Final Score – 2018 AFL Grand Final
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Full Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast Eagles | 2.2 (14) | 4.3 (27) | 8.7 (55) | 11.13 (79) |
| Collingwood Magpies | 5.1 (31) | 6.3 (39) | 8.7 (55) | 11.8 (74) |
Margin: West Coast by 5 points
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Date: 29 September 2018
Attendance: 100,022
Norm Smith Medallist: Luke Shuey (West Coast)
A Grand Final That Still Hurts – and Still Thrills
You either love Collingwood, or you don’t. But no matter where your allegiances sit, it is impossible not to feel for the Magpies when reflecting on the 2018 AFL Grand Final.
This was not a blowout.
This was not a failure of preparation.
This was a football tragedy decided by one kick, one marking contest, and one moment that will be replayed forever.
For West Coast supporters, it was ecstasy. For Collingwood fans, it remains one of the most painful afternoons in club history. For neutrals, it was everything an AFL Grand Final should be — dramatic, tense, controversial, and unforgettable.
The Build-Up: Old Powers, New Belief
Collingwood’s Redemption Arc
After years of turbulence and internal pressure, Nathan Buckley’s Collingwood entered the 2018 season under scrutiny. By Grand Final day, they had transformed into a fierce, high-pressure side built around elite midfield balance and defensive intercept marking.
Their preliminary final demolition of Richmond at the MCG was one of the great September ambushes — and it made Collingwood favourites heading into the Grand Final.
West Coast’s Road to Belief
West Coast, under Adam Simpson, had quietly rebuilt after the heartbreak of the 2015 Grand Final loss. This Eagles side was tougher, smarter, and far more balanced than earlier iterations.
With Josh Kennedy, Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, and a defensive system anchored by Jeremy McGovern, West Coast arrived believing — but still widely tipped to fall short at the MCG against a Victorian powerhouse.
How the Game Unfolded: Momentum Swings and Nerves of Steel
First Quarter: Collingwood’s Perfect Start
Collingwood exploded out of the blocks. Their pressure was suffocating, their ball movement daring, and their confidence unmistakable. By quarter time, they led by 17 points, and the momentum felt entirely black and white.
Middle Quarters: West Coast Dig In
West Coast refused to panic. Slowly, methodically, they clawed their way back through contested ball work and improved efficiency going inside 50.
By three-quarter time, scores were level — a rare Grand Final moment where the tension was almost unbearable. The game was perfectly poised.
The Final Quarter: One of the Greatest Finishes Ever
Collingwood regained the lead midway through the final term and looked, for all intents and purposes, home.
Then came the moment.
The Dom Sheed Mark – And the Debate That Followed
With under two minutes remaining, Dom Sheed marked the ball 40 metres from goal on a tight boundary angle. The decision immediately sparked controversy, with claims that Nathan Murphy was blocked from the contest.
Whether legal or not, the mark stood.
What followed was one of the most courageous kicks in AFL history.
Sheed went back, steadied, and split the middle from the boundary — a kick that instantly became part of Australian sporting folklore.
The silence from Collingwood supporters was deafening.
Luke Shuey: A Captain’s Norm Smith Performance
While Sheed delivered the moment, Luke Shuey delivered the match.
Norm Smith Medal Highlights:
- 34 disposals
- 9 clearances
- 2 goals
- Elite leadership under extreme pressure
Shuey was everywhere when the game demanded composure. His work in congestion, ability to break tackles, and willingness to drive the ball forward defined West Coast’s resilience.
This was a captain’s performance in the truest sense — and a deserved Norm Smith Medal.
Players Who Could Easily Have Won Best on Ground
One of the reasons this Grand Final endures is how many players left their mark.
West Coast Standouts:
- Elliot Yeo: Explosive power and contested dominance
- Jeremy McGovern: Intercept marking under siege
- Josh Kennedy: Constant presence despite heavy attention
- Liam Ryan: Energy, flair, and daring in big moments
Collingwood Heroes in Defeat:
- Scott Pendlebury: Class and calm when chaos reigned
- Steele Sidebottom: Relentless running and pressure
- Brodie Grundy: Ruck dominance across four quarters
- Jordan De Goey: X-factor and physicality
Several Magpies were desperately unlucky not to walk away premiership players.
The Emotional Aftermath: Two Clubs, Two Realities
For West Coast, this was redemption. The ghosts of 2015 were finally laid to rest.
For Collingwood, it was heartbreak — the kind that lingers. Many of their players would never again come this close to a premiership.
This Grand Final didn’t just decide a flag — it defined careers.
Why the 2018 AFL Grand Final Still Matters
Years on, this match remains:
- One of the closest AFL Grand Finals ever
- One of the most controversial finishes
- A benchmark for mental toughness under pressure
- Proof that one moment can define history
It is replayed not just for the kick, but for the tension, the courage, and the humanity of sport.
2018 AFL Grand Final Team Matchups
West Coast Eagles
B: 25 Shannon Hurn (c) 37 Tom Barrass 31 Will Schofield
HB: 28 Tom Cole 20 Jeremy McGovern 23 Lewis Jetta
C: 8 Jack Redden 6 Elliot Yeo 7 Chris Masten
HF: 34 Mark Hutchings 27 Jack Darling 2 Mark LeCras
F: 44 Willie Rioli 17 Josh Kennedy 15 Jamie Cripps
Foll: 29 Scott Lycett 13 Luke Shuey 4 Dom Sheed
Int: 1 Liam Ryan 14 Liam Duggan 18 Daniel Venables 19 Nathan Vardy
Coach: Adam Simpson
Collingwood Magpies
B: 25 Jack Crisp 8 Tom Langdon 37 Brayden Maynard
HB: 18 Travis Varcoe 6 Tyson Goldsack 38 Jeremy Howe
C: 21 Tom Phillips 10 Scott Pendlebury (c) 7 Adam Treloar
HF: 2 Jordan De Goey 41 Brody Mihocek 32 Will Hoskin-Elliott
F: 35 Jaidyn Stephenson 46 Mason Cox 24 Josh Thomas
Foll: 4 Brodie Grundy 13 Taylor Adams 22 Steele Sidebottom
Int: 36 Brayden Sier 14 James Aish 16 Chris Mayne 19 Levi Greenwood
Coach: Nathan Buckley
Final Word: A Grand Final That Will Never Be Forgotten
The 2018 AFL Grand Final wasn’t just a game — it was a shared national moment.
For some, it still hurts.
For others, it still brings goosebumps.
For the AFL, it stands as a reminder of why Grand Finals matter.
Because sometimes, football comes down to one kick — and nothing is ever the same again.