| 2021 AFL Grand Final | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Fulltime |
| Melbourne Demons | 4.5 | 5.9 | 12.11 | 21.14 | 140 |
| Western Bulldogs | 1.2 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 10.6 | 66 |
Match Summary
The 2021 AFL Grand Final is the first AFL premiership-decider to be held in Perth and the second consecutive season that it had been held outside of Victoria as a result of the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Demons last won the flag in 1964, and they entered the game as slight favourites as spectators hoped that the 57 year draught would finally come to an end.
In a pulsating contest where both teams held double-digit leads, the Demons used a scintillating 7 goals to 2 final quarter to run out 21. 14. (140) to 10. 6. (66) winners. The Demons win seemed inconceivable midway through the third quarter when Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli kicked his third goal of the match to give his side a 19-point lead. From this point on the Demons responded to the Bulldogs’ four-consecutive goals that spanned the second and third quarters with eleven consecutive majors of their own to put the result beyond doubt.
Christian Petracca added his name to a list of VFL/AFL legends as he claimed the Norm Smith Medal after tying a grand final record. Melbourne’s No.5 finished with a record-equalling grand final possession tally of 39 (shared with Simon Black in 2003), two goals, nine clearances and an incredible 15 score involvements.
2021 AFL Grand Final Team Matchups
Melbourne
| B: | 14 Michael Hibberd | 1 Steven May | 8 Jake Lever |
| HB: | 24 Trent Rivers | 35 Harrison Petty | 3 Christian Salem |
| C: | 10 Angus Brayshaw | 5 Christian Petracca | 15 Ed Langdon |
| HF: | 30 Alex Neal-Bullen | 25 Tom McDonald | 32 Tom Sparrow |
| F: | 9 Charlie Spargo | 50 Ben Brown | 31 Bayley Fritsch |
| Foll: | 11 Max Gawn | 13 Clayton Oliver | 7 Jack Viney |
| Int: | 4 James Harmes | 6 Luke Jackson | 17 Jake Bowey |
| 36 Kysaiah Pickett | 23 James Jordon (medi-sub) | ||
| Coach: | Simon Goodwin | ||
Western Bulldogs
| B: | 10 Easton Wood | 42 Alex Keath | 34 Bailey Williams |
| HB: | 35 Caleb Daniel | 12 Zaine Cordy | 31 Bailey Dale |
| C: | 6 Bailey Smith | 21 Tom Liberatore | 7 Lachie Hunter |
| HF: | 19 Cody Weightman | 33 Aaron Naughton | 1 Adam Treloar |
| F: | 13 Josh Schache | 44 Tim English | 29 Mitch Hannan |
| Foll: | 8 Stefan Martin | 11 Jack Macrae | 4 Marcus Bontempelli |
| Int: | 39 Jason Johannisen | 5 Josh Dunkley | 15 Taylor Duryea |
| 37 Roarke Smith | 23 Laitham Vandermeer (medi-sub) | ||
| Coach: | Luke Beveridge | ||