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Grand Finals are a time when heroes are made, reputations are made and lost and this was such a time. The margin at the end of the game makes it look like it was not a close game but it was a classic game – in fact it is probably a good thing that the game was not close because we would then be discussing the incompetence of the umpires instead of the players who fought and left nothing on the ground.
Cameron Ling celebrates his last game with the last goal & a dominate display on the Brownlow medal winner Dane Swan which went a long way to see his team win their 3rd premiership in 5 years
Geelong started the game with a goal inside 15 seconds of play and then two minutes later Travis Varcoe kicked his second goal and it case a devaju for Leon Davis as he again struggled at times on the big stage. Early on Geelong had all the play but could not capitlise their dominance and the fact that Travis Cloke was marking everything and kicking goals from every chance he had.
Second quarter was all Collingwood and it looked like they were only one goal away from breaking the game apart. The Cats were three goals down, the jPod popped his shoulder out and their game style was questionable. However they somehow managed to get back into the game with some luck including a miss mark to Dane Swan, the bounce up saw Darren Jolly put the ball over the line on the full which saw Jimmy Bartel kick a Johnson style goal.
The third quarter saw several lead changes and in the jPod absense after a half time chat by the inspirational Cameron Mooney Tom Hawkins stepped up and played a quarter to remember. While Tom stepped up, Travis Cloke was missing and went from the most dangerous player on the ground to a liability.
The fourth quarter was a fizzle but could have been different if Collingwood kicked the first goal it could have been different.
Discussion Points About the Grand Final
What decides most Grand Finals are not the stars but the lower end of the players and whoever lifts usually sees their team win. While Duncan and Christensen struggled at times the difference was that they lifted while Collingwoods lower players did not. Blair, Didak, Davis and Fasolo struggled and Ben Reid was injured – playing injured or half fit players is not a good idea and it rarely pays off.
Mid season we all agreed that we would know how the Malthouse vs Buckley saga would affect Collingwoods chances of winning back to back at the end of the year. I think it is safe to say that it was a distraction now and I think the decision for Nick Maxwell to drag Malthouse into the huddle and say ‘Do it for him’ was poor. Anyone should know football is bigger than any man, including a legend who has been involved for 40+ years.
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