 Port Adelaide beat Geelong by 55 points in the qualifying final at AAMI Stadium, which gave them a week off and a place in the preliminary final; Port Adelaide then defeated St Kilda by 6 points in a tight preliminary final to advance to the grand final.Brisbane thrashed St Kilda by a massive 80 points the qualifying final at the Gabba, and then defeated Geelong by 9 points in the preliminary final, which in extremely controversial circumstances, was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, despite Brisbane earning a home preliminary final, a situation which many argue cost Brisbane the premiership.Leading up to the opening bounce and for large portions of the first quarter there were scuffles between players most notably Darryl Wakelin and Alistair Lynch.