the finished the 1999 home and away season in second position with 17 wins and 5 losses, a game behind essendon, with the brisbane lions, western bulldogs, west coast, carlton, port adelaide and sydney making up the final eight. carlton had finished with a record of 12 wins and ten losses, becoming only the second club (after in 1900) to reach the grand final after finishing sixth on the ladder.