I don't know what compelled me to watch it again today but it popped up on you tube in glorious HD and it was there so I sat down and went through the highs and lows of the game. I often get hammered for regurgitating the past and will no doubt be hammered again but I have a few observations. Langdon's injury the following year was a cruel loss. He was sensational and giving away size and height. Chris Mayne was magnificent. He was everywhere and did not waste a possession. His defensive punching to help out our undersized defenders was incredible as were a couple of intercept marks he took. He also laid 12 effective tackles! Sier looked to be on the verge of becoming a gun midfielder. geez he did some lovely things in that game on the biggest stage.
Stevo's early brilliance stung. It's so sad to see how it all fell apart.
Cox last quarter was phenomenal. If he had kicked his third goal with less than five minutes on the clock the game was ours and there would be a statue of the lanky yank outside the AIA centre today!
I had forgotten about the non paid Mihocek mark in between the goal post and point post with only minutes remaining. I thought his hands hit the pill alongside the eagle defender's and then only his hands took two more bites before clasping the pill to his chest. A home and away mark every day. Game over if paid. I know the Eagles had their opportunities and blew a few but those desperate moments when Adams and Degoey both had their kicks from 15m out smothered was an anxiety inducing nightmare as was Adams attempted banana from 15 m out. He hit the belly!
I switched it off as Treloar broke free and ran down the flank, preparing to square it up to Mihocek. The attendants in their yellow coats were filing along the fence. We were almost there. And then four freak occurrences inside one minute took place. I don't think enough has been made of the ridiculous odds against such a streak of unlikely incidents occuring on the biggest stage at the very death. It defies belief. But Collingwood was involved so perhaps not.
But I remember the sequence of events.
The McGovern mark was bad enough. Two minutes on the clock and he takes the mark of the day and possibly a contender for mark of the year. He lands on his feet-crucial. He kicks a 50 metre pass to an Eagle (Vardy I think) who had a Collingwood defender on both sides only a metre or two away yet it hits him on the chest. He in turn kicks to Liam Ryan who takes a spectacular mark flying backwards with Langdon going the punch and just missing. Mark is paid, he picks up and sees Dom Sheed on the flank. Maynard attempts to get across to defend but is blatantly blocked by Rioli. Umpires said it was a free kick after the game. Sheed is a left footer but is still in a position which most players would nail 2 out of ten times if natural left footers. Last two minutes of the grand final. Season on the line. History beckoning. And he nails it.
Excruciating.
I felt heartbroken for Bucks watching that purgatory. He deserved his flag.
I still feel discombobulated after watching that game. I truly thought it was ours moments after DeGoey nailed that bomb and put us 12 points up. We were euphoric-kissing strangers and hugging anyone close enough. We went a tad early. I thought momentum had swung and we would go on with it. That made the loss all the more painful. I have seen us lose or draw twelve grand finals. I don't understand how my heart (or soul) has survived. I wonder if I'll ever get to see my beloved Pies in another one. Time is moving on.
I watched episode three of the Grind and was deeply moved by the way McCrae wants the boys to embrace the history of our club and the players who previously wore the numbers each current day player is carrying. Watching them walk around the old stands at Vic Park put a lump in my throat.
Good start, Fly.
Stevo's early brilliance stung. It's so sad to see how it all fell apart.
Cox last quarter was phenomenal. If he had kicked his third goal with less than five minutes on the clock the game was ours and there would be a statue of the lanky yank outside the AIA centre today!
I had forgotten about the non paid Mihocek mark in between the goal post and point post with only minutes remaining. I thought his hands hit the pill alongside the eagle defender's and then only his hands took two more bites before clasping the pill to his chest. A home and away mark every day. Game over if paid. I know the Eagles had their opportunities and blew a few but those desperate moments when Adams and Degoey both had their kicks from 15m out smothered was an anxiety inducing nightmare as was Adams attempted banana from 15 m out. He hit the belly!
I switched it off as Treloar broke free and ran down the flank, preparing to square it up to Mihocek. The attendants in their yellow coats were filing along the fence. We were almost there. And then four freak occurrences inside one minute took place. I don't think enough has been made of the ridiculous odds against such a streak of unlikely incidents occuring on the biggest stage at the very death. It defies belief. But Collingwood was involved so perhaps not.
But I remember the sequence of events.
The McGovern mark was bad enough. Two minutes on the clock and he takes the mark of the day and possibly a contender for mark of the year. He lands on his feet-crucial. He kicks a 50 metre pass to an Eagle (Vardy I think) who had a Collingwood defender on both sides only a metre or two away yet it hits him on the chest. He in turn kicks to Liam Ryan who takes a spectacular mark flying backwards with Langdon going the punch and just missing. Mark is paid, he picks up and sees Dom Sheed on the flank. Maynard attempts to get across to defend but is blatantly blocked by Rioli. Umpires said it was a free kick after the game. Sheed is a left footer but is still in a position which most players would nail 2 out of ten times if natural left footers. Last two minutes of the grand final. Season on the line. History beckoning. And he nails it.
Excruciating.
I felt heartbroken for Bucks watching that purgatory. He deserved his flag.
I still feel discombobulated after watching that game. I truly thought it was ours moments after DeGoey nailed that bomb and put us 12 points up. We were euphoric-kissing strangers and hugging anyone close enough. We went a tad early. I thought momentum had swung and we would go on with it. That made the loss all the more painful. I have seen us lose or draw twelve grand finals. I don't understand how my heart (or soul) has survived. I wonder if I'll ever get to see my beloved Pies in another one. Time is moving on.
I watched episode three of the Grind and was deeply moved by the way McCrae wants the boys to embrace the history of our club and the players who previously wore the numbers each current day player is carrying. Watching them walk around the old stands at Vic Park put a lump in my throat.
Good start, Fly.
