Now, where were we?
After two grand finals held interstate, and some experiments with the traditional starting time, football finally returned to its home at the MCG on a sunny, but perfectly chilly, springtime Saturday afternoon.
Chris Scott and Joel Selwood hold up the 2022 AFL premiership cup.Credit:AFL Photos
Lockdown, remember all that? It was easy to think much of it was a weird dream as 100,024 football fans piled into the stands for the first AFL premiership decider in Melbourne since state borders were closed and clubs fled interstate, so they could keep playing football. It was the biggest crowd since 1986.
The result hardly mattered to the city, it was enough just to know that everything was in its right place. But there was still a premiership up for grabs, with both Geelong and Sydney fans believing before the game they could win it.
Well, about that. The Geelong faithful had been waiting for this one. Five losses in preliminary finals and one loss in a grand final since their last premiership in 2011. There’s a weird stigma that follows teams that get close year after year but don’t get it done.
This time, the Cats delivered on the big stage, and in emphatic fashion. And didn’t those wearing blue and white love every minute of it. “GEEE-LOONG”, they purred from the Shane Warne Stand, barely halfway through the third quarter.
The attendance at the MCG was thhe biggest crowd since 1986.Credit:Getty
By then, the premiership cup was already loaded on a bus bound for the Princes Freeway, the engraver wouldn’t be getting paid double time for a late finish this year.
Isaac Smith was so dominant he could have run out last quarter wearing the Norm Smith Medal for best afield. Already the crowd was calling “Norm!” whenever he touched the ball.
Swans fans, as much as they probably didn’t want to, stuck around to see the horror show through to the end. Anything but 100 points, they prayed, as a dirty day unfolded in front of them.
There was a small sliver of light in the last term, as Chad Warner slotted the club’s fifth goal to polite applause. But like so much of the day, the Cats immediately replied, this time through Jeremy Cameron, as he kicked Geelong’s 16th. By then, it was party time.
Geelong cruise to an 81-point victory against the Swans in front of 100,024 fans at the MCG.Credit:Eddie Jim
The ball was being whipped around Harlem Globetrotters-style to anyone who hadn’t kicked a goal. The cheers built as each player got in on the act. First it was substitute, Brandan Parfitt, when he dobbed one from the goal square. Then for defender Sam de Koning, as he kicked the first goal of his career in a grand final.
The most thunderous of the lot erupted as inspirational captain Joel Selwood slotted one just as he was being tackled. The anticipation for the final siren was less about deciding a winner but confirming an anointed champion. When the timekeeper finally stepped in, the top was nearly blown off the members’ stand.
The day had started so well for the Swans fans. They were clearly the louder of the two fan bases as the teams ran out onto the ground. Victorians have tended to suffer a bit of social anxiety after the end of lockdown, so perhaps that was part of it.
The game itself was also a bit coy in the early stages. The players were nervy after an energetic pre-game routine from Robbie Williams, which included a note-perfect (in performance and song choice) rendition of John Farnham’s You’re The Voice.
But the Cats fans soon found their voice, as powerhouse forward Tom Hawkins got them going with two goals from ruck contests in the forward 50 to open proceedings. From there, it was a procession. Three hours later their heroes were on the dais accepting medals and shaking hands with little Auskickers.
“It’s coming home!,” said Selwood to his adoring fans, echoing the cries of success starved English soccer fans. “How good’s footy at the ’G!,” shouted coach Chris Scott.
Cats supporter Daniel Vrabcek said watching his first grand final at the MCG with a mate after two years of lockdowns felt great.
“It’s much better than sitting at home confined to four walls,” he said.
“No matter what team you’re part of, I think whether you win or lose, it’s all about the atmosphere.”
Swans fan David McGilchrist travelled all the way from Sydney to watch the team play. Despite the result, he said was nice to be back in a full stadium again.
“It’s just great to see a full house and everyone’s happy,” he said.
Well said. It was good to be back.
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