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Regardless of who you support, who will not only be settling down to watch the Carlton versus Collingwood blockbuster on Friday night, or Geelong versus Hawthorn on Saturday night, but is looking forward to both these matches?
A good AFL rivalry attracts more than just the own clubs respective supporters, it gathers interest from the entire AFL community.
Both these games have big season implications, which helps increase interest levels. But this weekend got me thinking, which game this weekend is bigger?
I jotted down my thoughts on a few, and tried to pick a winner. Wasn’t easy.
Carlton versus Collingwood:
This rivalry can be dated back to as early as the late 1800’s, when Carlton’s VFA premiership captain Billy Strickland jumped ship to Collingwood, and was instrumental in turning the club around and helping them to a VFA premiership in 1896.
Things where only going to get more heated 14 years later in the 1910 grand final, when a huge brawl broke out in the final quarter, with Collingwood hanging on to win.
Four players deemed responsible for starting the brawl received a combined 60 month suspension (insane, I know) and Carlton vowed never to forget that day.
Fast forward to today, and after over a century of presidential stirrings (Google George Harris 1979 grand final if you’re interested), close finals and general hatred, this rivalry took an extra twist when Mick Malthouse signed up to coach the Blues at the end of 2012.
Not only is there a level of hurt from Collingwood supporters but the added factors of master versus apprentice between Malthouse and Nathan Buckley and the pressure of this game being important for both teams finals chances puts this one right up there.
Geelong versus Hawthorn
This rivalry is based on what all true rivalries should be based upon, grand finals.
Geelong’s 1963 premiership win was the true beginning of this rivalry, 1989 took it up a notch, 2008 took it to overdrive and the events since then have exploded this rivalry to near war like levels (no, I don’t think I’m exaggerating).
Jeff Kennett’s comments after 2008 – that Geelong does not have the psychological drive of Hawthorn – have backfired dramatically, with Hawthorn players no doubt questioning their ability to beat Geelong.
Geelong’s 10 wins on the trot since 2008 have included:
– Two kick after the siren wins.
– Eight matches of less than 10 points margin.
– A smallest crowd of 63,000.
Let me tell you, there is no greater fear for a Geelong supporter than losing to Hawthorn in a grand final again, and Hawthorn supporters’ spirits blacken a little bit every time they squander a winnable position against Geelong.
The fact that these teams are one and two currently makes it one of (if not the biggest) rivalries of 2013, and maybe even AFL history.
The verdict
These rivalries are numbers one and two in the AFL. Splitting them was tricky, but because of the drama, history and critical importance of this game, Carlton versus Collingwood takes this one.
Just.
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