Chris Knights of Adelaide looks on after a loss in the AFL 1st Semi Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at the MCG. Slattery Images
The word ‘momentum’ is very much in vogue in the world of footy jargon. But do the events of the current AFL finals series suggest we shouldn’t read much into the term?
St Kilda and Geelong, who comfortably finished one-two on the AFL ladder this season, had their premiership credentials seriously questioned prior to the first weekend of the finals following some stuttering late season form.
Many pointed to the fact they were both flirting with form and had lost momentum.
On the other hand, the likes of the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Adelaide had all arrived in the finals with plenty of momentum, following excellent back-ends to their respective seasons.
Indeed, it made a compelling case to suggest the 2009 AFL finals series was a five-horse race.
Yet in the first week of the finals, the Saints and Cats showed their superiority and fended off their respective opponents to secure the much sought-after week-off, leaving the losers to take the long road to the Prelims.
Meanwhile, Adelaide, who after a slow start to their season had stormed home with some scintillating and stylish footy to finish in the lower-half of the 8, smashed out-of-place finalists Essendon by some 96 points on the first evening of the finals series.
The emphatic triumph over the Bombers made it four victories in a row for the Crows (as well as 12 in 15) and considering some of their huge winning margins in that streak, Adelaide had massive momentum and went into Saturday’s semi-final against Collingwood as favourites according to the bookies.
To me, that in itself appeared odd considering the Magpies had gone over to Adelaide only four weeks earlier and won.
And this game was now being played at Collingwood’s home ground in Melbourne, yet the bookies thought the result would reverse itself!
Nevertheless, I must admit I stewed over the decision of who to tip for some time, before reverting to my currently unblemished tactic of going with the higher ranked side.
In the end the Pies won, albeit by a narrow margin, and Adelaide’s momentum ultimately counted for nothing.
But what is momentum? Does it exist, and if so, where does it exist?
For me, momentum exists in our minds. It’s a psychological concept which provides a real confidence boost for those enjoying it.
But what does it do to the opposition team? More than anything, you could say momentum creates fear.
Yet Geelong and St Kilda both showed no signs of insecurity or fear when they asserted themselves on the Bulldogs and Collingwood respectively in their Qualifying Final victories.
So much of footy these days is played in the head and standing up to momentum is, as well, a psychological thing.
It requires a strong confidence and reassurance in what works for a side.
For the Saints getting to 20-2 and the Cats to 18-4 after 22 rounds is obviously some achievement and that would naturally have instilled that sense of confidence in what they’re doing.
But Collingwood’s victory over Adelaide on Saturday night was something different. The Crows carried on their momentum from the last few weeks into the first-half grabbing a 26-point lead at the long break, before it appeared to grind to a halt in the premiership quarter.
Mick Malthouse’s ability to get his side to capably revert to plan B enabled them to jolt Adelaide’s confidence and momentum after half-time.
And as Adelaide lost faith in their gameplan, the Pies pounced, backed by a massive, parochial crowd, much in the style of the Brisbane Lions a week earlier.
Indeed, having a raucous, local crowd behind a team is a huge boost for momentum and rightfully that’s one of the advantages of finishing higher on the ladder.
So momentum does exist, but perhaps only in our heads. Greeting momentum with no fear serves as its best defence.
But that in itself is not simple and requires a confidence and self-assurance only great teams seem to enjoy, because (revising a famous sporting cliché) class is permanent and momentum is temporary.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson has rubbish a bizarre claim that the Eagles and Fremantle are at 'no disadvantage' by having to regularly travel…
Normally, a thumping win over a bona fide premiership contender would instantly have everyone talking it up as one of Gold Coast's greatest ever…
Apart from one five-goal game, GWS forward Toby Greene has only kicked six goals from the other eight games. He's traditionally had success against the Western Bulldogs.
Bayley Fritsch should become an even more important player from a structural perspective, given key forward Jacob van Rooyen will be unavailable due to concussion.
The Collingwood supporter who touched West Coast debutant Harvey Johnston during Sunday's match at Marvel Stadium has been handed a 12-month suspension. Johnston grabbed…
Geelong will be without their two top forwards for their Darwin AFL match against Gold Coast after Jeremy Cameron was diagnosed with delayed concussion.…
