2004 AFL Cairns Grand Final

2004 AFL Cairns Grand Final 50px Port Douglas PD 50px North Cairns NC 8.10 (58) 16.10 (106) 18 September 2004 Bundaberg Rum Stadium The 2004 AFL Cairns Grand Final was an Australian rules football match contested between Port Douglas and North Cairns at Bundaberg Rum Stadium on 18 September 2004. It was held to determine the premiers of the AFL Cairns competition, a semi-professional competition in Cairns, Queensland, for the 2004 season. Before the match began, a brawl began moments after the conclusion of the national anthem. Further fighting occurred on the field and in the crowd during the match.AFL yet to decide fate of brawling players http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1203277.htm ABC PM 7 June 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20041029225819/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1203277.htm 29 October 2004 20 September 2004 North Cairns, who were seen as underdogs going into the match, won the match by 48 points, giving the club their first premiership since 1988. However the premiership was stripped following a lengthy investigation, with no premiers awarded for the 2004 season.Wild footbrawl on and off field https://www.austadiums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=698 Austadiums The Sunday Mail 7 June 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240607040623/https://www.austadiums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=698 7 June 2024 19 September 2004Entire Cairns AFL team banned for all-in brawl https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-12-23/entire-cairns-afl-team-banned-for-all-in-brawl/607932 ABC News https://web.archive.org/web/20161027202154/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-12-23/entire-cairns-afl-team-banned-for-all-in-brawl/607932 27 October 2016 23 December 2004 The grand final gained national media attention, and is considered one of the ugliest moments in the history of Australian rules football.Hull Wesley AFL Cairns makes tough call – but was it the right call? https://worldfootynews.com/article.php/20140916165615428 World Footy News https://web.archive.org/web/20200804061600/https://worldfootynews.com/article.php/20140916165615428 4 August 2020 16 September 2014Infamous final won't spur Croc's premiership charge https://websites.mygameday.app/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-3392-0-0-0&sID=53234&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=31340281 GameDay AFL Cairns 21 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20240607045350/https://websites.mygameday.app/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-3392-0-0-0&sID=53234&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=31340281 7 June 2024 Background North Cairns (nicknamed the "Tigers") was a founding member of the AFL Cairns competition (then known as Cairns AFL) in 1956, while Port Douglas (nicknamed the "Crocs") had joined in 1989. The clubs were bitter rivals. The coach of North Cairns was Jason Love, a former VFL/AFL player who played 68 games for and from 1986 until 1992, while Port Douglas was coached by Andy Viola.PD AFL CLUB HISTORY https://www.portdouglasafl.com.au/pd-afl-club-history/ Port Douglas Crocs https://web.archive.org/web/20240315151439/https://www.portdouglasafl.com.au/pd-afl-club-history/ 15 March 2024 The previous grand final in 2003 had been won by South Cairns, who defeated North Cairns by 36 points.SENIOR MEN'S PREMIERS https://aflcairns.com.au/afl-cairns-senior-premiers/ AFL Cairns 7 June 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240607045640/https://aflcairns.com.au/afl-cairns-senior-premiers/ 7 June 2024 Finals series Port Douglas defeated North Cairns by 65 points in the second semi-final, however the Tigers were still able to qualify for the grand final after defeating Cairns in the preliminary final. Semi-finals Saturday, 4 September South Cairns 11.17 (83) A Cairns 15.14 (104) Sunday, 5 September North Cairns 9.5 (59) A Port Douglas 18.16 (124) Preliminary final Saturday, 11 September North Cairns 16.15 (111) H Cairns 10.5 (65) Match summary Moments after the rendition of "Advance Australia Fair" was completed, North Cairns players charged at the Port Douglas players. A brawl immediately began, with some club officials and spectators joining in before the match had officially begun.Nine News Ten News News reports of the infamous 2004 afl Cairns grand final brawl between Port Douglas vs North Cairns https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=934107070533825 Facebook Brawls, crashes and fights. The brawl, which involved all 44 players, eventually ended when umpires ran to the centre of the field and bounced the ball to start the game. Fighting continued on the field throughout the game between the two teams. A junior exhibition match that was scheduled for half-time was cancelled after parents left the stadium with their children.Sparkes Rowan Violence in sport: FNQ's ugliest brawls on and off the field