AFL Grand Final
Alright, so it was more like 1880 than 1980 and credit to the Pies for
forcing the game to be played as they wanted it, tough, hard, in-close.
But in the end the Brisbane Lions ground their way to victory to record
back-to-back premierships. Only the very best teams, and the Camrys, do
that. The Lions'd be a chance to go for three in-a-row next year, if the
side stays together and continues to have the decent run with injury
it's enjoyed.
The Brisbane benefit year proceeded earlier this week when their
All-Australian centreman Simon Black won the Brownlow Medal. Black
polled 25 votes to win from Josh Francou (21) with three players tying
for third on 17 - Shane Crawford, Adem Yze and Black's team-mate Michael
Voss. Pre-count favourite Luke Darcy ended on 16. Black was a surprising
but deserving winner, a very good player. He was born in Mount Isa in
outback Queensland, then moved (very briefly) to WA where he was drafted
from East Fremantle. Once again the Brisbane players declined to fly
down to Melbourne for the count, angering the AFL who decided to fine
the club $15,000. Then they decided not to, after just about everyone
pointed out how mean, petty and spiteful it made them appear. One
benefit was that the previous winner, Jason Akermanis, got to present
the medal in accordance with tradition. Get on Nigel Lappin for next
year's medal - he's the only gongless member of the Lions' 'Big Four' of
the midfield.
The other big news of GF week was the suspension of Pie backman Jason
Cloke, two matches for striking Camry Tyson Edwards last weekend. Harsh,
but fair. The Magpies appealed, simply to give Cloke every chance of
beating the rap. Cloke's Dad, David, made an impassioned and
not-entirely-logical appeal on his son's behalf at the appeal but the
tribunal chairman summed things up nicely: "Eloquence doesn't change the
facts." On the increasingly (if that's possible) Collingwood-flavoured
Footy Show that night, Jason and David Cloke and Pie president Eddie
McGuire banged on endlessly about the 'injustice' of the suspension.
Still, the Pies didn't copy Sydney who in 1996 gained a court injunction
to allow suspended Andrew Dunkley to play.
Remiss of me not to mention the very talented Nick Riewoldt taking out
the Rising Star Award last week, from Eagle Chris Judd. A few more
retirements were announced, Geelong midfielder Glenn 'Oysters'
Kilpatrick called it quits after 12 years and 146 games, Camry forward
Bryan Beinke (38 games) gave it away and dour Port backman Darren Mead
also hung 'em up after 122 games. Mead was the first Port Powerman to
play 100 AFL games and won the club's B&F in their inaugural season,
1997. And just to cap the year off, Carlton have landed in salary-cap
trouble and may lose the number-one draft pick. It's cheered me up all
week.
At the MCG:
Collingwood 1.4 4.4 8.10 9.12.66
Brisbane 0.4 4.12 8.14 10.15.75
Not a great game of football but a classic Grand Final for its closeness
and toughness, meaning that every piece of play and individual success
or failure was crucial. As suggested above, the game unfolded exactly
the way the Pies would've wanted, the Lyin's suffered injuries and from
the umpiring but still found a way to win. Team selection for
Collingwood was dominated by Jason Cloke's tribunal saga, his eventual,
confirmed suspension meant a replacement was necessary and former Lion
Jarrod Molloy came in. Wet weather on the day led to some speculation
that midfielder Mark McGough would replace Molloy, but he didn't. The
Lions brought in Chris Scott, who missed the prelim final with a
hamstring strain. Out went Robert Copeland, dropped. Copeland played in
last year's flag-winning Lyin' team and was one of just three missing
from that side. Brownlow Medallist Simon Black played his 100th game.
The umpires were Brett Allen, Matthew James and Scott McBurney. They and
their support team struggled in a difficult game to umpire.
The weather was unusual for a Grand Final, cold, windy and wet.
