Grand Final

A Grand Final is the culmination of a series of final matches played between a number of sporting teams to decide the premier team. The term is used predominantly in Australian sport in almost all forms.

History

The first Grand Final of any kind occurred in the sport of Australian rules football in the Victorian Football Association in 1896. Up until that time, the leading team on the table after a series of home-and-away matches was deemed to be that year's premier. However in 1896 the Collingwood and South Melbourne Football Clubs occupied the first two positions on the table and could not be separated by points scored for or against. It was decided that a Grand Final would be played to decide the premier.

Related Topics:
Australian rules football - Victorian Football Association - 1896 - Collingwood - South Melbourne

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Collingwood defeated South Melbourne for their first premiership of any kind, and the following year both clubs were foundation members of the breakaway Victorian Football League.

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A Championship Final was introduced to determine the winner of the British Rugby League Championship in 1904, though it only became a regular fixture from 1906 onwards. In 1973 it was replaced by the Premiership Final, and the term Grand Final was first used in 1998, two years after the start of Super League. The Grand Final has now become an accepted part of the British scene, and the term is used to describe the final of leagues below Super League such as the National Leagues and the Conference

Related Topics:
Rugby League Championship - Premiership Final - Super League - National Leagues - Conference

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