Oh Yes!
The Swans have made the 2016 AFL Grand Final! Once again, a blistering seven-goal first quarter, and the nail was hammered into the Cats’ coffin early. You can’t play catch-up footy in finals. A 37-point win to Sydney proved that. That margin teetered back and forth all game, but the closest Geelong got was within five goals, and even then, it was too big of a gap to make up.
Geelong’s dynamic duo, Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood, were the only two players on the ground that attempted to get the ball with any grit and determination. Ironically, both ended the game on 39 disposals apiece. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, they can’t do it alone. Geelong has way too many passengers. On Friday night, as usual, Selwood and Dangerfield tried their guts out, but they had few teammates along for the ride. Post-game, Dangerfield said, “It just felt like we could have given way more.” That’s a collective “we,” because he and Selwood gave their all. Geelong has some serious issues to look at in the off-season. They blew their Grand Final chance right from the first bounce. That’ll hurt more than getting to the big dance, and losing.
Appreciative Bulldogs’ Coach, Luke Beveridge shouts eight busloads of loyal Doggies’ members and supporters a $10 breakfast each, a gesture of thanks for traveling all the way to Sydney to cheer on their team.
The Bulldogs’ have made it to their first the Grand Final in 55 years! It was a back and forth fight for the whole game. There wasn’t a margin either way that was more than 14 points, but in the end, it was just one goal that separated them. The euphoric scenes at Spotless Stadium were that of a grand final victory. It was the biggest crowd ever at the Giants’ home ground, but at least half were decked out in red, white and blue. Injured captain, Bob Murphy was in tears after the game. Tom Liberatore’s parents were in the stands, nervously willing their son to get his team over the line. The players put their bodies on the line all day. They fought when there was little left in the tank. There were some wasted entries into the forward fifty that made getting the win that little bit harder, but they hung on. The traveling Bulldogs’ faithful drowned out the Giants supporters with their chanting all afternoon/evening. Those loyal, long-suffering Western Bulldogs fans carried their team over the line in enemy territory. This one’s for the underdog, and this time, ironically, the underdogs were the Doggies!
Luke Beveridge shouted breakfast on the way up to Sydney. After that win, he may have to pick up the drinks tab on the way back to Melbourne! Hope the bus driver has earplugs. If there’s any voice left in the supporters, me thinks the Bulldogs’ song will be on repeat all the way home!
The Bulldogs’ preliminary final banner once again shot a snide dig at the opposition. “Our Club Was Born in Blood And Boots Not In AFL Focus Groups.” Comedian, Danny McGinley, has been churning out the sarcasm all year. He has one more to write. No one would have guessed it’d go this far. Incidentally, the Bulldogs are the first team to make a Grand Final from 7th position on the ladder. Safe to say, all AFL supporters who don’t barrack for Sydney are willing the Dogs to win the big one!
Oh No!
The Cats’ meowed their way through a preliminary final like a bottom four team. A goalless first quarter meant the game was over by quarter time! Was it the lack of game time that played against Geelong? The post-Round 23 bye, the after-the-siren win against Hawthorn, another break, then last night’s pitiful display. If there’s an excuse, that could be it, but that lack of, well, everything, from Geelong, allowed Sydney to coast into the Grand Final far too easily. Corey Enright’s tears said it all. He was a broken man walking off the ground. The 2016 AFL Grand Final was the one that got away. In all likelihood, the raw emotion that spilled over was the culmination of a heartbreaking loss, and also for a playing career that had come to a bitter end. Enright is expected to hang up his boots and not play on in 2017.
Hawthorn Coach, Alistair Clarkson, in the crowd and watching Friday night’s game with a look of, “This insipid Geelong team beat us?” It made Hawthorn’s after-the-siren point when they played the Cats’, which lost them the game, and the week’s rest, all the harder to grasp. If he wasn’t tortured enough already, that just rubbed salt into open wounds.
Despite Sydney’s dominance, they have some injury concerns going into the Grand Final. Jarrad McVeigh (calf) didn’t play on Friday night. Aliir Aliir, suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and despite being strapped up and seen doing some test runs on the boundary, he ended up on the bench with his knee heavily iced for the rest of the game. Rising Star winner, Callum Mills is still doubtful for the Grand Final, too. Both Aliir and Mills have been solid, standout rookies for Sydney this season. It’d be a devastating blow if either, or both, missed the most important game of all. On the flipside, it’d be what dreams are made of to play in a Grand Final in their rookie year.
Bulldog, Jordan Roughead copped a nasty falcon to the face that caused bleeding in his eye. After seeking the opinion of an Optometrist, he took no further part in the game. Tom Boyd was forced into sole ruck duties because of Roughead’s injury.
Where was Jeremy Cameron? Two kicks for the entire game and no goals! Had he contributed in some way, it would have been an entirely different result. Co-Captain Callan Ward left the ground on wobbly legs and took no further part in the game after an errant knee to the temple. There was nothing malicious in it. Accidental contact during a contest.
The 2016 AFL Grand Final is between NSW and Victoria. The traditional, fierce state/border rivalry – Sydney vs. Western Bulldogs. We’ll take a look at the big match at the end of the week. Can the Bulldogs win one more?