Hailstorms battered the 'G the previous night, more forecast for the day
itself didn't eventuate but there was enough rain. True to Malthouse's
word, the Pies didn't attempt to tag the entire Lyin' midfield. Pie Ben
Johnson lined up on Jason Akermanis but players swapped about, Michael
Voss opposed Nathan Buckley in the second quarter. Other midfielders
competed head-to-head, Brownlow man Black with Scott Burns, Nigel Lappin
with Glenn Freeborn. Overall it was the Maggies' relentless chasing and
ferocious tackling that defined the contest, as it had in their previous
two finals. There were no easy kicks or marks to be had in this game.
Brisbun had most of the early possession but the Pies had the best
scoring chances, Freeborn postering and kicking on-the-full later. For
Brisbun Akermanis wriggled free and snapped into the post, Alastair
Lynch found some space to collect a handpass but he missed from the
flank. Probably the most significant event of the first term was Lion
ruckman Beau McDonald dislocating his left shoulder, McDonald came into
the game with a doubt over the joint. There were only two minutes left
in the stanza when Pie Paul Licuria picked out Anthony Rocca on the
lead, Rocca punted truly from 40m. Heard a few Melbourne pubs were
offering free beer from the opening bounce to the first goal. Must've
cost 'em. McGuire, Malthouse and his Pies were smiling at the first
break, the game was going to plan. The Lyin's attacked with renewed
vigour in the early second term, but missed a lot. The Poise rode their
luck and rebounded strongly, particularly through half-back Ryan Lonie.
They had a pretty decent run from the umps, too. By half time free-kicks
were 16-6 Collingwood's way. Early in the term Lion Shaun Hart roved the
pack and snapped their first goal. Lynch missed from a tight angle.
Later Lynch was elbowed in the stomach by opponent Shane Wakelin, right
in front of the umpire. No free, although Lynchy was penalised a minute
later when he attempted to retaliate. The Pies' first attack of the
quarter saw Josh Fraser marking and being whacked, late, by Mal Michael.
A 50m penalty and goal had the Poise in front again. Another thrust and
Rocca escaped Justin Leppitsch for a grab and goal, Collenwood led by 8
points. The Lisbon Brians had kicked 1.8 to this stage and they ran into
more trouble when Martin Pike strained a groin muscle, the baldy veteran
had been good to that point. They had some needed inspiration when Voss
was flattened by a fearsome bump from Burns, but leapt up to gather the
ball and handpass for Black to snap a goal. But the Pies kept scoring,
Tarkyn Lockyer came off the bench to lurk forward, mark Buckley's pass
and kick a goal. They still led by 4 points. The Lyin's got on target,
finally, late in the korter. Des Headland centered the ball for Jonathan
Brown, who would've marked it if not clouted in the head by Burns. The
ump allowed advantage for Craig McRae to stab the sausage. The Lions won
the following centre-clearance (Clark Keating was going very well),
Lynch led, marked and punted the Lyin's into an 8-point lead at the long
break. The half-time break saw Swan midfielder Jared Crouch win the
re-instated Grand Final sprint.
For the third term the Pies had Rocca do the centre-bounce ruck-work and
Nathan Buckley played a terrific quarter of football. The Maggies scored
an early goal when Lion full-back Leppitsch ploughed Fraser into the
turf with a tackle from behind, something the umps were red-hot on all
day. Fraser converted the free-kick. At the following centre-bounce Voss
tapped the ball on to Nigel Lappin, the Lion winger kicked long where
Lynch out-bustled Wakelin for a strong goal-square grab and conversion.
But from the following centre-bounce Licuria motored clear and delivered
to Rocca again, he kicked straight again. The Poise trailed by 2 points.
The game was tight for a while until Lonie ran forward for the Maggies
and passed to Lockyer on the 50m-line. Lockyer's shot missed but the
Leppitsch kick-in was poor, to an out-numbered Keating. Lockyer marked
it and gave a handpass to Buckley, who slotted a superb goal from the
boundary-line and the Pies were in front again, by 5 points. The Lions
answered thanks to Lynch, he held a somewhat lucky but good mark in the
crook of his elbow after Darryl White tumbled the ball forward. Lynch
goaled, Lions by a point. The Magpies won the next centre-clearance and
Chris Tarrant, who'd been quiet, marked 40m out. His shot went through
the big sticks but was touched by the man on the mark, Chris Scott.
