Sitting in my hotel room, I look out the window to see the MCG glittering under the spring sunshine and feel nothing but jealousy.
This time 51 weeks ago, I sat in the stats box at the G as an emergency, watching my teammates take the lead in a preliminary final against Hawthorn.
Cyril Rioli and Lance Franklin had other ideas but we were that close to a Grand Final berth.
Fast forward 12 months and I sit here, daydreaming about what could’ve been – both last season and in season 2013.
Having spent Grand Final week in Melbourne for the first time and attending my first Grand Final, I am positive my overwhelming feeling will be jealousy as I watch the Hawks and Dockers butt heads for the Premiership cup this afternoon.
It’s amazing seeing and being around the week’s festivities.
I had lunch earlier in the week with teammates Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker and Matthew Jaensch at Federation Square and I couldn’t help but wish I was instead home in Adelaide preparing for the AFL’s biggest stage.
Then I remembered not only did the Crows season end as the finals began, but my season ended even earlier after succumbing to a fractured ankle against – you guessed it – Fremantle.
As we sat down for lunch, Jaenschy mentioned how different the feeling was as the end of the regular season approached.
In 2012, we played Gold Coast at home in the final home-and-away match.
Without being rude to the Suns, we couldn’t get that game over with quick enough.
It was all about getting into the finals and competing.
Adelaide is a city where AFL rules, it’s often referred to as a fishbowl, such is the magnified attention the two clubs receive.
So you can imagine how crazy the 2012 finals campaign was when we finished the season in second place and with two guaranteed home finals.
The expectations and hopes of the city were like a tonne of bricks – but we loved it.
Because the alternative stinks.
I enjoyed attending The Footy Show on Thursday night and I know for sure I’ll enjoy walking to the ‘G among the 100,000 fans, but I can’t help but dwell on the ‘what ifs’.
I wish nothing but good luck to the 44 players who run out onto the hallowed turf at 2.30pm this afternoon.
But geez I wish I was joining them.
Josh Jenkins is a key forward for the Adelaide Crows. Follow him on Twitter @JoshJenkins24
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