Almost forty thousand MCC members attended the Reserve over five games in the 2019 AFL Finals Series, culminating in the Grand Final and Richmond’s second premiership in three years.
Week 1: Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Week one of the finals saw minor premiers Geelong host fourth-placed Collingwood in the first qualifying final in front of 93,436 at the MCG. Despite clawing their way back into the game after trailing by 36 points in the second quarter, the Cats could not overrun the Pies who were eventual ten point winners, booking their place in a preliminary final.Week 2: Semi-Finals
Geelong were back at the ‘G in week two of the finals to once again contest a preliminary final berth, this time hosting West Coast who were fresh off the back of a home win against Essendon. With the prospect of a straight-sets elimination looming large for the minor premiers, Geelong put in a strong opening quarter to lead by 25 points at the first break. The Eagles recovered to hold the lead at the final change, but Geelong were twenty point winners in front of 51,813.Week 3: Preliminary Finals
Geelong’s fortunes ended in the third quarter of the second preliminary final a week later under lights on Friday night at the MCG. The Tigers, despite trailing by 21 points at the main break, mounted a second half-comeback to win by 19 points in front of 94,423, booking their place in the Grand Final.It was back to the ‘G on Saturday afternoon for the first preliminary final between Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney. Quite possibly the match of the finals series, Greater Western Sydney held on by four points in a nail-biter in front of 77,828 to book their place in the Grand Final, the first in the club’s history.