Scores level. A minute later Rocca surfaced again, floating across
half-forward to mark Alan Didak's kick and punt his fourth goal, the
Scragpies led by that. Then Buckley found Tarrant leading onto the flank
in front of the soon-to-be-demolished Olympic Stand. Tarrant missed. The
Brians took the kick-in down the ground, Brad Scott passed to Brown and
the burly forward sausaged, the Lions trailed by a point. Akermanis got
the ball at the subsequent centre-bounce and handballed to Voss, the
Brisbun skipper blasted it home from 50m. Just like the second quarter,
two late Brisbane goals had restored their lead.
For the first time in many Grand Finals we had a 'live' last quarter.
Brisbane thought they'd scored the vital first goal when Luke Power
shovelled a handpass for Simon Black to snap a goal. But the ump ruled
Power's handpass a throw. Didn't look like it on the replay. Soon
afterwards the Pies were dudded. Rocca marked 50m out, in front of the
Southern Stand. He smacked a typically huge punt for what he thought a
goal, but the goal-ump decided was a behind. No replays were forthcoming
from Channel Ten but afterwards the Pie players were adamant it was a
goal, as were (Collingwood) supporters behind the sticks in the Ponsford
Stand. Folks like Kev Sheedy are always going on about having four
goal-umpires or video-umpiring "because one day a mistake may decide a
Grand Final." It's going a bit far to say that decision cost the Pies
victory, but it didn't help 'em. Eventually the Maggies did score the
first goal of the final stanza, Fraser running with-the-flight to leap
in front of the pack and mark, close-in but on a tight angle. Fraser
banana-ed it through, the Poise led by 3 points. That the Lyin's
eventually triumphed was due in no small way to Voss, who played a very
good last Mario Lanza. Three minutes after Fraser's goal, Lion Al Lynch
won a free-kick when he was man-handled in a pack by Wakelin. Lynch
sausaged from 15m out and Brisbane led again. Licuria missed a set-shot
for Collingwood, the game was tight for quite a while save a rushed
point for the Lyin's. At the twenty-four minute mark Lisbon attacked,
the ball spilled from the goal-square pack and Akermanis roved, snapped
left-footedly and accurately to put Brisbane up by 9 points. Voss took a
clutch mark on the wing, the Pies were going forward when the siren
sounded to end the tense struggle. Mick Malthouse burst into tears, an
uncharacteristic reaction which refelcted the Pies searing frustration.
They'd done everything right, but didn't win. Leigh Matthews described
his feelings as "mainly relief". Al Lynch climbed the podium with Voss
and Matthews to accept the cup - some saw it as indicating Lynchy's
imminent retirement, but the man himself rejected the idea.
The Norm Smith Medal for best afield was won by Pie skipper Nathan
Buckley, just the third time in the medal's 24-year history it's been
won by a player from the losing side. 'Bucks' had 32 disposals including
28 kicks, he also planted 8 tackles. Buckley's very good third term
featured 11 touches (10 kicks) and a goal. Many felt his Lion
counterpart Michael Voss would've been a better winner, Voss had 26
disposals (22 kicks), 6 marks and a goal with 9 touches in the last
quarter. Commentator Dwayne Russell, one of the judges for the Norm
Smith, criticised the system whereby the votes have to be submitted
mid-way through the last quarter. He pointed out that a couple of late
Rocca goals might've had the big Pie forward winning the award. Anyways,
Voss was certainly very good, wearing some hefty early bumps to emerge
victorious. Other good Lyin’s included ruckman Clark Keating, his solo
performance (with assistance from Darryl White) following McDonald's
early injury was very good as the Lions won hit-outs and
centre-clearances handsomely, justifying Matthews's faith in Keating.
