Ladies, gents, strap yourselves in, because by the time this is done, you’ll be calling David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson asking them to investigate.
Before we begin, I should say thanks to places like Rogers Results, and the still-going Coincidences thread from BigFooty.
Melbourne hand St Kilda their first win for both genders
In Round 1, 1900, St Kilda, after losing their first 48 games, finally achieved their first-ever win in the VFL/AFL, defeating eventual premiers Melbourne.
It was the Saints’ only win in the span of 76 games between Round 1, 1897 and Round 11, 1901.
In Round 3 of this past AFLW season, St Kilda won their first game in the competition, defeating… Melbourne.
Another AFLW-AFL Coincidence involving St Kilda
In the last round of the recent abruptly cancelled AFLW season, St Kilda held Richmond goalless, the first-ever case of a team going goalless in an AFLW game.
The last case of a team going goalless in a VFL/AFL game was way back in Round 16, 1961.
The teams?
St Kilda, who held Richmond goalless.
Defeating a team by a point twice in the same season
There have been multiple instances of two teams playing in a pair of 1 point games in a season – West Coast-Sydney in 2006 for example) – BUT, only twice has a team beaten another by a point twice in a season.
1952 and 1978.
Amazingly, the culprit in both years was Fitzroy.
1952 – Defeated Carlton by 1 point in Round 15 (5.15-45 to 5.14-44), and they repeated the dose in the First Semi Final, 10.9-69 to 8.20-68.
1978 – Defeated Hawthorn by 1 point in Round 5 (15.12-102 to 14.17-101), and the Roys got the Hawks again in Round 16, 18.14-122 to 17.19-121.
The funny quirk about 1978 – Fitzroy finished a lazy 9th of 12 teams….
Hawthorn won the flag.
West Coast’s performance as defending premiers
There’s a common theme, don’t you think.
1992: Win the flag, 1993: Exit the finals in Week Two
1994: Win the flag, 1995: Exit the finals in Week Two
2006: Win the flag, 2007: Exit the finals in Week Two
2018: Win the flag, 2019: Exit the finals in Week Two
The odd quirk of this is that West Coast only won a final as the defending premier in 1993 and 2019 – In 1995 and 2007, they went out in straight sets.
West Coast’s 1992 and 2018 Grand Finals
The 1992 Grand Final:
The Eagles trailed by 17 points at Quarter Time, then 12 points at Half-Time, before winning the flag with a big 2nd Half.
The last goal of the game was kicked by the Eagles player wearing No.4 (Peter Sumich) in the right-forward pocket at the Punt Road End.
The 2018 Grand Final:
The Eagles trailed by 17 points at Quarter Time, then 12 points at Half-Time, before winning the flag with a big 2nd Half.
The last goal of the game was kicked by the Eagles player wearing No.4 (Dom Sheed) in the right-forward pocket at the Punt Road End.
Nat Fyfe’s Brownlow years
2015: Nat Fyfe wins the Brownlow Medal, and a West Coast player (Nic Nat) wins Mark Of The Year for a mark in Round 9.
2019: Nat Fyfe wins the Brownlow Medal, and a West Coast player (Liam Ryan) wins Mark Of The Year for a mark in Round 9.
There’s another coincidence – Both Marks Of The Year were taken bouncing off a ruckman.
Fremantle and GWS in their maiden Grand Finals
2013: Fremantle score 1.6-12 in the 1st Half.
2019: GWS score 1.6-12 in the 1st Half.
The other common thread for both clubs?
Matt de Boer featured in both lineups.
de Boer was the first player since Vic Cumberland in 1913 to play in the maiden Grand Final of two different teams – For the record, Cumberland played in Melbourne’s 1900 Premiership team, and St Kilda’s losing 1913 Grand Final team.
Same name, different player, different Grand Final team
This one was originally from Useless AFL Stats on Facebook.
Shane Mumford and Lewis Jetta played in Sydney’s 2012 Premiership team, alongside Sam Reid and Josh Kennedy.
In 2018, Jetta played in West Coast’s Premiership team, alongside 2x Coleman Medalist Josh Kennedy.
In 2019, Mummy played in GWS’ Grand Final team, alongside the other injury-prone Sam Reid.
Mumford and Jetta are supposedly the only players in history to play in Grand Finals for two different interstate teams, and they’re supposedly the only players to play Grand Finals with two different players with the same name.
Hang on, does that make any sense?
Sergio and Son Of Sergio Silvagni
Sergio Silvagni made his debut for Carlton versus the Swans in Round 7, 1958.
Stephen ‘SOS’ Silvagni made his debut for Carlton versus the Swans in Round 7, 1985.
However, Jack Silvagni, better remembered as the son of Jo, did not continue the family tradition – He debuted against Collingwood in Round 14, 2016.
A black sheep if there ever was one.
Brendan Bolton and Brad Scott
Brendan Bolton and Brad Scott both left their coaching posts in consecutive weeks in 2019.
Oddly enough, their last wins as coaches were against the Western Bulldogs – Bolton in Round 5 (He was dumped after Round 11), and Scott in his last game in charge in Round 10.
Robert Walls
In a way, this is similar to Bobby Simpson and the Tied tests.
