS weigh up the fitness of captain Phil Davis, Lachy Whitfield and Stephen Coniglio.

Reid will be the second oldest first-time Queenslander to play in a Grand Final, and Keeffe, if he plays will be next on the same list.

Marcus Ashcroft, the veteran Gold Coaster who played with Brisbane in the 2001-02-03 premiership hat-trick, was the oldest at 30 years 4 days in 2001.

Reid will be second oldest at 29 years 325 days on Saturday, while Keeffe would be third-oldest at 29 years 167 days.

Next oldest was Queensland’s first AFL grand final player Warren Jones, the ex-Morningside ruckman who played a total 123 games with Carlton (92 games 1978-85) and St.Kilda (31 games – 1986-88). He was 28 years 327 days when he played for Carlton in their three-goal win over Richmond in 1982.

Fifth on this list was Hale, the Gold Coaster who played a total of 237 games with North Melbourne (129 games – 2003-10) and Hawthorn (108 games – 2011-15). He was 28 years 131 days when, in his  173^rd game, he played in the Hawthorn’s 2012 grand final loss to Sydney before finishing his career with a  hat-trick over Fremantle, Sydney and West Coast in 2013-14-15.

Hale’s 173-game wait for a grand final appearance is the fourth longest among Queenslanders, behind Ashcroft’s 268-game wait to the 2001 decider, Nick Riewoldt’s 182-game wait to St.Kilda’s 2009 grand final, and Voss’ 176-game wait to 2001 with Brisbane.

The youngest Queensland grand final player was Brisbane’s Robert Copeland at 20 years 127 days in 2001, followed by Hawthorn’s Brent Renouf (20/148) and Collingwood’s Dayne Beams (20/226).

Reid will play in the grand final after 89 AFL games and Keeffe, if selected, will do so in his 59^th game. But never will figure is the least experienced.

That place is football history is clear cut –  Aaron Keating played in the 1997 grand final with Adelaide in just his third game. Brother of Brisbane premiership ace Clark, he  made his debut that year in Round 1 but didn’t play again until the preliminary final. He played only three further games in 1998 for a career total of six.

Renouf played in the 2008 grand final win over Geelong in just his eighth game, while Dunstall was 16 games to his first grand final. Copeland was 17 games to his first grand final with Brisbane in 2001, and Max Hudghton 17 games to his first grand final with St.Kilda in 2009.

Others below the Keeffe mark were Fremantle’s Lee Spurr (36), Collingwood’s Dayne Beams (42), Brisbane’s Jamie Charman (48), Geelong’s Steven Handley (50) and Hawthorn’s Stephen Lawrence (51).

The full list of Queenslanders to play in an AFL grand final, with each player’s win/loss record, is:-