Brendon Goddard of St Kilda celebrates during the 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the St Kilda Saints at the MCG, Melbourne.
They will start the underdog but St Kilda has a secret weapon that might just prove the difference – its tough psyche. This week has required the kind of mental preparation and strength that would test even the most resilient mind, let alone team.
But at Moorabbin they already have an established formula to combat any outside distraction and unwanted attention. It’s known as the “St Kilda bubble”.
On numerous occasions this year many thought, or at least presumed, it was about to burst, but adversity and external pressure only galvanises the Saints.
This week will be no different either and as a result, you have to wonder if the Magpies can match the Saints for mental strength.
I’m not sure they can and if anything they appeared the more rattled of the two sides throughout the week.
First Nick Maxwell complained about the rules describing the draw as an “absolute joke” and then, surprisingly, admitted his team had “dodged a bullet”.
Not quite waving the white flag but hardly oozing confidence and self-belief.
Those comments contrasted with St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt’s immediate pledge to quickly regroup and recover were perhaps telling in themselves.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said it all yesterday.
“We are certainly a team that’s not worrying about results, because if you do it gives you anxiety and you can’t focus on the job at hand.
“So we stay in the now, we focus on moment by moment, if we do that we don’t have to worry about trying to convince ourselves ‘are we going to win or lose?’
“Because people who do that get stuck and don’t execute,” he said.
People like Collingwood?
Was this a subtle yet pertinent message directed at the Magpies inability to kick straight and score efficiently?
The match should have been over at halftime with the inside 50 count a staggering 21-4 in favour of Collingwood in the 2nd quarter alone.
Bombing the ball inside 50, the Magpies wasted far too many opportunities and played into the hands of voracious Saints zoning defenders like Fisher, Gilbert and Blake.
Have they lost faith in the game plan? Will the yips in front of goal cost the club another grand final?
In another bizarre moment, star midfielder Dane Swan was scheduled to front the media, but instead escaped the club early to avoid the spotlight.
By his own lofty standards, Swan’s performance was well below his best in the grand final and he like many other players at Collingwood must be feeling the pressure and weight of expectation after an average performance last week.
Only time will now tell if Swan can respond on the big stage.
Perhaps though, the events of this week have been a silver lining for the Magpies?
It’s hard to believe anything could take the attention away from St Kilda and Collingwood, but this was an extraordinary week of news, almost like no other.
In many respects James Hird, Mark Thompson and Gary Ablett actually provided the perfect distraction.
The chance for the players to collectively take a breath and recharge for the rematch with the media and football world momentarily sidetracked.
Thankfully, on the eve of what promises to be another epic contest, all of the focus has finally shifted back onto the game.
The refuge of training and a little bit of normality has no doubt helped Collingwood’s preparation, but is it enough for the Magpies to mentally get up?
I don’t think it will be.
My tip is St Kilda.
Bayman
Guest
Brett, I think this game is at the MCG, not Etihad. Dancing on the ceiling at the "G" is not only difficult, it's bloody impossible. Of course, I'm just an old fart who longs for the day when the Grand Final was just about the footy. Try as I might, I cannot abide the concept of pre-match "entertainment". If only it were "entertainment" Unfortunately, it's usually just another singer/band, long past their use-by date, which practically nobody at the ground can actually see or hear properly and which absolutely nobody gives a rats rrrrrs about. Sooooo, if it's just for the television audience, why not just shove them in a studio somewhere, beam them out to the USA tv viewers (who seem to like and expect this sort of nonsense) and leave the match attendees to enjoy the build-up to the game. I mean, INXS!!!!!! Poor Michael has been dead for a decade and INXS stopped being relevant the day after he died. As for Lionel Ritchie, I thought he was with Michael. Who the hell decides these things. Whoever it is, I hope the AFL is not paying them much. God save me from marketers and publicists and hangers-on. They're all like that Microsoft paper clip thingy that pops up unexpectedly to tell you what you really want to do when, in fact, you just want to do something simple and do it the easy way. Whoever it was that decided we need entertainment should be taken out and shot. Presumably, this is the same guy who thinks we are remotely interested in the way the match ball is delivered each year. Mate, let the frigging umpire walk out onto the ground with it at the start of the game. No, don't thank me.....you actually do that every other game of the season! Now, where was I......sorry Brett, none of this last little bit was for you. I just got started and you know how it is.....Perhaps you just meant the ceiling of the chapel?? P.S. I don't know how much Lionel Ritchie knows about Aussie Rules but, from memory, at least Julie Anthony's dad once topped the goalkicking for Glenelg in the SANFL. As for the game, here's hoping the Saints win and Molly Meldrum doesn't faint before the final siren like he did in 1966 - and miss the magic moment.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
heh, heh, not me - I steer clear of this sort of stuff (but I take an interest in odds, etc, just out of curiosity).
