unlike most pre-season cup competitions that start in february, the 2000 cup started on 31 december 1999 with a one-off "match of the millennium" between carlton and collingwood football club, most notable for the competition record 12 goals by brendan fevola. the competition culminated with the grand final in february 2000 between essendon, the eventual 2000 afl premiers, and the kangaroos, the reigning 1999 afl premiers. essendon's undefeated run through the pre-season was a precursor to their dominance in the premiership season, in which they only lost one match. the final was held in february, rather than march as per most other pre-seasons, due to the season being played earlier in the year so that the finals would not clash with the 2000 summer olympics to be held in sydney in late september.