Wingman Nigel Lappin had 28 possessions, last year's Norm Smith
Medallist Shaun Hart was allowed some freedom to gather 19 touches (16
kicks). Thirty-four year-old Alastair Lynch booted 4 goals from 6 marks
and 9 kicks, a crucial performance and CHF Jonathan Brown worked hard
for his 14 touches and 5 marks, he kicked one goal. Few other Lyin's
stood out, Simon Black had 22 touches (14 handpasses) and kicked a goal
in a tough battle with Burns. Tim Notting played well when he de-benched
for the second half, collecting 14 touches and 5 marks in the last two
quarters. Running Lions like Akermanis, Chris Johnson and Des Headland
were stifled by the Pies' fierce pressure. Buckley and Anthony Rocca
were the stand-outs for Collingwood, Rocca had 12 touches, took 4 marks
and kicked 4 goals. For a bloke renowned for unreliable kicking, he
didn't miss - apart from the official behind in the final stanza which
probably wasn't a miss anyway. Elsewhere in the Poi midfield Scott Burns
led in the pressure department with 11 tackles and several shuddering
hip-and-shoulders to go with his 17 disposals (15 kicks). Paul Licuria,
Malthouse's favourite player, had 14 possies and competed strongly. Josh
Fraser complemented Rocca nicely, with 3 goals from his 4 marks and 13
possies. Running half-back Ryan Lonie (19 disposals, 6 marks) played
well, especially in the first half and fellow half-back James Clement
mopped up unobtrusively with 18 possies. But the thing that stood out
for the Poise was their outstanding team effort in applying pressure,
they laid a total of 73 tackles - some sort of record, apparently - and
delivered an unknown number of spoils, bumps etc. A great effort, but
not quite enough.
Afterwards, when he stopped blubbing, Mick Malthouse said "I feel
desperately sorry for the players who worked so diligently. That was the
only way we were going to beat them. We put every skerrick of our game
into teammanship. That didn't get us over the line and the players are
absolutely gutted. What can you say? We lost, gallantly. The end of the
day will say that Brisbane won the premiership...Some of our players may
not be flavour of the month, in regard to their abilities, outside the
football club. (Now) anyone outside the football club, and obviously
including those in it, would know that they've got magnificent heart.
They never stopped...they won't accept being second. I think it sets the
club up so long as we don't forget the pain of today." Leigh Matthews
said "Our victory was not a great performance of a great football team,
limited by Collingwood's magnificent pressure and the rain. The ability
just to win the two consecutive flags means you're a very, very good
football team. I certainly think this gives us legitimate status. I
didn't think we were a great football team today. I thought we tried
hard and kept plugging away and eventually found a way to win...(but) I
think this is a great football team...certainly over the last two years,
the guys have won forty of fifty games and won a couple of premierships.
Our system is about winning on the last day of September." And they did.
There's been speculation that this very good, possibly great Brisbane
team may now be broken up, with Des Headland keen to return home to WA
and eleven other Lions coming out of contract. But Matthews will be
there, two weeks ago he signed a new contract extending his Gabba tenure
to the end of 2004. He said "A couple of premierships and six
All-Australians...if the players want to earn their market value as
footballers, then we won't be able to retain them all, I think that goes
without saying." But you'd think they'd stick around to be part of
something potentially historic.
TAC Cup Grand Final:
Eastern Ranges 3.1 5.1 8.4 10.5.65
Calder Cannons 2.2 7.5 7.9 9.10.64
Goals: ER: Dinnell 3, Edwards 2, Edgecombe 2, Simpson, Treeby, Fisher.
CC: Cheep 2, Sipthorp 2, McLean 2, Crowley, Murphy, Crawford.
Best: ER: Dinnell, Shore, Treeby, Ross, Fearon-Brown, Edwards, Rudolph,
Edgecombe, O'Grady.
CC: Crawford, Jorgensen, Lonergan, Sipthorp, Nixon, Bentick.
So that's it for another year and thanks once again to everyone who's
e-mailed throughout the season and the folks at Footy Tipping Software
for running the mailing-list. With their high draft picks, the Tigers
are almost certain to win the flag next year. Almost certain...
Cheers, Tim.
