AND HERE we are again.

Just a week after AFL.com.au and our fans voted Brisbane's preliminary final win over Hawthorn the greatest game of the 21st century, we have another contender.

The 2026 Grand Final will live long in the memory as one of the best season deciders in VFL/AFL history, with the Lions coming from 17 points down late in the final term to win by seven points.

GRAND FINAL Full match coverage and stats

But where does it rank among the best games since 2000, including the Lions-Hawks epic?

Check out AFL.com.au's list of the 11 best games since 2000 and have your say in our poll at the bottom of the page.

11) Essendon v North Melbourne, round 16 2001

In a 2001 epic between two rivals, Essendon's recovery from 69 points down at the MCG against the Roos remains the biggest comeback in VFL/AFL history. Taking on the reigning premiers, the Kangaroos opened up a 58-point lead at quarter-time and pushed further ahead in the second quarter before the Bombers' comeback. Matthew Lloyd kicked nine goals and Jason Johnson had 31 disposals and 13 clearances and kicked four majors. The Bombers had already brought the margin back to 14 points at the final change before completing the unforgettable comeback.

10) Collingwood v Brisbane, 2023 Grand Final

In a remarkable decider, the Magpies overcame the Lions by four points to seal their first flag since 2010. Stunning goals from Jordan De Goey and Steele Sidebottom had sent the Pies into a 10-point lead late, only for Joe Daniher to bring the Lions back within a kick with 93 seconds remaining. Brisbane pushed for the matchwinner but the Pies held on to claim a record-equalling 16th premiership. It was a win inspired by Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, who kicked four goals from 18 disposals in a brilliant performance.

9) Brisbane v Geelong, 2024 preliminary final

A classic Brisbane preliminary final at the MCG? It's becoming a pattern. This was a see-sawing prelim. The Lions led at the first change, but Geelong kicked seven goals to two in the second quarter to hit the front. After Brisbane hit back, the final term was a classic as Ollie Henry kicked two of his four goals, only for Cal Ah Chee, and then Cam Rayner, to send Brisbane into a Grand Final. Lachie Neale had 31 disposals and 12 clearances in a crucial performance.

8) St Kilda v Geelong, round 14 2009

One of the most famous home and away games of all time, the Saints and Cats met at Marvel Stadium with both remarkably 13-0. And the blockbuster clash lived up to expectations. St Kilda had led from the start, only for the Cats to draw level in the final quarter through Mathew Stokes. But Michael Gardiner took a towering pack mark and kicked the winning goal to seal a famous St Kilda win. Gardiner finished with 13 disposals, 20 hitouts and four goals in a best-on-ground performance.

7) Western Bulldogs v Sydney, 2016 Grand Final

The Bulldogs' premiership drought was broken as they claimed their first flag since 1954 in a famous Grand Final win. An enthralling decider came down to the final quarter after the Swans had drawn back to within a point. And it was Liam Picken (twice) and Tom Boyd who delivered the huge moments to deliver the Bulldogs a famous victory. Jason Johannisen (33 disposals) claimed the Norm Smith Medal, while Boyd finished with three goals and Picken had 25 touches and booted three majors.

6) Hawthorn v Geelong, 2013 preliminary final

It was the match that broke the famous Kennett Curse. Following the 2008 Grand Final defeat at the hands of Hawthorn, Geelong players had made a pact to never lose to the Hawks again, while president Jeff Kennett had questioned the Cats' "psychological drive". What followed was 11 straight wins to Geelong, until this preliminary final night. The Cats had led by 19 points halfway through the last quarter, but the Hawks peppered the goals, kicking 3.7 to record a memorable victory on the way to another premiership. Steve Johnson's impressive stat line was 32 touches and four goals, but Shaun Burgoyne was the Hawks' match-winner with 24 and three majors, including the match-winner.

5) Collingwood v St Kilda, 2010 Grand Final

But for the bounce of a ball, St Kilda would have had a second V/AFL premiership. Stephen Milne desperately lunging for a ball that just wouldn't bounce his way has gone down in the annals of Australian football history, with St Kilda and Collingwood ultimately playing out the last drawn AFL Grand Final. The Pies returned the following week and destroyed the Saints, and the AFL then changed the rule, bringing in extra time for any future drawn Grand Finals. Lenny Hayes won the Norm Smith medal for the draw, but would have gladly exchanged it for a premiership medal.

4) Western Bulldogs v Greater Western Sydney, 2016 preliminary final

It was a final that kickstarted one of the great modern rivalries, born out of nothing but sheer emotion and an all-time great match. GWS was a smooth-moving machine, fancied to qualify for its first Grand Final, but the Western Bulldogs were gritty, tough and had a surprise four-goal hero in Clay Smith. It was a closely fought affair, with the margin never straying beyond a couple of goals. The Giants led by 14 points early in the fourth term, but a ferocious Bulldogs – boosted by a raucous crowd who had travelled to Sydney – hit the front courtesy of a burgeoning hero by the name of Marcus Bontempelli.

3) West Coast v Collingwood, 2018 Grand Final

West Coast had barely led for the entirety of the 2018 Grand Final against Collingwood, until the entry of Dom Sheed. Hemmed in on the boundary from the tightest of angles, the unheralded Sheed kicked a drop punt from a set shot straight into footy folklore, sending the Eagles in front at the 28-minute mark of the last term. Collingwood had dominated the first term, piling on the goals to lead by 29, but steered by Norm Smith medallist Luke Shuey – who took a crucial mark in the final seconds as the Pies pushed for one last gasp effort – West Coast ground its way into the match.

2) Brisbane v Fremantle, 2026 Grand Final

It was good, but it wasn't quite as good as last week. Just like the masterpiece that led to it, the 2026 Grand Final had it all – goals aplenty, momentum swings, moments of greatness and, something that was missing from the Hawthorn Brisbane preliminary final – Wharfie Time. When Fremantle hit the button and AC/DC's Hell's Bells rang around the MCG, the Dockers were 17 points in front – the biggest lead of the game – with less than five minutes on the clock. But the Lions had prepared for this moment and the activation seemed to inspire them rather than their opponents. Four goals followed, a period of mayhem that shattered logic, broke purple hearts and stamped Brisbane as a valid entry into the games' greatest-ever teams. This is more than a game to remember, it's a game impossible to forget.

1) Brisbane v Hawthorn, 2026 preliminary final

Is it recency bias? Perhaps. But try telling the 97,835 on Saturday night that they didn't witness something special. It was a high-scoring game of dramatic momentum shifts, many apparent match-winning heroes and a key umpiring decision in the final 30 seconds, which have immediately stamped Brisbane's win as an instant classic. The small forwards starred, with Nick Watson booting six and nearly dragging Hawthorn over the line, while Kai Lohmann kicked five down the other end. The Lions jumped out to 28 points at the start of the fourth term, and the Hawks hit the lead a few times in the final minutes before Hugh McCluggage capitalised on a free kick and saluted with an all-time captain's goal.