They say we should use this time to learn something new – so we thought we’d offer up a history lesson free of charge!
We’re going to be recapping all the important sporting moments each and every day on the Ladbrokes Blog.
So if it’s AFL, NRL, Basketball, Cricket, Golf or even Wrestling, be sure to return each morning as we take a trip back through the history books to relive some of the great and important sporting moments in This Day In Sport!
2002 – Lions Go Back to Back
In a thrilling AFL Grand Final, the Brisbane Lions went back to back with a nine point win over Collingwood.
In what was an arm wrestle of a match, Brisbane withstood a challenge from a brave Magpie outfit in what was the first AFL Grand Final to be decided by four goals or less since 1989.
It wasn’t until late in the first quarter that the first and only goal was scored by Anthony Rocca for Collingwood, but the Lions looked like running away with the match with a run of goals in the second term.
Collingwood would surge back in the third quarter, but the Lions would find themselves just ahead by 4 points at the final break.
The final quarters would turn out to be one of the most thrilling you would see in an AFL Grand Final.
A controversial behind was awarded to Collingwood’s Anthony Rocca (to which many a Pies fan swear is a goal) not long before the one and only Jason Akermanis would slot a goal late in the last quater to extend Brisbane’s lead to more than a kick.
It would be enough for the Lions to hold on and claim back to back premierships.
The Magpies had given their all, but this Lions team was simply too good.
Magpie Paul Licuria and coach Mick Malthouse shed a tear, Nathan Buckley would win the Norm Smith Medal but took it off once he collected it from the dias.
However, it would be Micheal Voss and Leigh Matthews that would lift the cup up and take it back to the Sunshine State for the second year running.
Final score – Brisbane Lions 10-15 (75) def. Collingwood 9-12 (66)
1997 – Newcastle Fairytale
1997 was a contrversial year for the game of Rugby League, however, the Grand Final of the ARL competition between Manly and Newcastle turned out to be one of the greatest of all time.
This was the day the Newcastle Knights claimed their first premiership and proved why Andrew Johns would go on to be an imortal of the future.
Manly would have the upp hand in the first half racing out to 10-0 lead before an advantage of 16-8 at half-time with Cliff Lyon dominating and the rivalry between Paul Harrington for the Knights and the Sea Eagles Mark Carrol on show.
In the second half, Manly made some costly mistakes and the Knights would start to gather some momentum.
Newcastle found themselves six points behind with five minutes remaining before the Johns brothers combined to assist Robbie O’Davis to score his second.
With just seven seconds on the clock, Andrew Johns made the most of Manly’s blindside defence which allowed Darren Albert to score that Try.
Final score – Newcastle Knights 22 – Manly Sea Eagles 16