Grand finals are made of big moments.
And the 2022 decider was no different despite being a one-sided affair from basically the first bounce as Geelong dominated Sydney in an 81-point smashing to claim its 10th premiership.
The Cats booted six goals to one in the first term, and it would’ve taken a big Swans response from that point to turn things around, a response that never came as Geelong had complete control wire to wire.
These are the moments that defined the 2022 AFL Grand Final …
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BLOODBATH: Cats crush woeful Swans as 10th flag cements superstars’ legacies
CATS PLAYER RATINGS:Story of season gets perfect ending; ‘colossal’ star’s epic GF
SWANS PLAYER RATINGS: Horror day as SEVENTEEN players cop fails
RESUME GROWS: Cats veteran adds prestigious Norm Smith to his remarkable medal cabinet
SELWOOD STARS: Tears flow as Cats champions finally claim flag they ‘deserved’
‘ALL-TIME SELECTION STINKER’: Swan ‘shouldn’t be playing’ as bold GF play backfires
‘JUST BROKE ME’:AFL world loses it over Cats’ ‘amazing’ Grand Final act with legend’s son
TOMAHAWK SETS THE TONE
Tom Hawkins was the hero for Geelong early who set the tone for the onslaught that was.
Just a minute into the game the veteran forward missed a shot from a near identical spot to Dom Sheed in the 2018 Grand Final.
But he made good on his next opportunity, grabbing the ball out of the ruck from a boundary throw-in and kicking it through the big sticks.
Hawkins then remarkably booted basically the exact same goal minutes later to help Geelong get out to a 13-point lead and make his presence felt.
SWANS FANS FUME AS ROWBOTTOM PINGED
The Swans had kicked just one goal to Geelong’s four late in the first term as the scoreboard was starting to get away from John Longmire’s side.
Sydney had an opportunity late in the period though going into attacking to put some pressure on the Cats, only for James Rowbottom to get pinged for holding the ball despite appearing to kick it.
MOMENTS THAT MADE GF: Swans star’s brutal afternoon; goal that brought the MCG to tears
‘THANK GOD FOR ROBBIE WILLIAMS’: ‘Boring’ GF tests fans in anti-climax to classic AFL finals
‘NEXT LEVEL’: Cats explode in 33-year first Grand Final ‘bloodbath’
‘ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY’: Swans’ GF nightmare laid bare as big Cat ‘bench presses’ hapless rival
‘LOVE YOU WARNIE’: Robbie’s perfect tribute to late great spin king, Aussie music legend
Swans fans fumed over the crucial decision as Geelong went back down the other end and Isaac Smith put through his second for the quarter – and the Cats’ fifth overall – in a defining moment.
Geelong really didn’t look back from that point, finishing the first term with a 35-point advantage un early signs of a blowout. Who knows how the game could’ve changed if Rowbottom got that kick off?
OVATION FOR STENGLE’S 50TH GOAL
The All-Australian Cats forward enjoyed a brilliant game, finishing with a game-high four goals, but his first for the day was perhaps the most special.
Capitalising off a turnover deep in Geelong’s attack, Stengle pounced to put through the Cats’ first for the quarter to continue their domination – and his 50th goal for the season.
He was treated to a big ovation for Cats fans as they applauded their star recruit, who’s had a dream first season for the club.
REID SUBBED OUT AS BOLD SELECTION MOVE BACKFIRES
A big selection story going into the contest, Sam Reid went into the game under an injury cloud due to an adductor injury sustained in last week’s preliminary final win over Collingwood.
He looked proppy moving around in the first half and had limited impact, tallying four disposals and going down to the rooms in the hands of trainers just before the main break.
Reid was then subbed out of the game early in the third term as the selection decision to play him was widely criticised, particularly given it left Sydney a tall short up forward against Geelong’s elite intercepting defence.
It comes after Max Holmes was the heartbreak story for the grand final after being a late out with a hamstring issue despite being considered more likely to play than Reid earlier this week.
MCCARTIN’S COSTLY BLUNDRS
Tom McCartin had two moments he would’ve loved back early in the third term that really set up the avalanche.
The Swans defender was first caught for holding the ball 15 metres out in front of goal by Mitch Duncan, who then kicked the major to extend Geelong’s lead to 42 points.
McCartin then committed a costly turnover across the face of goal minutes later leading to a Brad Close goal and opening up a 48-point Cats lead – a margin no VFL/AFL side has ever overcome.
The Cats went on to kick six goals in the third term to Sydney’s one to essentially put the game away.
TEARS FLOW FOR SELWOOD IN TOUCHING SCENES
It was proper party time for Geelong in the fourth quarter, with a goal from medical sub Brandon Parfitt the moment when the celebrations really begun in the coaches box and on field.
But they saved the best for last, with a checkside goal from skipper Joel Selwood with just three minutes left the moment of the match as he was mobbed by teammates in epic and emotional scenes.
Tears were flowing from everywhere from that point including Selwood’s family, who the cameras cut to on the sidelines.
It’d already sunk in that the Cats had clinched their 10th premiership, but that moment was as special as it gets.
