List of kicks after the siren in the VFL/AFL

In Australian rules football, if a player takes a mark or is awarded a free kick before the siren sounds to end a quarter, and the siren sounds before the player takes a set shot, the player is allowed to take the kick after the siren. Often, the result of this kick is of little consequence, but if the player is within range of goal, any score will count towards the final result.

The right to take a set shot after the final bell was enshrined in the Laws of the Game prior to the 1889 season;[1] prior to this, the ball was declared dead (and any opportunity for a set shot lost) once the bell sounded.[2]

Below is a list of occasions in the Australian Football League (known as the Victorian Football League until 1990) where game results have been decided by set shots taken after the final siren, a play similar to the buzzer-beater in basketball. These are highly memorable and often go down in football folklore.

Goal to win

St Kilda's Billy Schmidt is the first known player to have kicked a goal to win after the siren. His set shot attempt led the Saints to victory over Carlton in round 15, 1913.
Barry Hall is the first player to have kicked a goal after the siren to win on two occasions. Hall achieved the feat for St Kilda against Hawthorn in round 21, 2001—incidentally, his last game for the club—before repeating his heroics for Sydney in its round 3, 2005 clash against the Brisbane Lions.
West Coast's Luke Shuey is the only player to have kicked a goal to win after the siren in extra time in the VFL/AFL. His goal from a free kick in the 2017 elimination final allowed the Eagles to progress past Port Adelaide.
Collingwood's Alan Ryan is the first known player to have kicked a goal to draw a match after the siren. His goal from a free kick tied the scores in the Magpies' round 2, 1935 match against Fitzroy.
Footscray's Harry Hickey is the first known player to have kicked a behind to win after the siren. His set shot attempt in the Bulldogs' round 18, 1944 match over Carlton not only led his side to victory, but also secured Footscray's spot in the next week's finals series, ironically at the expense of the Blues.
Players to have kicked a goal to win a match after the final siren
PlayerClubOpponentRd.YearFinal scoreRef.
Billy SchmidtSt KildaCarlton15191310.10 (70) d. 11.3 (69)[3]
Jimmy GordonEssendonUniversity1619139.8 (62) d. 8.12 (60)[4]
Eric FlemingGeelongFitzroy1219249.14 (68) d. 9.11 (65)[5]
Doug StrangRichmondCarlton14193213.13 (91) d. 12.14 (86)[6]
Terry BrainSouth MelbourneCollingwood14193313.11 (89) d. 12.11 (83)[7]
Ron CooperCarltonEssendon7193910.18 (78) d. 10.12 (72)[8]
Jack WroutCarltonNorth Melbourne14193911.13 (79) d. 10.13 (73)[9]
Bill WoodFootscrayRichmond15194614.15 (99) d. 12.21 (93)[10]
Jock SpencerNorth MelbourneGeelong719498.13 (61) d. 8.7 (55)[11]
Bill NolanSouth MelbourneSt Kilda1319526.8 (44) d. 5.8 (38)[12]
John PeckHawthornCollingwood1319607.16 (58) d. 7.15 (57)[13]
Blair CampbellRichmondSouth Melbourne17196610.12 (72) d. 10.11 (71)[14]
Bill RyanGeelongCollingwood1196713.13 (91) d. 13.12 (90)[15]
Doug WadeNorth MelbourneCollingwood16197311.10 (76) d. 10.11 (71)[16]
Malcolm BlightNorth MelbourneCarlton10197611.15 (81) d. 11.10 (76)[17]
Alan StonehamFootscrayFitzroy2119764.11 (35) d. 3.16 (34)[18]
Robert ElliottSt KildaNorth Melbourne14197818.16 (124) d. 19.7 (121)[19]
John RobertsSouth MelbourneGeelong1198013.10 (88) d. 12.13 (85)[20]
Paul SarahRichmondSt Kilda19198110.11 (71) d. 9.11 (65)[21]
Alastair ClarksonNorth MelbourneMelbourne15198716.16 (112) d. 15.20 (110)[22]
Stephen KernahanCarltonNorth Melbourne22198720.9 (129) d. 19.11 (125)[23]
Gary BuckenaraHawthornMelbournePF198711.14 (80) d. 10.18 (78)[24]
Rod JamesonAdelaideFitzroy1219917.8 (50) d. 7.5 (47)[25]
Bill BrownlessGeelongFootscrayQF199415.16 (106) d. 15.11 (101)[26]
Gary Ablett Sr.GeelongNorth MelbournePF199416.13 (109) d. 14.19 (103)[27]
Quenton LeachFremantleBrisbane Lions8199714.14 (98) d. 15.3 (93)[28]
Peter BurgoynePort AdelaideCarlton21200012.16 (88) d. 12.11 (83)[29]
Ben DixonHawthornCarlton17200115.6 (96) d. 13.15 (93)[30]
Barry HallSt KildaHawthorn22200113.11 (89) d. 13.9 (87)[31]
Daryn CresswellSydneyKangaroos4200215.13 (103) d. 14.16 (100)[32]
Jeff FarmerFremantleMelbourne8200214.10 (94) d. 13.11 (89)[33]
Peter RiccardiGeelongCarlton11200215.10 (100) d. 14.12 (96)[34]
Jared PoultonPort AdelaideSydney15200214.10 (94) d. 13.14 (92)[35]
Chris TarrantCollingwoodAdelaide7200318.6 (114) d. 16.13 (109)[36]
Barry Hall (2)SydneyBrisbane Lions3200513.9 (87) d. 11.15 (81)[37]
Justin LongmuirFremantleSt Kilda21200512.8 (80) d. 11.9 (75)[38]
Jordan McMahonRichmondMelbourne18200912.14 (86) d. 12.10 (82)[39]
Karmichael HuntGold CoastRichmond16201213.12 (90) d. 13.10 (88)[40]
Tom HawkinsGeelongHawthorn19201218.10 (118) d. 17.14 (116)[41]
Nic NaitanuiWest CoastNorth Melbourne8201312.18 (90) d. 13.10 (88)[42]
Ashley McGrathBrisbane LionsGeelong13201315.13 (103) d. 14.14 (98)[43]
Sam LloydRichmondSydney8201614.17 (101) d. 15.10 (100)[44]
David MundyFremantleRichmond8201710.12 (72) d. 10.10 (70)[45]
Gary RohanSydneyEssendon14201711.20 (86) d. 12.13 (85)[46]
Luke ShueyWest CoastPort AdelaideEF201712.6 (78) d. 10.16 (76)[a][47]
Zach TuohyGeelongMelbourne18201816.4 (100) d. 14.14 (98)[48]
Jeremy McGovernWest CoastPort Adelaide2120189.8 (62) d. 9.4 (58)[49]
Robbie GrayPort AdelaideCarlton720209.10 (64) d. 9.7 (61)[50]
Jack NewnesCarltonFremantle1220205.10 (40) d. 5.6 (36)[51]
Zac BaileyBrisbane LionsCollingwood3202111.7 (73) d. 11.6 (72)[52]
Gary Rohan (2)GeelongWestern Bulldogs14202112.11 (83) d. 11.12 (78)[53]
Max GawnMelbourneGeelong23202112.9 (81) d. 12.5 (77)[54]
Jordan DawsonAdelaidePort Adelaide3202215.6 (96) d. 13.14 (92)[55]
Noah AndersonGold CoastRichmond17202214.10 (94) d. 13.14 (92)[56]
Jamie ElliottCollingwoodEssendon19202212.8 (80) d. 11.10 (76)[57]
Dan HoustonPort AdelaideEssendon16202311.12 (78) d. 10.14 (74)[58]

