2004 AFL Grand Final

Leading up to the opening bounce and for large portions of the first quarter there were scuffles between players most notably Darryl Wakelin and Alistair Lynch.

The remainder of the first half was rugged and absorbing.

The teams continued to go back and forth, with Brisbane leading by 6 before Port Adelaide kicked the last four goals of the quarter (from, in order, Josh Mahoney, Gavin Wanganeen, Shaun Burgoyne and finally Wanganeen again). Observers, including in the media, noted that the Power looked fresher while Lynch and Simon Black spent lengthy amounts of time on the Brisbane bench.

The final quarter tone was quickly set after a Port tackle created a turnover that Wanganeen quickly capitalized on for his third. Port eventually outscored Brisbane 5.3 to 1.3 in the final quarter to stretch the final margin to 40.

The fairytale of the afternoon was the story behind Josh Mahoney, the until then little-known Port forward pocket had been cast aside by Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in the seven years prior, trying his luck with Essendon's VFL squad in 2001 before switching to Williamstown. He belatedly received a third chance at the highest level, and was instrumental in the Power's third quarter charge. Fellow forward Gavin Wanganeen also figured prominently – having played for Port in the SANFL before being drafted by Essendon and becoming a Premiership player and Brownlow Medalist in 1993, he had rejoined Port and was the leading goal kicker in this grand final with 4 goals. His guernsey was later also stolen from the Port Adelaide rooms but was returned to him a decade later.[4]

Port's victory denied Brisbane its fourth consecutive flag, leaving them one consecutive premiership short of Collingwood's record of four consecutive flags from 1927 to 1930.

Following the match, Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams was quite animated, his celebrations including a speech on the dais in which he uttered the now-famous words "Allan Scott – you were wrong!". This was in reference to a comment made by Scott (a sponsor of the Port Adelaide Football Club), earlier in the 2004 season, that the club could not win a premiership under the coaching of Williams. Williams also made a mock choking gesture by holding his tie above his head like a noose as he stepped onto the arena, a reference to the breaking of Port Adelaide's reputation as "chokers". This reputation had been acquired after having lost in several previous finals series, despite dominating the home and away seasons in those years.

Byron Pickett, a premiership winning defender with North Melbourne in 1999, turned into a match-winning on-baller for the Power, and capped his day with being awarded the Norm Smith Medal for being judged the best player afield. His match statistics were: 19 kicks, 1 handball, 8 marks, 2 tackles, 3 goals and 2 behinds.