Thank God it's Friday ... and we all know what tomorrow holds ... 2022 AFL Grand Final.
Also, a look back to the Friday before the 2011 Grand Final - Geelong and Collingwood.
This week’s version is an amalgamation of content: consisting mainly of my hazy recollection of Geelong’s last flag in 2011, then some Sydney Swans pondering, and a stab at what might transpire tomorrow at the home of AFL football, the MCG, when the Geelong Cats face off against the Sydney Swans.
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Before we get going, I just wanted to call out someone — who in my experience — is THE most passionate, and knowledgable Geelong supporter I know. Jamie — no surnames required — who is the owner/operator of STADIUM Geelong fish and chips, 406 Latrobe Terrace, Newtown VIC 3220. Directly opposite Kardinia Park. And, NO, there is no contra deal here! Jamie will only leave his shop for one reason only, yes you guessed it, Geelong home games, and the grand final. Please seek him out when you get the chance.
A quote from the AFL website to start, this from their 2011 grand final (GF) review piece.
“It's the Grand Final most footy purists had hoped for since midway through the season.”
Geelong and Collingwood had won the previous two flags and dropped only five games between them in 2011.
Most of my AFL writing here at SpeakingNick on Geelong has been centred on their coach, Chris Scott. Looking back to the 2011 grand final, his first year coaching Geelong, it was a fascinating coaching match-up with Collingwood’s Mick Malthouse.
It was to be Malthouse’s last game in charge after a marathon 28 seasons in the coaching caper. At the other end of the spectrum was Chris Scott, coaching a GF in his debut season.
“The fascinating match-ups start in the coaches' box. Mick Malthouse will oversee his last game in charge after 28 seasons, while at the other end of the scale, Chris Scott will coach in a Grand Final in his debut campaign.”
Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter comes to mind — the master and the apprentice. Malthouse versus Scott.
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The winds of change will swirl around the MCG tomorrow afternoon. Transporting back to 2011, Geelong were seen as a ‘long-kicking team.’
“Geelong, meanwhile, have recently adopted more of a long kicking approach to the game.”
The Cats now preferring a quicker, more agile approach to their forward 50.
Looking back, it seems uncanny that Collingwood was dependent on the fitness of Ben Reid; likewise, Sydney will be hoping their Reid, Sam Reid, will make the starting 22. Sam Reid is arguably Sydney’s most important player.
An analyst looking at Collingwood’s backs, against Geelong’s forwards.
“Key defender Ben Reid, who also has had groin problems, has been rated a better chance to play than Jolly all week. However, if his game this week resembles his game last week, it could spell trouble given it would leave just Chris Tarrant as a qualified match-up for the big bodies of Tom Hawkins and James Podsiadly.”
Tom Hawkins, the evergreen big man, will be front and centre again tomorrow. This time he will have his wing-man, Jeremy Cameron, to keep him company. Not to mention the All- Australian — Tyson Stengle.
Taking a look at the midfield’s …
“The two midfields are on the surface difficult to split, but you get the sense Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury are the best two players out of the aforementioned eight. With Luke Ball literally in match-winning form and Daisy Thomas always capable of something special, the Pies do appear to hold an edge.
“The Cats will have Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly, Joel Corey and more … to call upon”
Add Patrick Dangerfield and Cam Guthrie, to the equally evergreen, Joel Selwood, and you have some more of the same.
To close, this was from the same analyst when pressed for a conclusion:
“For those keeping score at home, that’s four factors in favour of the Cats, two for the Pies and one factor that really should’ve been left out of this whole exercise. And arguably the biggest factor – match fitness and injuries – is in the Cats’ favour, too.”
“My tip? Geelong by 25.”
And, for the record:
Geelong victorious by 38 points; Jimmy Bartel won the Norm Smith medal; Chris Scott bewitched Mick Malthouse, and sadly for the connoisseurs of American hard rock — Meat Loaf was off-key, and panned by all-comers!
Fast-forward to 2022, with a quick stop-off in 2013.
An admission is needed, and an apology offered to the good folk of Geelong. I was less educated on the virtues of Geelong when I penned this in 2013. I take it all back.
Original piece titled - AFL OBSERVATIONS FROM A POM ABROAD
“Lastly, it is a trip to the “sleepy hollow” that has caught all the media attention. On my last visit to Geelong, I must say I was mightily impressed by the standard of their shopping malls. When I shared this observation with some friends in Melbourne, they informed me that’s where 80% of the population goes on a daily basis. “What about the other 20% I replied”, “oh they go to work”.”
Sorry, I hope the apology is accepted.
Also, from the same piece some words on Sydney.
“Sydney are an anomaly, as far as I can tell, born in working-class South Melbourne, they now reside in the salubrious surrounds of the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Until recently I was under the impression they only played rugby in that part of the world, but, no, the Bloods are a force to be reckoned with. They don’t mind thinking outside the box either, recruiting Canadian rugby players and using elastic bands to fix busted knees.”
For context, you read the full article here.
And because everyone is drinking in Geelong, I was hoping I could share a favourite paragraph?
“As an Englishman living in Melbourne, I am continually left wondering what the AFL hype is all about. Can one man, namely Mick Malthouse, make so much difference to the performance of 22 super-fit athletes running around a ground big enough to host a gay and lesbian mardi gras? Ask a guy on Lygon street and the answer is most definitely YES. He is the Alex Ferguson of this great game.”
So, that’s all she wrote. All that remains is some predictions for tomorrow’s GF":
Geelong by 14 points
Patrick Dangerfield - Norm Smith Medal
Chris Scott becomes Albus Dumbledore
And, Robbie Williams will do a better job than Meat Loaf!
As always, thank you for being here.
👍Well done again