E-mail: t.murphy@rmit.edu.au
Alright, so it was more like 1880 than 1980 and credit to the Pies for
forcing the game to be played as they wanted it, tough, hard, in-close.
But in the end the Brisbane Lions ground their way to victory to record
back-to-back premierships. Only the very best teams, and the Camrys, do
that. The Lions'd be a chance to go for three in-a-row next year, if the
side stays together and continues to have the decent run with injury
it's enjoyed.
The Brisbane benefit year proceeded earlier this week when their
All-Australian centreman Simon Black won the Brownlow Medal. Black
polled 25 votes to win from Josh Francou (21) with three players tying
for third on 17 - Shane Crawford, Adem Yze and Black's team-mate Michael
Voss. Pre-count favourite Luke Darcy ended on 16. Black was a surprising
but deserving winner, a very good player. He was born in Mount Isa in
outback Queensland, then moved (very briefly) to WA where he was drafted
from East Fremantle. Once again the Brisbane players declined to fly
down to Melbourne for the count, angering the AFL who decided to fine
the club $15,000. Then they decided not to, after just about everyone
pointed out how mean, petty and spiteful it made them appear. One
benefit was that the previous winner, Jason Akermanis, got to present
the medal in accordance with tradition. Get on Nigel Lappin for next
year's medal - he's the only gongless member of the Lions' 'Big Four' of
the midfield.
The other big news of GF week was the suspension of Pie backman Jason
Cloke, two matches for striking Camry Tyson Edwards last weekend. Harsh,
but fair. The Magpies appealed, simply to give Cloke every chance of
beating the rap. Cloke's Dad, David, made an impassioned and
not-entirely-logical appeal on his son's behalf at the appeal but the
tribunal chairman summed things up nicely: "Eloquence doesn't change the
facts." On the increasingly (if that's possible) Collingwood-flavoured
Footy Show that night, Jason and David Cloke and Pie president Eddie
McGuire banged on endlessly about the 'injustice' of the suspension.
Still, the Pies didn't copy Sydney who in 1996 gained a court injunction
to allow suspended Andrew Dunkley to play.
Remiss of me not to mention the very talented Nick Riewoldt taking out
the Rising Star Award last week, from Eagle Chris Judd. A few more
retirements were announced, Geelong midfielder Glenn 'Oysters'
Kilpatrick called it quits after 12 years and 146 games, Camry forward
Bryan Beinke (38 games) gave it away and dour Port backman Darren Mead
also hung 'em up after 122 games. Mead was the first Port Powerman to
play 100 AFL games and won the club's B&F in their inaugural season,
1997. And just to cap the year off, Carlton have landed in salary-cap
trouble and may lose the number-one draft pick. It's cheered me up all
week.
At the MCG:
Collingwood 1.4 4.4 8.10 9.12.66
Brisbane 0.4 4.12 8.14 10.15.75
Not a great game of football but a classic Grand Final for its closeness
and toughness, meaning that every piece of play and individual success
or failure was crucial. As suggested above, the game unfolded exactly
the way the Pies would've wanted, the Lyin's suffered injuries and from
the umpiring but still found a way to win. Team selection for
Collingwood was dominated by Jason Cloke's tribunal saga, his eventual,
confirmed suspension meant a replacement was necessary and former Lion
Jarrod Molloy came in. Wet weather on the day led to some speculation
that midfielder Mark McGough would replace Molloy, but he didn't. The
Lions brought in Chris Scott, who missed the prelim final with a
hamstring strain. Out went Robert Copeland, dropped. Copeland played in
last year's flag-winning Lyin' team and was one of just three missing
from that side. Brownlow Medallist Simon Black played his 100th game.
The umpires were Brett Allen, Matthew James and Scott McBurney. They and
their support team struggled in a difficult game to umpire.
The weather was unusual for a Grand Final, cold, windy and wet.