Goal to draw

Players to have kicked a goal to draw a match after the final siren
PlayerClubOpponentRd.YearFinal scoreRef.
Alan RyanCollingwoodFitzroy2193514.9 (93) drew 14.9 (93)[59]
Ron BaggottMelbourneCollingwood16193510.19 (79) drew 11.13 (79)[60]
Stephen MacPhersonFootscrayNorth Melbourne20198718.17 (125) drew 18.17 (125)[61]
Ray WindsorBrisbane BearsWest Coast5199214.8 (92) drew 13.14 (92)[62]
Ashley SampiWest CoastWestern Bulldogs11200319.10 (124) drew 19.10 (124)[63]
Daniel BradshawBrisbane LionsEssendon19200912.15 (87) drew 13.9 (87)[64]
Mitch McGovernAdelaideCollingwood19201716.7 (103) drew 15.13 (103)[65]

Behind to win

Players to have kicked a behind to win a match after the final siren
PlayerClubOpponentRd.YearFinal scoreRef.
Harry HickeyFootscrayCarlton18194412.7 (89) d. 13.10 (88)[66]
Ken NewlandGeelongCollingwood20197217.10 (112) d. 17.9 (111)[67]
Tony LockettSydneyEssendonPF199610.10 (70) d. 10.9 (69)[68]
Jimmy BartelGeelongHawthorn17200915.9 (99) d. 14.14 (98)[69]
Michael WaltersFremantleBrisbane Lions10201910.13 (73) d. 10.12 (72)[70]