https://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/violence-in-sport-fnqs-ugliest-brawls-on-and-off-the-field/news-story/fb0e78a5cbd9897c02f4eb155798bb37 Cairns Post 7 June 2024 7 August 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20240716093514/https://archive.md/PbFBp#selection-755.0-758.0 16 July 2024 Video broadcast on Nine News showed a North Cairns supporter punching another man in the face as fighting continued.AFL bans 22 after football fracas https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl-bans-22-after-football-fracas-20041224-gdkdfu.html Sydney Morning Herald https://web.archive.org/web/20240607043041/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl-bans-22-after-football-fracas-20041224-gdkdfu.html 7 June 2024 24 December 2004 Six police units were called to the stadium, with a 36-year-old woman arrested for obstructing police and contravening directions. A police spokesman later said officers were "too busy breaking up fights" to make more than one arrest.Probe launched into Cairns AFL brawl https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-09-20/probe-launched-into-cairns-afl-brawl/554254 ABC News https://web.archive.org/web/20161027200641/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-09-20/probe-launched-into-cairns-afl-brawl/554254 27 October 2016 20 September 2004 North Cairns won the game by 48 points. Medal presentations were not held out of fear for more violence, and Port Douglas players almost fought with spectators as they left the field. Some fighting continued in the crowd following the final siren. Scoreboard 2004 AFL Cairns Grand Final Saturday, 18 September Port Douglas 8.10 (57) A North Cairns 16.10 (106) Bundaberg Rum Stadium *Match declared "no result" on 23 December 2004 Aftermath Immediate reactions The brawl made national news, including reports on Nine News and Ten News in Brisbane the following night.Port Douglas coach Andy Viola said that "all week [...] Jason Love had indicated it was going to be fiery, he was in the radio, in the paper, saying 'watch for the start of the game'". On 20 September, two days after the match, an investigation was formally launched. The probe was headed by Jim Henry, a former Crown prosecutor and future Supreme Court of Queensland judge.Delay to far north Qld footy brawl report https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-10-13/delay-to-far-north-qld-footy-brawl-report/567476 ABC News https://web.archive.org/web/20161027192136/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-10-13/delay-to-far-north-qld-footy-brawl-report/567476 27 October 2016 13 October 2004 A report into the brawl was handed down in October following a short delay. It was the lengthiest investigation in the history of Australian rules football. Penalties On 23 December 2004, AFL Cairns handed down suspensions for all 22 North Cairns players. The length of the suspensions ranged from ten matches to five years, and totalled 400 weeks. Only two players pleaded guilty. AFL Cairns said the tribunal had targeted only North Cairns players because of their actions before the brawl occurred. North Cairns' coach Jason Love, who was banned from coaching for three years after being found guilty of striking, described the tribunal as "a witch hunt with a foregone conclusion".Eight-year ban for ex-Swan https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/eight-year-ban-for-ex-swan-20050224-gdksrv.html Sydney Morning Herald https://web.archive.org/web/20231103000423/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/eight-year-ban-for-ex-swan-20050224-gdksrv.html 3 November 2023 24 February 2005 On 24 February 2005, Love was given a ban of eight years from coaching, to be served concurrently with the three-year ban, after being found guilty of "bringing the game into disrepute". Love attempted to have his eight-year ban ended in 2010, but was unsuccessful.Piva Andrew Footy brawl coach wants second chance http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/02/11/92955_local-news.html 10 October 2011 The Cairns Post 11 February 2010 It was eventually ended on 15 January 2013 after he appealed to AFL Victoria, having since moved away from Queensland.Cairns Footbrawl coach wins return to sidelines https://websites.mygameday.app/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-3392-0-0-0&sID=53234&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=21342135 GameDay AFL Cairns 15 January 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20240607044932/https://websites.mygameday.app/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-3392-0-0-0&sID=53234&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=21342135 7 June 2024 Legacy 1990 OMFL Grand Final In 2015, AFL Queensland called the brawl "one of the ugliest incidents in Australian rules football history", and the game has also been compared to the infamous 1990 "bloodbath" grand final in the Ovens & Murray Football League. The Cairns Post has described it as "one of the darkest days in Far North Queensland sport" and one of the most infamous moments in Cairns sporting history. References AFL2004 Cairns Cairns Category:Grand finals