IN an era of grand final blowouts, fans were treated to a historical decider in 2023.<\/p>\n
The final scoreline read Collingwood 90 to Brisbane 86, the first grand final to be decided by less than a goal since 2018 and only the fourth by one kick or fewer since the turn of the millennium.<\/p>\n
While we\u2019ve had a few grand final thrillers since the year 2000 and plenty more prior to that, Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes believes Saturday\u2019s game was the best he\u2019d ever seen. Not only in terms of deciders, but in AFL history.<\/p>\n
Whether it was the big stage, the skill level, the end-to-end feel of the game or the tight finish, Cornes was wowed by the spectacle put on by the Magpies and Lions and he expects the 2023 Grand Final to go down in history.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unbelievable,\u201d Cornes said on Nine\u2019s Sunday Footy Show.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 11 goals that were kicked in the second term, some of the goals that were scored, the high marks and the skill level particularly with the ball movement.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo do that in front of 100,000 on the biggest stage of all\u2026 I thought it was the best game that I\u2019ve ever seen, let alone a grand final.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s in terms of what we witnessed yesterday. It\u2019s going to go down in history.<\/p>\n
Cornes\u2019 co-host and 2000 Essendon premiership hero Matthew Lloyd said he agreed with the sentiment, adding that it was the best grand final he\u2019d seen since the famous 1989 decider where Hawthorn beat Geelong 144 to 138.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always talk about 1989 which is when I fell in love with footy, Hawthorn versus Geelong,\u201d Lloyd said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was brutal that game, but I think it was the best one I\u2019ve seen since then and the best one since I\u2019ve been covering footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably since the year 2000, this one has been the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
The premiership win was Collingwood\u2019s 16th in VFL\/AFL history and their tightest win in a decider in 120 years.<\/p>\n