On This Day in AFL – The Millennium Match 1999
December 31, 1999
Just one day after Steve Waugh had led Australia to a 180-run Test victory over India at the MCG, Carlton and Collingwood suited up for a rare New Year’s Eve AFL match.
The AFL had caught the ‘millennium bug’ and decided to stage the exhibition match between the arch rivals to welcome the year 2000, but the match was far from a contest.
The Blues burst out of the blocks with a six-goal to zero opening term and continued to dominate the match with 14 goals to seven after the first break.
The 1999 Grand Finalists won 20.17 (137) to 7.7 (49) and it was 18-year-old forward Brendan Fevola who stole the show with a sensational 12-goal haul for the Blues.
Fevola had made his league debut in 1999, but hardly troubled the statisticians in his two matches against the Magpies and the Western Bulldogs. This effort against the ‘Pies though indicated he would a more than handy squad member in the future.
Blues’ premiership star Scott Camporeale booted three goals in the match, while for the Magpies Nathan Buckley, Chris Tarrant and Tyson Lane nabbed two goals apiece.
Carlton 6.6 13.11 17.15 20.17 (137)
Collingwood 0.3 3.5 3.5 7.7 (49)
Goals
Carlton: B Fevola 12, S Camporeale 3, S Beaumont 2, M Lappin 1, L Whitnall 1, D Rice 1.
Collingwood: T Lane 2, N Buckley 2, C Tarrant 2, M Orchard 1.
