Ten final excruciating minutes in the last quarter had me on the edge of my seat, clenching my fists in desperate hope of a Collingwood victory.
When the final siren sounded at 68 points apiece, I slumped into my chair in disbelief and a sombre mood instantly filled the room. The thought that beckoned of a grand final re-match had suddenly become a reality.
The drawn grand final has sparked a heated debate questioning its existence, but surely a season of hard work and determination can not be decided in time on. It provides both sides with a second chance to redeem themselves and create history.
It will take an enormous effort to get up this week in the re-match after both sides put their bodies on the line and were physically spent at the conclusion of the match. Every spectator was in awe of each player that took to the field, and Collingwood’s Nick Maxwell summed it up perfectly as he looked around the MCG soaking up the atmosphere.
“I don’t know if i have ever seen 44 guys to go to war like we just did then, that was amazing,” he said.
The first time since 1977 when North Melbourne and Collingwood were faced with same predicament. This will test everyone who plays a role at the club.
It will be a massive week for both clubs sports science director’s David Buttifant and Paul Montgomery, who will be major factors in preparing their players for the do-or-die battle come Saturday afternoon.
Mick Malthouse has been remarkably composed this last week prior to the grand final. We have seen the 57 year-old smile, make jokes and thoroughly enjoy the company of his players as the realisation of a final grand final appearance as Collingwood coach dawns.
Despite Collingwood being on the back foot, Maxwell described the draw as “an absolute joke”, but I think it’s a secret blessing in disguise. In all honesty, I believe Collingwood would’ve lost the 2010 grand final in time on.
Andrew Demetriou has defended the draw and says the commission won’t be forced to make a decision to change the current ruling system.
“As we sit here, we are not of a mind to changing the rules, we don’t change rules as a knee-jerk reaction to something that’s happened yesterday,” Demetriou said.
“People who were there yesterday witnessed something quite amazing, quite historical and quite exhilarating.”
The AFL will be releasing an extra 16,000 tickets for the members of Collingwood and St Kilda, which are normally allocated to non-competing clubs. It’s a credit to the AFL and a real positive coming out of a drawn grand final.
We will finally have an atmosphere of more genuine supporters who passionately follow their club rather than suited-up business corporates who couldn’t care less who wins.
I will be one of the many Collingwood supporters who will be hopelessly trying to secure tickets to the grand final and watch my beloved Pies on their quest to the holy grail.
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