2000 Grand Final (What They Can Do Next Week)

The 2000 AFL Grand Final was an Australian Rules Football match set to determine the premier of the 2000 AFL season. The match, contested between Essendon and the Western Bulldogs was attended by 98,007 spectators and was won by the Essendon by a margin of 57 points. The victory gave the Essendon Football Club their 16th premiership, the equal most (alongside the Carlton Football Club), and denied the Western Bulldogs the equal most premiership victories in succession.

Background
The 2000 grand final was the second time these teams met, and first in a row. Essendon, rebounding off it's 1999 grand final loss to the Western Bulldogs, again won the minor premiership, and had to battle the fourth placed Geelong in the first quater final. After a 15 points win, they won against the third placed Brisbane Lions, and went into the Grand Final a week later as the home side.

Essendon's opponents and rivals from the season previous entered the grand final one again from second place. The on field dominance was shown when the Bulldogs become the only team to defeat Essendon during the season, however going down to Brisbane and North Melbourne. After defeating Brisbane in the second quater final and avenging the seasons earlier loss, they went onto defeat a injury depleated Geelong side and win by 85 points.

Match Summary
After winning the toss, Essendon captain James Hird chose to kick towars the punt road end. The first score went to Matthew Loyd, who, alongside other foward players such as Michael Long and James Hird, kick three individual goals before the Bulldogs got on the score board thanks to a behind by Tony Libertore.

After the first quater, the Bulldogs did not threaten the 22 point lead that the Bombers held at the first change, and after a six goal second term, difted to a comfortable 48 point third quater lead, and an eventual 57 point victory, ensuring their 16th premiership, and denying the Bulldogs fourth in-a-row, thus finishing the most dominant season of VFL/AFL football ever.

Michael Long was awarded the Norm Smith medal after being judged the best on ground, followed by James Hird who kicked 3 goals, and Dustin Fletcher, who had 34 possessions.

The 2000 premiership would be the last by any Victorian or Melbourne based club until the Western Bulldogs victory in the 2008 grand final.