Who was the youngest player to play in a Grand Final? How fast is the quickest ever Grand Final goal? And how many Grand Final goals have there been?
Ahead of Sunday’s Hyundai A-League 2019 Grand Final between Perth Glory and Sydney FC, we’ve looking back through the annals to bring you a comprehensive guide to the decider.
From the National Soccer League (1984-2004) to every Hyundai A-League Grand Final (2006-2018) – here are the stats to the big dance you need to know.
PREVIEW: Everything you need to know ahead of the Glory v Sydney Grand Final
LIVE BLOG: The biggest stories of Hyundai A-League 2019 Grand Final week
GLORY’S MUST-DOs: The four keys to Perth’s hopes of securing their first Hyundai A-League Championship
SYDNEY FC’S KEYS: The four things the Sky Blues have to do to win Sunday’s decider
At a glance: Australian national league Grand Finals
Number of Grand Finals: 34
Number of Grand Final goals: 85
Number of drawn Grand Finals: 7
Most goals in a Grand Final match: 6 (Perth Glory 3-3 Wollongong Wolves 2000, Melbourne Victory 6-0 Adelaide United 2007)
Highest winning Grand Final margin: 6 goals (Melbourne Victory 6-0 Adelaide United 2007)
Grand Final royalty
Most Grand Final goals: 13 – Melbourne Victory
Most appearances in Grand Finals: 6 – Sydney Olympic
Most Grand Final victories: 4 – South Melbourne, Melbourne Victory
Most Grand Final appearances: 7 – Damian Mori, Tom Pondeljak
Most Grand Final victories: 5 – Michael Theo
Most Grand Final goals: 5 – Archie Thompson
Most goals in a Grand Final match: 5 – Archie Thompson
Coach with most Grand Finals: 5 – Zoran Matic
Coach with most Grand Final victories: 4 – Ange Postecoglou
Fun Grand Final facts
Time of quickest Grand Final goal: fifth minute, scored by Sydney Olympic’s Mark Koussas in a 2-1 first leg defeat to South Melbourne in 1984
Age of youngest Grand Final player: Jason Culina was just 16 years and 293 days old when he played in Sydney United’s 2-0 loss to Brisbane Strikers in 1997.
Age of oldest Grand Final player: Ante Covic of Western Sydney Wanderers saw two Brisbane Roar goals fly past him in a 2-1 defeat in 2014. He was aged 38 years and 325 days.
Age of youngest Grand Final winner: Current Sydney FC assistant coach and soon-to-be Wellington Phoenix boss Ufuk Talay was 17 years and 51 days old when he won the 1993 Grand Final with Marconi, who defeated Adelaide City 1-0 win 1993.
Age of oldest Grand Final winner: Central Coast Mariners defender Patrick Zwaanswijk took out 2013 honours with a 2-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers. He was 38 years and 94 days of age.
Age of youngest Grand Final scorer: Ljubo Milicevic was 19 years and 119 days old when he scored Perth Glory’s second in the epic 2000 Grand Final defeat to Wollongong Wolves.
Average age of youngest starting Grand Final team: Sydney Olympic sent out a team averaging just 23.1 years of age in a 1-0 loss to Marconi in 1989.
Average age of oldest starting Grand Final team: Tony Popovic’s Western Sydney Wanderers were 30.5 years old on average in their 3-1 defeat to Adelaide United in 2016.
READ MORE: Best of enemies: Popovic v Corica
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ALEX WILKINSON: Win would be ‘perfect send of for Mr Sydney’ Alex Brosque
EVANS’ ROUTINE: Preparation, pasta and a post-match beer: Matchday Grand Final with the GF ref
