Geelong was looking for its first premiership since winning the 1963 VFL Grand Final and West Coast was attempting to repeat its success in the 1992 AFL Grand Final, when it had defeated Geelong by a margin of 28 points, becoming the first non-Victorian team to win the AFL Premiership.
At the conclusion of the home and away season, West Coast had finished first on the AFL ladder with 16 wins and 6 losses, winning the McClelland Trophy. Geelong had finished fourth (behind Carlton and North Melbourne) with 13 wins and 9 losses.
During the lead-up to the game, West Coast were the strong favourites to win. Geelong had won through to the decider after winning three tough finals, including two dramatic after-the-siren wins over Footscray and North Melbourne. West Coast had a relatively smooth run into the grand final, beating Collingwood in a qualifying final to earn a week's rest, before easily accounting for Melbourne in a preliminary final.
Match summary
It was an entertaining first quarter, which saw West Coast stamp its authority early by bursting out of the blocks, before some stirring football by Geelong towards the end of the quarter (including a great long goal from Andrew Wills) saw the Cats lead by a point at quarter time.
From then on, though, West Coast started taking control. With Geelong's champion full-forward Gary Ablett well held and star Geelong midfielder Garry Hocking injuring his thigh (yet remaining on the ground), the Cats were in trouble as West Coast began to dominate general play. Billy Brownless took one of the great grand final marks halfway through the 2nd quarter and goaled, but it was the only highlight for the Cats in the term as the Eagles booted 4 of their own to lead by 23 points at half time.
Even though they led well from quarter time onwards, the Eagles could not convert their dominant play onto the scoreboard, with a constant margin of 4-5 goals seemingly keeping the game in the balance for much of the 3rd quarter. But the last term was all the Eagles, as they stormed home and steamrolled the Cats, kicking 8 final quarter goals to 1, winning the match by 80 points, with 20.23 (143) being the Eagles' highest score of the year.
The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to West Coast's Dean Kemp for being judged the best player afield, with 23 disposals and 2 goals.
It was West Coast's second premiership in three years, and Geelong's third grand final appearance without success in six years.
Epilogue
Cats coach Malcolm Blight quit after the team's third grand final loss in six years. His next two grand finals as a coach came in 1997 and 1998 and both would be premierships with Adelaide against St Kilda and North Melbourne.