Brett McKay
Guest
presumably there would be dancing on the ceiling?!?
Art Sapphire
Guest
That's right Brett - Lionel Richie is taking Julie Anthony to the U.S of A They will be married in a Las vegas chapel wearing the Collingwood and StKilda jumpers. Molly Meldrum will be the maid of honour and Eddie McGuire the best man. You heard it here first.
Brett McKay
Guest
One for you Melbourne types: I've just read the following and I'm scratching my head - "Julie Anthony will sing the national anthem for what the AFL says could be the last time inside the MCG..." Huh? Did she start a Mexican Wave or something??
Brett McKay
Guest
I love that term, "smart money". It's only 'dumb money' if St.Kilda lose, which of course the bookies hope is the case!! "Fifty Grand on the Saints, Mr Football? Certainly, happy to take that bet. Very astute of you, sir...."
Art Sapphire
Guest
There has been a late change. Lionel Richie has replaced the out of form Leon Davis. Malthouse has decided to bite the bullet and put a hard tag on Goddard. Goddard will be lulled into a blissful state with Lionel Richie singing "I can see it in your eyes I can see it in your smile You're all I've ever wanted, (and) my arms are open wide 'Cause you know just what to say And you know just what to do And I want to tell you so much, I love you ..." If Richie performs to his 80's best then Goddard and the Saints will stand no chance.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Bookies reckon there's a lot of smart money coming in at the 11th hour for the sainters.
MadeWT
Guest
I can't pick it. It's gonna be another coin toss...
Redb
Roar Guru
yeah if it goes 62-35 inside 50s again for the pies it will be all over.
jono52795
Roar Rookie
Cant help but agree with this article unfortunately. St.Kilda's resilience throughout the year has been evident for all to see, as it was in last week's second half. Goddard and Hayes only need a similar performance, and if Riewoldt breaks the shackles, then we (Collingwood) will find it hard going. We need a fast start, Cloke on the board early and the likes of Pendlebury, Swan and Didak being damaging with the ball. If the Saints just choke us up and play that in tight brand of football, then they'll only need a brief flurry in the 3rd or last quarter to win by 4 or 5 goals. My heart says the Pies, head says Saints. Can't wait for the game though!
Richard
Roar Guru
You're right Justin. Mental reslience is what will win it. St Kilda have proved they have that. Collingwood have too, however, by maintaining high perfromance levels through the year and by holding on in the face of the ebb and flow of last weeks game. Both sides will have learned from last weeks game. So I guess the answer is, we won't know until the final (final?) siren. But my tip is Collingwood.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Not a bad way of looking at it. From where we stand, it seems St Kilda were the first to regain their composure and focus for the following week - to what extent Collingwood has closed that gap during the course of the week is difficult to ascertain. It's probably true that Collingwood are in better physical shape. If Collingwood repeat the dose of having the same large gap in Inside 50s, then you'd think they would have to win, there's no way they'd let the game slip a second time under such circumstances. And they'd be thinking they are a chance because the whole of their midfield was down last week - that's the incredible thing - they got a draw with virtually all their best mids being off their game. St Kilda needed Hayes and Goddard to be head and shoulders above the other 42 just to get the draw. Any re-balancing there will favour the pies. The other factor is that Brown broke even with Riewoldt, who still managed a decent quota of contested marks and goals at key points of the game. If Brown comes up just a tiny bit short second time round, that puts St Kilda well and truly back in the mix. Collingwood by a whisker.
TomC
Guest
Yeah I agree with all of that Redb. The Saints did well to stay with the Pies early last Saturday, but I think its a bit too much to expect them to do it again. I think Collingwood will ice the game early and hold on for a seven or eight goal win. But like you, I hope I'm wrong. Carn the Saints!
Redb
Roar Guru
St Kilda might have the mental edge but I think the Pies will have the legs and will apply too much scoreboard pressure early in the game for the Saints to fight back like last week. I hope I'm wrong.