Behind to draw

Players to have kicked a behind to draw a match after the final siren
PlayerClubOpponentRd.YearFinal scoreRef.
Gerry DonnellyNorth MelbourneHawthorn13192610.10 (70) drew 10.10 (70)[71]
Matthew LloydEssendonWestern Bulldogs14200217.16 (118) drew 18.10 (118)[72]
Tom HawkinsGeelongGreater Western Sydney15201710.8 (68) drew 10.8 (68)[73]

Missed opportunities

A list of instances where a player had a shot at goal after the siren to win or draw the game but missed, resulting in a loss, or instances where a player has had a kick after the siren with scores level but failed to score. This list does not include instances where an opportunity for a set-shot after the siren is passed up in favor of playing on.

Players to have missed an opportunity to win or draw a match after the final siren
PlayerTeamOpponentRd.YearFinal scoreOutcomeRef.


Fred MetcalfNorth MelbourneGeelong319278.5 (53) lost to 7.13 (55)No score (out on the full)[74]
Ron Barassi Sr.MelbourneGeelong10194022.19 (151) lost to 24.10 (154)Behind[75]
Col WilliamsonSt KildaGeelong2194111.19 (85) lost to 13.9 (87)No score (fell short)[76]
Jack PimmCollingwoodGeelong15194810.13 (73) lost to 10.18 (78)Behind[77]
Fred FlanaganGeelongRichmond719509.20 (74) lost to 12.7 (79)No score (fell short)[78]
Harvey StevensFootscrayRichmond1319546.9 (45) lost to 6.13 (49)No score (out on the full)[79]
Ralph RogersonFitzroyCarlton719648.11 (59) lost to 8.12 (60)No score (fell short)[80]
Alex JesaulenkoCarltonRichmondSF19728.13 (61) drew 8.13 (61)No score (fell short)
Malcolm BlightNorth MelbourneHawthorn1219776.11 (47) lost to 6.12 (48)No score (out on the full)[81]
Warren RalphCarltonCollingwood519849.17 (71) lost to 10.16 (76)Behind[82]
Robert ScottGeelongSydney6198816.15 (111) lost to 17.12 (114)Behind (hit the goal post)[83]
Simon BeasleyFootscrayBrisbane Bears719889.17 (71) lost to 10.12 (72)Behind[84]
Steven ClarkMelbourneEssendon11199112.8 (80) lost to 12.14 (86)No score (fell short)[85]
Stephen KernahanCarltonEssendon2199319.18 (132) drew 20.12 (132)No score (out on the full)[86]
David KingNorth MelbourneHawthornQF199415.24 (114) d. 13.13 (91)[b]No score (fell short)[87]
Ben AllanFremantleFootscray5199514.12 (96) lost to 14.14 (98)No score (fell short)[88]
Marcus PickenBrisbane LionsAdelaide9200118.14 (122) lost to 19.13 (127)No score (fell short)[89]
Nick Dal SantoSt KildaSydney520028.8 (56) drew 8.8 (56)No score (fell short)[90]
Jarrad WaiteCarltonPort Adelaide4200516.13 (109) drew 15.19 (109)No score (fell short)[91]
Matthew EganGeelongMelbourne20200515.9 (99) lost to 14.16 (100)Behind[92]
Daniel MotlopPort AdelaideSt Kilda1620068.12 (60) lost to 8.16 (64)Behind[93]
Brad JohnsonWestern BulldogsNorth Melbourne9200816.14 (110) lost to 16.17 (113)Behind[94]
Jack RiewoldtRichmondSt Kilda7200816.11 (107) lost to 17.8 (110)No score (fell short)[95]
Brad JohnsonWestern BulldogsGeelong9200917.12 (114) lost to 17.14 (116)Behind[96]
Nick RiewoldtSt KildaEssendon20200916.12 (108) lost to 16.14 (110)Behind[97]
Justin WesthoffPort AdelaideGold Coast5201115.11 (101) lost to 15.14 (104)Behind[98]
Hayden BallantyneFremantleWest Coast1820119.10 (64) lost to 8.17 (65)Behind (hit the goal post)[99]
Adam GoodesSydneyEssendon20201114.15 (99) lost to 15.10 (100)Behind[100]
Hamish McIntoshNorth MelbourneEssendon1201215.12 (102) lost to 14.20 (104)Behind[101]
David MundyFremantleGeelong20201411.13 (79) lost to 12.9 (81)Behind[102]
Tom LynchGold CoastMelbourne1920169.10 (64) lost to 9.12 (66)No score (fell short)[103]
Isaac SmithHawthornGeelongQF201612.11 (83) lost to 12.13 (85)Behind[104]
Jayden HuntMelbourneGeelong1201813.16 (94) lost to 14.13 (97)No score (fell short)[105]
Harry TaylorGeelongWestern Bulldogs15201815.11 (101) lost to 16.7 (103)Behind[106]
David MyersEssendonSydney8201910.12 (72) lost to 11.11 (77)No score (fell short)[107]
Tom McCartinSydneyGreater Western Sydney5202110.9 (69) lost to 9.17 (71)No score (fell short)[108]
Adam KennedyGreater Western SydneyNorth Melbourne13202114.10 (94) drew 14.10 (94)No score (fell short)[109]
Dion PrestiaRichmondSydney11202215.10 (100) lost to 16.10 (106)No score (fell short)[110]
Oliver FlorentSydneyPort Adelaide420239.10 (64) lost to 9.12 (66)No score (fell short)[111]