Hailstorms battered the 'G the previous night, more forecast for the day
itself didn't eventuate but there was enough rain. True to Malthouse's
word, the Pies didn't attempt to tag the entire Lyin' midfield. Pie Ben
Johnson lined up on Jason Akermanis but players swapped about, Michael
Voss opposed Nathan Buckley in the second quarter. Other midfielders
competed head-to-head, Brownlow man Black with Scott Burns, Nigel Lappin
with Glenn Freeborn. Overall it was the Maggies' relentless chasing and
ferocious tackling that defined the contest, as it had in their previous
two finals. There were no easy kicks or marks to be had in this game.
Brisbun had most of the early possession but the Pies had the best
scoring chances, Freeborn postering and kicking on-the-full later. For
Brisbun Akermanis wriggled free and snapped into the post, Alastair
Lynch found some space to collect a handpass but he missed from the
flank. Probably the most significant event of the first term was Lion
ruckman Beau McDonald dislocating his left shoulder, McDonald came into
the game with a doubt over the joint. There were only two minutes left
in the stanza when Pie Paul Licuria picked out Anthony Rocca on the
lead, Rocca punted truly from 40m. Heard a few Melbourne pubs were
offering free beer from the opening bounce to the first goal. Must've
cost 'em. McGuire, Malthouse and his Pies were smiling at the first
break, the game was going to plan. The Lyin's attacked with renewed
vigour in the early second term, but missed a lot. The Poise rode their
luck and rebounded strongly, particularly through half-back Ryan Lonie.
They had a pretty decent run from the umps, too. By half time free-kicks
were 16-6 Collingwood's way. Early in the term Lion Shaun Hart roved the
pack and snapped their first goal. Lynch missed from a tight angle.
Later Lynch was elbowed in the stomach by opponent Shane Wakelin, right
in front of the umpire. No free, although Lynchy was penalised a minute
later when he attempted to retaliate. The Pies' first attack of the
quarter saw Josh Fraser marking and being whacked, late, by Mal Michael.
A 50m penalty and goal had the Poise in front again. Another thrust and
Rocca escaped Justin Leppitsch for a grab and goal, Collenwood led by 8
points. The Lisbon Brians had kicked 1.8 to this stage and they ran into
more trouble when Martin Pike strained a groin muscle, the baldy veteran
had been good to that point. They had some needed inspiration when Voss
was flattened by a fearsome bump from Burns, but leapt up to gather the
ball and handpass for Black to snap a goal. But the Pies kept scoring,
Tarkyn Lockyer came off the bench to lurk forward, mark Buckley's pass
and kick a goal. They still led by 4 points. The Lyin's got on target,
finally, late in the korter. Des Headland centered the ball for Jonathan
Brown, who would've marked it if not clouted in the head by Burns. The
ump allowed advantage for Craig McRae to stab the sausage. The Lions won
the following centre-clearance (Clark Keating was going very well),
Lynch led, marked and punted the Lyin's into an 8-point lead at the long
break. The half-time break saw Swan midfielder Jared Crouch win the
re-instated Grand Final sprint.
For the third term the Pies had Rocca do the centre-bounce ruck-work and
Nathan Buckley played a terrific quarter of football. The Maggies scored
an early goal when Lion full-back Leppitsch ploughed Fraser into the
turf with a tackle from behind, something the umps were red-hot on all
day. Fraser converted the free-kick. At the following centre-bounce Voss
tapped the ball on to Nigel Lappin, the Lion winger kicked long where
Lynch out-bustled Wakelin for a strong goal-square grab and conversion.
But from the following centre-bounce Licuria motored clear and delivered
to Rocca again, he kicked straight again. The Poise trailed by 2 points.
The game was tight for a while until Lonie ran forward for the Maggies
and passed to Lockyer on the 50m-line. Lockyer's shot missed but the
Leppitsch kick-in was poor, to an out-numbered Keating. Lockyer marked
it and gave a handpass to Buckley, who slotted a superb goal from the
boundary-line and the Pies were in front again, by 5 points. The Lions
answered thanks to Lynch, he held a somewhat lucky but good mark in the
crook of his elbow after Darryl White tumbled the ball forward. Lynch
goaled, Lions by a point. The Magpies won the next centre-clearance and
Chris Tarrant, who'd been quiet, marked 40m out. His shot went through
the big sticks but was touched by the man on the mark, Chris Scott.
