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AFL (&VFL) Grand Final Sprint - The Fastest Man in Footy

A player's sprint race has traditionally been held on the day of the AFL Grand Final, at half-time of the main match. The sprint was first conducted in 1979, though in 1977 and 1978 there was a one-mile race held. There has also been a kicking competition. Since 2021, there has also been a women's sprint held during the AFLW grand final.

clip from the 2020 sprint video

The Grand Final sprint event is raced over 100m, and in some years a handicapping system was used like that for professional footraces. By tradition, starting blocks cannot be used, though running spikes are allowed. Each club nominates one player, though players from the teams taking part in the Grand Final are not always represented. The race was not held between 1988-2001.

St Kilda's Geoff Ablett is the only four-time winner of the event (1979-81, '85) while Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide Crows) is a three-time champion (2011-13)

The below information is not all from official records - information about each sprint was collated from various sources online, is incomplete and may not be 100% accurate. A result from 1986 has not been found - was there a race that year? See all the videos of the races we could find. If you have comments to make or more information to add, please let me know.

List of Winners

Grand Final Sprint Notes

• 1987 - winner was Russell Richards of Melbourne. It was fourth time lucky for Richards, he had previously finished 3rd twice.
• 1982 - winner was Michael 'Mick' Conlan of Fitzroy. The event was called the World of Sport Sprint. Frank Marchesani of Carlton was 2nd. Paul O'Brien from Melbourne was also competing.
• 1979 - the first event, won by Geoff Ablett of Hawthorn. Second was Fitzroy's Michael Conlan. Cameron Clayton from Melbourne was also competing.

Grand Final Sprint Trivia

• The first AFL sprint was held in 1979, won by Geoff Ablett of Hawthorn, brother of AFL legend Gary Ablett.
• In 2021 border restrictions meant that only runners from West Coast and Fremantle participated.
• In 2021 and 2022, the runners raced over 100m sprint along the 50m arc, a nod to the sponsor's Colgate smile.
• All races have been held at the MCG, except in 2020 (GABBA Brisbane) and 2021 (Optus Oval Perth).
• There was no sprint held from 1988 until 2001.
• To players have won three consecutive races, Geoff Ablett (1979, 1980, 1981) and Patrick Dangerfield (2011, 2012, 2013).
• The most wins is four by Geoff Ablett (1979, 1980, 1981, 1985). The first three wins were while representing Hawthorn, in 1985 he represented St Kilda.
• In 2017, Richmond had a winning year. In addition to having the winner of the grand final sprint, they also won the premiership, the Brownlow and the Norm Smith medal.
• The 2015 and 2016 final fields included cab drivers, who gained their place through the race's sponsor 13CABS.
• For sponsorship reasons, all the runners in the 2015 race wore bright yellow leggings
• From 2006 until 2008, the race was held as a handicap event, with their starting mark based on sprint times provided by the clubs.

Related Pages

• See all the videos of the races we could find.
• There was an AFL half-time mile race from 1977 & 1978
• Grand Final kicking competitions.
• AFL Grand Finalists
• Rugby League sprint race

Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.