Non-premiership matches

Goal to win

Players to have kicked a goal to win a match after the final siren
PlayerClubOpponentCompetitionRd.YearFinal scoreRef.
Kerry GoodNorth MelbourneCollingwoodEscort ChampionshipsGF19808.9 (57) d. 7.12 (54)[112]
Jack RiewoldtRichmondHawthornNAB Cup320130.13.7 (85) d. 0.13.6 (84)[c][113]

Goal to draw

Players to have kicked a goal to draw a match after the final siren
PlayerClubOpponentCompetitionRd.YearFinal scoreRef.
Mark WilliamsEssendonSt KildaNAB Cup120110.5.8 (38) drew 0.6.2 (38)[c][114]

Behind to win

Players to have kicked a behind to win a match after the final siren
PlayerClubOpponentCompetitionRd.YearFinal scoreRef.
Luke RussellGold CoastHawthornNAB Cup120130.4.6 (30) d. 0.4.5 (29)[c][115]

Miscellany

There are at least four instances in the elite competition where kicks were taken after the final siren cannot be categorised into the above lists.

In round 2 of the 1911 VFL season, Geelong's Bert Whittington was awarded a free kick moments before the bell was rung in his team's clash against Melbourne. His after-the-bell set shot was touched over the line, which under the rules of the time, would have resulted in no score as the ball was considered 'dead' as soon as it touched another player's hands. However, as field umpire Lardie Tulloch had not heard the bell, he gave the 'all clear' signal to the goal umpire to signal one behind, resulting in a 54-apiece drawn match. Melbourne protested the result, but it was dismissed by the league.[116]

In round 17 of the 1928 VFL season, St Kilda's Bert Smedley had possession of the ball when timekeepers rang the final bell. However, field umpire Reginald Devine had not yet heard the bell, which allowed Smedley to continue his dash and kick an on-the-run goal that put the Saints one point ahead of opponents Melbourne. After a pitch invasion and minutes of deliberation between match officials and timekeepers, St Kilda was ultimately declared the victor.[117] Melbourne opted to protest the result, recognising that while they had little chance of the protest being upheld, the very notion of challenging the decision would emphasise to the league the importance of louder sounding bells at venues.[118] Following two hours of evidence, the league decided to dismiss the protest, in spite of all witnesses admitting the goal was kicked after the bell, and boundary umpire James Blair describing St Kilda's bell as "putrid".[119]

In the 1990 Foster's Cup – the AFL's pre-season competition – Essendon's Paul Salmon goaled after the siren in his side's quarter-final match against Fitzroy to level the scores at 46-apiece. Seemingly unaware that the fixture was a knockout match, many of the 8,000-strong crowd at Waverley Park invaded the playing surface after Salmon's kick, assuming the match had finished. Rather, the match was to be decided in extra time via two halves of five minutes. Essendon added one goal in the overtime period to win the match by six points and progress to the next round of the tournament.[citation needed]

In round 5 of the 2006 AFL season, St Kilda's Steven Baker was the beneficiary of an after-the-siren free kick awarded in controversial circumstances at the end of his side's match against Fremantle at Aurora Stadium. In a passage of play that occurred after the siren sounded inaudibly, Baker scored a behind to tie the game, and received an illegal bump. He elected to cancel the behind and take a set-shot, which (with the umpires having now heard the siren) was a true after-the-siren kick. He scored another behind, drawing the scores level at 94-apiece. However, four days later, Fremantle successfully challenged to have the result of the game amended to 94–93, reflecting the scoreline when the siren originally sounded. This decision cancelled Baker's kick. This incident is often dubbed as 'Sirengate'.[120]

See also

Notes

References