Scores level. A minute later Rocca surfaced again, floating across
half-forward to mark Alan Didak's kick and punt his fourth goal, the
Scragpies led by that. Then Buckley found Tarrant leading onto the flank
in front of the soon-to-be-demolished Olympic Stand. Tarrant missed. The
Brians took the kick-in down the ground, Brad Scott passed to Brown and
the burly forward sausaged, the Lions trailed by a point. Akermanis got
the ball at the subsequent centre-bounce and handballed to Voss, the
Brisbun skipper blasted it home from 50m. Just like the second quarter,
two late Brisbane goals had restored their lead.
For the first time in many Grand Finals we had a 'live' last quarter.
Brisbane thought they'd scored the vital first goal when Luke Power
shovelled a handpass for Simon Black to snap a goal. But the ump ruled
Power's handpass a throw. Didn't look like it on the replay. Soon
afterwards the Pies were dudded. Rocca marked 50m out, in front of the
Southern Stand. He smacked a typically huge punt for what he thought a
goal, but the goal-ump decided was a behind. No replays were forthcoming
from Channel Ten but afterwards the Pie players were adamant it was a
goal, as were (Collingwood) supporters behind the sticks in the Ponsford
Stand. Folks like Kev Sheedy are always going on about having four
goal-umpires or video-umpiring "because one day a mistake may decide a
Grand Final." It's going a bit far to say that decision cost the Pies
victory, but it didn't help 'em. Eventually the Maggies did score the
first goal of the final stanza, Fraser running with-the-flight to leap
in front of the pack and mark, close-in but on a tight angle. Fraser
banana-ed it through, the Poise led by 3 points. That the Lyin's
eventually triumphed was due in no small way to Voss, who played a very
good last Mario Lanza. Three minutes after Fraser's goal, Lion Al Lynch
won a free-kick when he was man-handled in a pack by Wakelin. Lynch
sausaged from 15m out and Brisbane led again. Licuria missed a set-shot
for Collingwood, the game was tight for quite a while save a rushed
point for the Lyin's. At the twenty-four minute mark Lisbon attacked,
the ball spilled from the goal-square pack and Akermanis roved, snapped
left-footedly and accurately to put Brisbane up by 9 points. Voss took a
clutch mark on the wing, the Pies were going forward when the siren
sounded to end the tense struggle. Mick Malthouse burst into tears, an
uncharacteristic reaction which refelcted the Pies searing frustration.
They'd done everything right, but didn't win. Leigh Matthews described
his feelings as "mainly relief". Al Lynch climbed the podium with Voss
and Matthews to accept the cup - some saw it as indicating Lynchy's
imminent retirement, but the man himself rejected the idea.
The Norm Smith Medal for best afield was won by Pie skipper Nathan
Buckley, just the third time in the medal's 24-year history it's been
won by a player from the losing side. 'Bucks' had 32 disposals including
28 kicks, he also planted 8 tackles. Buckley's very good third term
featured 11 touches (10 kicks) and a goal. Many felt his Lion
counterpart Michael Voss would've been a better winner, Voss had 26
disposals (22 kicks), 6 marks and a goal with 9 touches in the last
quarter. Commentator Dwayne Russell, one of the judges for the Norm
Smith, criticised the system whereby the votes have to be submitted
mid-way through the last quarter. He pointed out that a couple of late
Rocca goals might've had the big Pie forward winning the award. Anyways,
Voss was certainly very good, wearing some hefty early bumps to emerge
victorious. Other good Lyin’s included ruckman Clark Keating, his solo
performance (with assistance from Darryl White) following McDonald's
early injury was very good as the Lions won hit-outs and
centre-clearances handsomely, justifying Matthews's faith in Keating.
