Australian Football

Geelong and Sydney have not met in a Grand Final before, but they have crossed paths in a final five times previously. The Swans won the first four, in 1914, 1934, 2005 and 2016, but the Cats were victorious in 2017. — Andrew Gigacz

Tomorrow's grand finalists Geelong and Sydney met in a preliminary final on this day six years ago. It was a good day for the Swans, who kicked seven goals to nil in the first quarter and went on to win by 37 points. — Andrew Gigacz

The Swans have appeared in two of the 20 V/AFL matches played on September 22, and they were winners both times. As South Melbourne they defeated Collingwood on this day in 1934, and as Sydney they accounted for Fremantle 16 years ago today. — Andrew Gigacz

Happy 80th birthday to Footscray's John Charles, who turns 80 today. Charles played 17 games for the Bulldogs from 1964 to 1966. His brother Norm and son Justin were also Bulldogs. — Andrew Gigacz

Fitzroy's Charles Chapman made his VFL debut on this day in 1924, kicking two goals. Chapman went on to play 104 matches for the Maroons and represented Victoria 10 times. — Andrew Gigacz

Today's Sydney vs Collingwood match will be the sixteenth meeting of the two sides in a V/AFL final. The most recent of those was in 2012, when the Swans won by 26 points. — Andrew Gigacz

Tonight's Geelong vs Brisbane match will mark the third meeting in a final of the two sides, with all three being preliminary finals. Brisbane won the first at the MCG in 2004, while Geelong were victors at the Gabba in 2020. The winner of each went on to lose the grand final. — Andrew Gigacz

Happy150th birthday to St Kilda's Joe O'Grady. O'Grady played nine games for the Seasiders in the inaugural VFL season in 1897. He died only two years later, aged just 26. — Andrew Gigacz

On this day in 1996, the Brisbane Bears thrashed Carlton in the AFL Second Semi-Final. The Bears' winning margin of 97 points is the highest in any of the 23 V/AFL matches played on September 14. — Andrew Gigacz

The highest score recorded in any of the 38 V/AFL matches played on September 13 came on this day 42 years ago when Collingwood kicked 22.20.152 to defeat Carlton by 50 points in the 1980 First Semi-Final. — Andrew Gigacz

On this day in 1970 a crowd of 112,838 saw Collingwood defeat Carlton at the MCG. That figure was the fourth-largest in V/AFL history at the time, and when the teams met again in the Grand Final two weeks later, a new record of 121,696 was set. — Andrew Gigacz

Today's Geelong vs Collingwood match will be the third meeting of the two sides to take place on September. The first came way back in 1898 when the Magpies won by 15 points. The Pies won again on this day in 1910, by 16 points. — Andrew Gigacz

Despite Melbourne and Sydney being foundation V/AFL clubs, tonight's match between the two will be just their third meeting in a final. The Swans won the first in 1936, and the Demons won the second 51 years later. — Andrew Gigacz

Tonight's Brisbane vs Richmond match will mark the fourth meeting of the two sides in a final. All four have been at the Gabba, with the Lions winning in 2001 and 2020, and the Tigers triumphant in 2019. — Andrew Gigacz

Hawthorn's Allan Jensen was born 100 years ago today. Jensen played 12 games for the Hawks in the war years of 1943-44, kicking three goals. — Andrew Gigacz

Footscray's Ted Sherman was born 120 years ago today. Sherman played a solitary VFL game for the Dogs in 1925, and another 40 from 1931 to 1933. — Andrew Gigacz

Happy 125th birthday to Geelong's Gus McLennan. McLennan played a single game for the Pivotonians in the inaugural VFL season of 1897. — Andrew Gigacz

Tonight's Adelaide vs Melbourne match will be the first meeting of the club's women's teams to take place on August 26, but their men's teams have met before on this day. Exactly 10 years ago the Crows men had a big win over the Demons, winning by 69 points at the MCG. — Andrew Gigacz

Tonight's AFLW season opener between Carlton and Collingwood will mark the seventh meeting of the two women's sides. The Magpies won the first three encounters but the next three went Carlton's way. — Andrew Gigacz

Fitzroy's Don Hammond was born 100 years ago today. Hammond played five games for the Roys in 1945, four of them victories. — Andrew Gigacz

Today's Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs match will be the second meeting of the two sides to take place on August 21. The first came in 1965, when the Hawks won by 31 points at Western Oval. – Andrew Gigacz

Today's GWS vs Fremantle match will be the second meeting of the two sides to take place on August 20. The first came six years ago, when the Giants thrashed the Dockers by 92 points.  – Andrew Gigacz

St Kilda holds the unenviable record of having kicked the lowest score recorded in V/AFL matches played on August 18. The Saints could only manage 2.6.18 against Geelong on this day in 1900. — Andrew Gigacz

First recorded by Carlton in 1927 and most recently by Geelong in Round 21 this year, 17.8 has been a final score 67 times across 126 V/AFL seasons. Its reverse, 8.17, has been recorded 66 times. — Andrew Gigacz