2007 Grand Final Report
- or is it something more?
By hoody
The Cats had their first flag in the bag since 1963 – and that is definitely not a handbag – thanks to what was one of the gutsiest wins ever seen at the MCG in the big one.
The injury ridden Cats had lost six of their best to injury since the finals began and were at long odds with bookmakers to beat the highly fancied Eagles.
It was considered unlikely the Cats would even make the final with a team that included four players that have been playing in the reserves for the entire season. But those two freak goals by Gazza (the man that was to claim the Brownlow 48 hours later), kicked in the last 50 seconds of the preliminary final against the all powerful Crows outfit, gave the boys from the City by the Bay a crack at the defending champs in the big one.
The Eagles had won their last eight games on the trot since the return of Ben Cousins and their 90 point demolition of the young Hawthorn side only a week ago saw them start at the prohibitive odds of $1-20.
In probably the most inspired selection move of the season the Cats named Lonergan as an emergency last Thursday night, but the common perception was that this was a gesture of salute to Lonergan after his well documented return to the game from horrific injuries.
When Matty Scarlett couldn’t get through his Saturday morning fitness test, Lonergan had four hours to prepare for yet another seemingly impossible challenge, to somehow curb Coleman Medallist Lynch.
The Eagles full forward had been spoon fed throughout the final series by the best midfield in the competition (apologies to the cats, as only Ablett was available from their own gun midfield). He had encountered a dozen opponents over the finals series and beaten them all.
Now, I should point out that I don’t believe that I have ever witnessed a true “miracle” in the religious sense, but what followed was absolutely inconceivable to say the least.
Lonergan was simply magnificent.
His stats were just ridiculous - twenty nine kicks (21 contested and all 29 effective), a dozen effective handballs and nine bone jarring tackles. Oh, and his opponent not only went without a goal. He went without a kick.
Never has there been a more dominant Norm Smith Medallist.
Inspiration! How could his teammates have possibly walked any taller?
Not a backward step was taken all day boy the boys in the hoops and when Lonergan followed Lynch as he went down to join the late flood applied by Worsfold, surely there was something magical afoot when Lonergan chased down and then wrapped up Chris Judd in the dying seconds of what could easily be the greatest Grand Final in history.
Many Cat fans feel they get screwed a bit by the AFL umpiring fraternity but there was never a doubt that this one was to be given.
It did actually feel like a biblical event as Lonergan dragged himself to his feet to take his kick and the final siren sounded.
Geelong had not seen the lead all day. Still two points down in the lowest scoring final of all time, 43 metres of the hallowed MCG turf separated Lonergan from football immortality.
As he prepared to kick he reached under his Guernsey and fingered the scars that are a legacy to his bravery.
Ninety eight thousand people at the ground were breathless.
The silence was deafening.
With heavy legs and a light head he kicked in the general direction of the goalmouth.
The kick was reminiscent of a Riccardi match winner against the Blues some years back.
You know, it was never going to quite get there unless you were barracking for the opposition. They always thought it would make it with just inches to spare.
They were right.
Silence turned into pandemonium.
Men women and children cried and cheered and cried and sang and cried and prayed.
Only the Lord could know how many tears were shed. On the ground, in the crowd, in the media centre and by millions on television all around the globe.
It has been revealed since that several senior Geelong players shed a tear before the game when Lonergan stated that he would be prepared to die for the club if that would give them the flag.
This was supposed to be a report on the game with the established conventions of scores, best players, goalkickers etcetera, etcetera.
But it was more important that I reported on a “miracle”.
I saw it with my own eyes.
Believe me, it really happened.
And welcome VoRogue 