In Round 17 of 1979, Fitzroy kicked a league record score of 36.22-238, defeating Melbourne by 190 points, which remains the greatest winning margin in the history of the VFL/AFL.
Robert Walls played for the Roys that day, recording 25 disposals and kicking 3 goals.
13 years later, in Round 7 of 1992, Geelong broke the record, kicking 37.17-239, in a 164-point win over the Brisbane Bears at Carrara.
The Bears’ coach that day?
Robert Walls.
The year after the Pies lose a 5-point Grand Final
In 1979, Collingwood lose the Grand Final by 5 points.
In 1980, Richmond finish 3rd with 16 wins, defeat Geelong to qualify for the Grand Final, which they win by 80 points.
In 2018, Collingwood lose the Grand Final by 5 points.
In 2019, Richmond finish 3rd on the ladder with 16 wins, defeat Geelong to qualify for the Grand Final, which they win by 80+ points.
Here’s another spooky coincidence – The 2019 Grand Final was Richmond’s 89th VFL/AFL Final… The margin was 89 points.
2019: Year Of The Big Cats
AFL Premiers: Richmond Tigers
VFL Premiers: Richmond Tigers
SANFL Premiers: Glenelg Tigers
WAFL Premiers: Subiaco Lions
NEAFL Premiers: Brisbane Lions
In addition, on the 2019 AFL ladder, the Geelong Cats won the minor premiership, the Lions finished 2nd, and the Tigers 3rd.
Jarrad ‘Microphone Head’ Grant
After getting drafted by the Western Bulldogs in 2007, Jarrad Grant was stung by a stingray during a morning recovery session at Port Melbourne on February 22nd, 2008.
The first creepy coincidence – Grant was drafted by the Dandenong Stingrays.
The second creepy coincidence – Guess who had his birthday on February 22….
I’m slightly disturbed now.
The Hawthorn Collection
Alternating Round 1 results
Between 2003 and 2014, Hawthorn had a wild alternating run of starting the season.
Odd Years = The Hawks lost, Even Years = They won.
The rotation:
2003: Lost to Melbourne by 6 points (MCG)
2004: Defeated Melbourne by 49 points (MCG)
2005: Lost to Sydney by 63 points (SCG)
2006: Defeated Fremantle by 22 points (York Park)
2007: Lost to Brisbane by 25 points (The Gabba)
2008: Defeated Melbourne by 104 points (MCG)
2009: Lost to Geelong by 8 points (MCG)
2010: Defeated Melbourne by 56 points (MCG)
2011: Lost to Adelaide by 20 points (Footy Park)
2012: Defeated Collingwood by 22 points (MCG)
2013: Lost to Geelong by 7 points (MCG)
2014: Defeated Brisbane by 48 points (York Park)
It came to an end in 2015, when the Hawks finally figured out how to defeat Geelong on Easter Monday.
Alastair Clarkson’s Hawthorn firsts
Hawthorn’s first win with Clarko as coach was Round 4, 2005.
They kicked 18.7-115 to defeat Brisbane.
Hawthorn’s first of four premierships with Clarko as coach was in 2008.
In the Grand Final, the Hawks kicked 18.7-115 to defeat Geelong.
Hawthorn & Port – An eye for an eye
Despite only being in the AFL together for 23 years, the Hawks and Power have a complex shared history.
Alastair Clarkson was hired from Port Adelaide, and they’ve exchanged several notable players, namely Shaun Burgoyne, Stewie Dew, Brent Guerra (With a Saints stopover in-between), and more recently there’s been Jarman Impey, Chad Wingard and Ryan Burton.
Now, the coincidence is….
The biggest-ever wins in both club’s VFL/AFL histories are against one another.
In Round 13, 2005, the Power defeated the Hawks by 117 points; 29.14-188 to 10.11-71, which is also Port’s highest score.
In Round 21, 2011, the Hawks defeated the Power by 165 points; 31.11-197 to 5.2-32, which is also the highest score the Power have conceded.
Another craaaazy Hawthorn-Port coincidence
The Hawks and Power have played 2 finals against each other.
The 2001 Semi Final, and the 2014 Preliminary Final.
On both occasions, the final result was a 3 point win to Hawthorn.
Starting and ending a Premiership year
In Round 1 of 2015, Hawthorn conceded 8.13-61 against Geelong.
In the 2015 Grand Final, Hawthorn conceded 8.13-61 against West Coast.
The Almost All-Time Coincidences
The ANZAC Eve Special
April 24, 1915 – Melbourne defeat Richmond at the MCG, scoring 12.10-82
100 years later….
April 24, 2015 – Melbourne defeat Richmond at the MCG, scoring 12.11-83
Ben Newton scoring a behind with barely 2 minutes remaining cost us one of the greatest coincidences in league history.
Finals Revenge
1996 Qualifying Final: West Coast 18.17-125 defeated Carlton 10.10-70
1999 Semi Final: Carlton 18.16-124 defeated West Coast 10.10-70
Categories: AFL
JT's Sporting Reviews 
My God Jase obviously the beer I keep brewing and you consuming (in great volumes) is finally having an interesting result. Great work mate keep it going.
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