Maybe there are lessons for the AFL from this grand final replay. Without lengthy pre-game entertainment and the large contingent of corporates in the crowd, this had the feel of a traditional footy match.
An attendance of 93,853 was slightly down on last week’s 100,016 but that hardly affected the atmosphere.
It was how things were three decades ago at the biggest game of the year. It also definitely felt more exciting.
While the league were rubbing their hands with glee at the financial windfall from the grand final replay, they also had to scramble to organise the game.
There would be no lavish pre-game production and none of the expensive packages that mean corporate suits see their one AFL match of the year.
The cheesy pre-game show and the lack of ticket availability are two big annual criticisms of the grand final.
Thousands more tickets were made available for the people who deserve them most – the fans who support the Magpies and Saints week after week.
Also thanks to the short turnaround, the league had to rush to find a headline pre-game act.
Apparently no Australian singers of high enough profile were available, but American singer Lionel Ritchie was.
And as unlikely as it sounds, Lionel rocked the MCG.
He had the fans bopping with stand-bys such as Dancing On The Ceiling and All Night Long, adding to the charged atmosphere.
The MCG was not quite as packed as last week’s draw, but it was full of fans whose nerves were frayed after a fortnight of waiting.
Collingwood had not won a premiership since 1990, St Kilda’s flag drought extended back to 1966.
A grand final draw is a mean thing, but for these fans it was especially cruel.
The big question was which team could recover best from the emotional and physical letdown after last Saturday’s epic game.
For the second week in a row, the ‘Pies were in charge early.
And this time, they did not loosen their grip on the game.
It was St Kilda’s turn to rue inaccurate goalkicking – a huge grand final factor over the last three years – as the Magpies steadily took control.
A five-goal burst in the third term – known as the premiership quarter – meant the vocal Magpie faithful only became louder in their joy.
After a year of challenge after challenge on and off the field, the Saints had hit one hurdle too many.
The Magpies are premiers. The partying will be epic.
All Night Long, indeed.
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.
Multicultural round was changed in 2018 showing that the AFL have not been as committed to multiculturalism as they should be.
Collingwood led by a point with minutes to go, Kyle Langford had the chance to be the hero with a set shot, however, he missed, and we saw the first draw of the season.
Eddie McGuire's latest bold idea has dropped - for North Melbourne to take over the outskirts of Melbourne and use it to rejuvenate the…
For all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the now-traditional Anzac Day clash at the MCG, there has been one thing conspicuously lacking over…
The AFL has confirmed the right decision was made after a ball ricocheted off a boundary umpire's leg during the third quarter of Melbourne's…
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
