<p>AFL Grand Final week is always the best week on the calendar.</p> <p>The weather is generally good, most of the time it’s school holidays and the city of Melbourne is abuzz with footy fever.</p> <p>Ahead of what looms to be another epic battle between two heavyweights at the MCG, the conversations and debate around the Grand Finals of the past bring up the most nostalgia and memories amongst footy fans.</p> <p>This got us thinking, this will be the 25th Grand Final since the turn of the century. While some have been blowouts, there have been a fair amount of instant classic battles among them.</p> <p>So, before the next chapter in AFL Grand Final history gets written, Sportsbet has looked back and listed its top five AFL Grand Finals since 2000.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Top 5 AFL Finals In Order</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>1. 2018 AFL Grand Final</p> <p>2. 2012 AFL Grand Final</p> <p>3. 2023 AFL Grand Final</p> <p>4. 2010 AFL Grand Final</p> <p>5. 2002 AFL Grand Final</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Keep on reading below to find out why these 5 games rank at the top of all AFL grand finals!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>2018 AFL Grand Final</h3> <p><strong>West Coast Eagles vs Collingwood Magpies</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Collingwood kicked the first five goals of the game to put one hand on the Premiership cup by quarter-time.</p> <p>By halfway through the third quarter, the Eagles had fought back to hit the front, and at three-quarter-time, the scores were tied.</p> <p>Jordan De Goey kicked his third goal in the early stages last quarter. Brody Mihocek soon followed with a major and Collingwood had the impetus again.</p> <p>The Magpies seemed destined for a breakthrough premiership until West Coast swept the ball from defence to attack. Then Dom Sheed delivered the dagger from the boundary with one of the clutch Grand Final moments ever.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>2012 AFL Grand Final</h3> <p><strong>Hawthorn Hawks vs Sydney Swans</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Swans and Hawks were separated by no more than four points at any break.</p> <p>The arm-wrestle of the final quarter ensued with either team needing someone to step up and provide the moment.</p> <p>Then, “Cometh the moment, cometh the Champion” were the famous words from Bruce McAvaney’s mouth as Adam Goodes, on one leg, rolled through the goal that would give the Swans the buffer they needed.</p> <p>Then came the final nail. Who could forget Nick Malceski spinning on a dime and kicking a rare goal as the great Dennis Cometti declared: "That's the Grand Final. Sydney are premiers."</p> <p>Hard to rival for the neutral fans who were delivered one of the classic deciders of the modern era.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>2023 AFL Grand Final</h3> <p><strong>Collingwood Magpies vs Brisbane Lions</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In a season of craziness, perhaps they saved the most crazy and ridiculous game till the very last.</p> <p>A Grand Final that went down to the last minute of play – It’s everything a neutral could want right?</p> <p>And if you’re a Collingwood fan, who has watched their side make a habit of winning nail biters, it turned out to be the perfect day.</p> <p>Bobby Hill set it up early with four first-half goals. Scott Pendlebury controlled it late from the centre, setting up a Jordan De Goey strike before a Steele Sidebottom bomb put the Pies ten points up with minutes to spare.</p> <p>A late goal for the Lions and a contentious advantage call couldn’t deny the Pies, as they played the minutes one final time in 2023 and brought home a dramatic flag.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>2010 AFL Grand Final</h3> <p><strong>Collingwood Magpies vs St Kilda Saints</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>“It’s going to be a draw. It’s unbelievable.”</p> <p>It’s a Grand Final that will go down in football history as the last-ever drawn decider.</p> <p>It’s still one that haunts St Kilda fans to this day.</p> <p>How many times has the cruel bounce of the ball which eluded Stephen Milne and cost St Kilda a drought-breaking premiership been replayed in the 14 years since? It wasn't the first time the Saints looked home either. With seven minutes to go, Brendon Goddard soared above Heritier Lumumba and put the Saints six points ahead.</p> <p>It was a hollow feeling for everyone when the siren left. The Pies regrouped and smashed the Saints the following week to claim their 15th flag.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>2002 AFL Grand Final</h3> <p><strong>Collingwood Magpies&nbsp;vs Brisbane Lions</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Early on in the new century, it set a high marker for the great Grand Finals to come.</p> <p>It had everything. Classic Melbourne weather, Biff, Low scoring thriller, contested contest with every possession earned, and topped with magical moments that would become iconic.</p> <p>It was an uncompromising contest played by two sides flush with stars. Collingwood fans still feel hard done when Anthony Rocca's set shot that would have put the Magpies in front during the last quarter is mentioned. Where was the score review back then?</p> <p>The tension was palpable as both sides were refusing to give an inch.</p> <p>Then came the call from the box from the legendary Leigh Matthews, “Go tell Aker to run to the front of Lynchy.”</p> <p>It was the message that proved to land the killer blow as Jason Akermanis snapped the ball from over his head in time on in the final quarter to seal the Lions' back-to-back premierships in an epic Grand Final.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Want more Grand Final gold? We’ve got you covered. From classic match recaps to bold predictions and betting insights, The Huddle is stacked with AFL Grand Final stories you won’t want to miss. Dive in, relive the drama, and get primed for the biggest day in footy with the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/best-afl-grand-final-entertainment">Best AFL Grand Final Entertainment</a> or <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/best-grand-final-goals">Best AFL Grand Final Goals</a>. If you want to learn more about the history of AFL Grand Finals and Premierships then check out who has the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/most-afl-premierships">Most AFL Premierships In History</a> and those who have the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/most-afl-wooden-spoons">Most AFL Wooden Spoons of All Time</a>.</p>