Are Brent Harvey and Adam Goodes the oldest-ever opponents in an AFL final?
The North Melbourne and Sydney stalwarts will have a combined age of 73 years 18 days when they square-off in Saturday night’s semi-final.
Harvey, 37, and Goodes, 35, are believed to be on the cusp of setting a landmark which may never be bettered – there’s no record of older finals opponents, by combined ages.
OLDEST OPPONENTS IN A VFL/AFL FINAL (by combined age)
* 73 years 18 days: Brent Harvey (North Melbourne) 37 years 129 days and Adam Goodes (Sydney) 35 years 254 days – 2015 semi-final
* 72 years 179 days: Craig Bradley (Carlton) 37 years 320 days and Darren Jarman (Adelaide) 34 years 224 days – 2001 elimination final
* 72 years 158 days: Syd Barker snr (Essendon) 36 years 292 days and Jimmy Freake (Fitzroy) 35 years 231 days – 1924 semi-final
* 72 years 62 days: Ted Rowell (Collingwood) 39 years 95 days and Rod McGregor (Carlton) 32 years and 334 days – 1915 grand final
* 71 years 64 days: Michael Tuck (Hawthorn) 38 years 83 days and Neville Bruns (Geelong) 32 years 346 days – 1991 semi-final
OLDEST VFL/AFL PREMIERSHIP WINNERS
Michael Tuck: 38 years 95 days (Hawthorn, 1991)
Charlie Hardy: 37 years 178 days (Essendon, 1924)
Charlie Hardy: 36 years 202 days (Essendon, 1923)
Michael Tuck: 36 years, 98 days (Hawthorn, 1989)
Les Hughes: 35 years 178 days (Collingwood, 1919)
OLDEST VFL/AFL PLAYERS
Vic Cumberland: 43 years, 48 days (St Kilda, 1920)
Dustin Fletcher: 40 years, 23 days (Essendon, 2015)
Jack Leith: 39 years, 295 days (Melbourne, 1912)
Syd Barker snr: 39 years, 239 days (North Melbourne, 1927)
Jim Flynn: 39 years, 180 days (Carlton, 1910)