IMDb 0 2011 HD

The Final Story 1971

The Final Story 1971

2011
Documentary
46 min
0 IMDB

Regarded as the most physical Grand Final ever played. 40 Years On: The Final Story provides a unique insight into the feelings and experiences of those who've played…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Peter Dickson
Starring
Leigh Matthews / David Parkin / Kevin Neale / Don Scott / Peter Hudson

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

intense physical emotional reflective enduring legendary personal gruelling nostalgic powerful memorable raw

Reviews

C
Charlotte Davies
Apr 27, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This documentary breathes life into the legend of the 1971 Grand Final by focusing on the human element. 'The Final Story 1971' succeeds by putting the players, such as Leigh Matthews and David Parkin, front and centre, allowing…

A
Arthur Pendelton
Apr 27, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Here we have a look back at the 1971 Grand Final, framed as its most physically demanding iteration. 'The Final Story 1971' gathers a formidable roster of players, including Peter Hudson, to share their perspectives. The emphasis is…

I
Isobel Finch
Apr 27, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

'The Final Story 1971' is a remarkable achievement in sports documentary filmmaking. It moves beyond the statistics and scorecards to explore the profound emotional and physical landscape of one of Australian Rules Football's most infamous clashes. The participation…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Apr 27, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This documentary revisits the famously brutal 1971 Grand Final, and it’s the players’ candid accounts that elevate it. Leigh Matthews and his contemporaries speak with a frankness that underscores the match's legendary physicality. The film’s strength lies in…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 27, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Forty years on, 'The Final Story 1971' provides a compelling retrospective on a Grand Final etched into Australian sporting folklore. The film eschews mere match highlights, opting instead for a deeper excavation of the human cost and triumph.…

FAQs

The documentary cultivates a tone of reflection and respect, tinged with the raw intensity of the memories it explores. It's a serious examination of a landmark sporting event, prioritising the emotional and physical experiences of the participants. While acknowledging the ferocity of the 1971 Grand Final, the film adopts a measured and insightful approach, allowing the weight of the athletes' testimonies to convey the profound impact of the game. The mood is one of looking back with a critical, yet empathetic, eye.