By Adrian Musolino
September 26th 2009 @ 2:33am
It’ll go down to the wire in a classic AFL Grand Final
Tom Harley of Geelong and Nick Riewoldt of St Kilda hold up the Premiership Cup during the 2009 Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade. Slattery Images
Anything other than a Geelong versus St Kilda Grand Final would have been a let down this season. The benchmark teams of the competition, both full of stars, should ensure today’s contest lives up to the occasion.
Geelong has recovered from its shaky performances in the latter stages of the minor rounds, hitting its stride with the return to full strength of Steve Johnson and Brad Ottens, hitting peak form at the right time.
Their demolition of Collingwood in the preliminary final confirmed their return to the dominating form that carried them to the 2007 premiership and into last year’s Grand Final.
Contrastingly, St. Kilda was pushed to the brink by the Western Bulldogs almost bringing their record-breaking season to an end.
It has been a fascinating swing in the pendulum of form and favouritism, one that has made Geelong the bookmakers favourites despite the fact it was St Kilda who defeated the Cats in round 14 and have only been beaten twice all year, threatening to go through undefeated.
Like few Grand Finals in recent time, and perhaps on the back of last seasons upset, few are able to separate the two teams, so evenly matched in their midfield depth, defensive strengths and ability to win the contested ball.
It’s a shame therefore that the inclement weather that’s hit the south-east of Australia looks set to lash the MCG today, adding an unknown and potentially crucial variable to the contest.
Rain could favour Geelong’s smaller forwards relative to St. Kilda’s, relieving the pressure somewhat on the maligned Geelong forwards and perhaps nullifying the aerial power of the likes of Nick Riewoldt.
They may have goal-scoring capabilities around the park but the Cats need the likes of Cameron Mooney to put the ghosts of last season’s Grand Final behind him with and kick straight.
Like last season, these mistakes could cost the Cats big, and the Saints could severely punish such inaccuracies.
But who knows how changeable winds, heavy rain and possible hail will definitively impact the match.
It’s these conditions that will test the adaptability of the two teams and their stars.
Which will stand up?
In the week that he achieved something his father never did, a Brownlow medal, will Gary Ablett cap it off with a second premiership?
Twenty years ago his father scored nine goals in a losing Grand Final, the most heartbreaking loss in the 44-year drought Geelong suffered.
Now having been released from the shadow of Gary Senior, Ablett will be pivotal in Geelong’s midfield.
Ablett’s counterpart focal point, Riewoldt, will run onto the MCG for the first time on the last Saturday in September knowing that the record run he lead his club to this season counts for nothing today.
How will the young Saints, the majority of whom are new to this type of football, adapt and match a Geelong team in its third consecutive Grand Final?
This experience could give the Cats the edge and it’s possibly the only thing that separates these two great sides that are so evenly matched all over the park.
Also the determination of a Geelong team still bitter over last year’s defeat, knowing their premiership window is closing, could be stronger than that of a young Saints side with the pressure of ending a 43-year premiership drought.
Will the Saints be made to wait til next year, their 44th year without a premiership, matching Geelong’s barren period?
The opening stanza of the Grand Final will be crucial.
The Saints are often explosive out of the blocks, typified by the early five-goal lead they pulled out against Geelong in their only previous encounter this season in round 14.
In round 14 they were separated by just one goal at the final siren. It could be just as close this time round.
So sit back and enjoy one of the great days on the Australian sporting calendar.
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(13)
to be honest i didn’t notice much perhaps I wasn’t paying close enough attention.
agga78 said | September 26th 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Geelong by 5-10 goals
megatron said | September 26th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Itll be great let’s hope the rain holds off as that could spoil it.
Cats by 20. Saints chock.
Michael C said | September 26th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
It’s not often that we have two teams effectively fully fit, at full strength.
It’s not often that we don’t have some concern at the tribunal during the week,
The focus has been pretty clear on the game and 98% settled squads…..(other than messers Fevola and Hurley).
megatron said | September 26th 2009 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Saw an ad for Sports Tonight last night and the Fevola story was the lead over the GF. Shame!
By the sounds of it the weather in Melbourne today could be worse than first thought.
Adelaide got hail last night and Melb tends to get their weather the next day.
megatron said | September 26th 2009 @ 11:39am | Report comment
Looks pretty nasty over Melbourne. Reports say the worst will hit in mid afternoon.
LK said | September 26th 2009 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
I reckon it will be a great anti-climax, Cats by 6+ goals. Fingers crossed for fine weather and a good close game though.
megatron said | September 26th 2009 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
Go Cats!!!!
megatron said | September 26th 2009 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
Great game. 7pts between them at the final change.
Tifosi said | September 26th 2009 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
adrian you got it right !!
The skill level wasnt the greatest but the conditions would always be a factor. It does show that close games are always the best games
megatron said | September 26th 2009 @ 5:45pm | Report comment
CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
megatron said | September 26th 2009 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
To Saints fans……. at least you won the half time sprint!
sports photography said | September 26th 2009 @ 11:04pm | Report comment
Owned by CATS!!! of course, CATS rules….
Kurt said | September 27th 2009 @ 12:41am | Report comment
Disappointed for the Saints but Geelong just took their chances better – much like Hawks last year. Tight, gripping contest but no classic – skill levels ordinary and terrible weather resulting in a scrappy game.