Wingman Nigel Lappin had 28 possessions, last year's Norm Smith
Medallist Shaun Hart was allowed some freedom to gather 19 touches (16
kicks). Thirty-four year-old Alastair Lynch booted 4 goals from 6 marks
and 9 kicks, a crucial performance and CHF Jonathan Brown worked hard
for his 14 touches and 5 marks, he kicked one goal. Few other Lyin's
stood out, Simon Black had 22 touches (14 handpasses) and kicked a goal
in a tough battle with Burns. Tim Notting played well when he de-benched
for the second half, collecting 14 touches and 5 marks in the last two
quarters. Running Lions like Akermanis, Chris Johnson and Des Headland
were stifled by the Pies' fierce pressure. Buckley and Anthony Rocca
were the stand-outs for Collingwood, Rocca had 12 touches, took 4 marks
and kicked 4 goals. For a bloke renowned for unreliable kicking, he
didn't miss - apart from the official behind in the final stanza which
probably wasn't a miss anyway. Elsewhere in the Poi midfield Scott Burns
led in the pressure department with 11 tackles and several shuddering
hip-and-shoulders to go with his 17 disposals (15 kicks). Paul Licuria,
Malthouse's favourite player, had 14 possies and competed strongly. Josh
Fraser complemented Rocca nicely, with 3 goals from his 4 marks and 13
possies. Running half-back Ryan Lonie (19 disposals, 6 marks) played
well, especially in the first half and fellow half-back James Clement
mopped up unobtrusively with 18 possies. But the thing that stood out
for the Poise was their outstanding team effort in applying pressure,
they laid a total of 73 tackles - some sort of record, apparently - and
delivered an unknown number of spoils, bumps etc. A great effort, but
not quite enough.
Afterwards, when he stopped blubbing, Mick Malthouse said "I feel
desperately sorry for the players who worked so diligently. That was the
only way we were going to beat them. We put every skerrick of our game
into teammanship. That didn't get us over the line and the players are
absolutely gutted. What can you say? We lost, gallantly. The end of the
day will say that Brisbane won the premiership...Some of our players may
not be flavour of the month, in regard to their abilities, outside the
football club. (Now) anyone outside the football club, and obviously
including those in it, would know that they've got magnificent heart.
They never stopped...they won't accept being second. I think it sets the
club up so long as we don't forget the pain of today." Leigh Matthews
said "Our victory was not a great performance of a great football team,
limited by Collingwood's magnificent pressure and the rain. The ability
just to win the two consecutive flags means you're a very, very good
football team. I certainly think this gives us legitimate status. I
didn't think we were a great football team today. I thought we tried
hard and kept plugging away and eventually found a way to win...(but) I
think this is a great football team...certainly over the last two years,
the guys have won forty of fifty games and won a couple of premierships.
Our system is about winning on the last day of September." And they did.
There's been speculation that this very good, possibly great Brisbane
team may now be broken up, with Des Headland keen to return home to WA
and eleven other Lions coming out of contract. But Matthews will be
there, two weeks ago he signed a new contract extending his Gabba tenure
to the end of 2004. He said "A couple of premierships and six
All-Australians...if the players want to earn their market value as
footballers, then we won't be able to retain them all, I think that goes
without saying." But you'd think they'd stick around to be part of
something potentially historic.
TAC Cup Grand Final:
Eastern Ranges 3.1 5.1 8.4 10.5.65
Calder Cannons 2.2 7.5 7.9 9.10.64
Goals: ER: Dinnell 3, Edwards 2, Edgecombe 2, Simpson, Treeby, Fisher.
CC: Cheep 2, Sipthorp 2, McLean 2, Crowley, Murphy, Crawford.
Best: ER: Dinnell, Shore, Treeby, Ross, Fearon-Brown, Edwards, Rudolph,
Edgecombe, O'Grady.
CC: Crawford, Jorgensen, Lonergan, Sipthorp, Nixon, Bentick.
So that's it for another year and thanks once again to everyone who's
e-mailed throughout the season and the folks at Footy Tipping Software
for running the mailing-list. With their high draft picks, the Tigers
are almost certain to win the flag next year. Almost certain...
Cheers, Tim.
E-mail: t.murphy@rmit.edu.au
