The energy-sapping, emotional rollercoaster of Western Sydney’s 5-4 win over Brisbane Roar last weekend was great theatre, one of the truly great games in Australian football history.
Unfortunately for those of a red-and-black persuasion, it will come back to haunt them on Sunday afternoon.
To back up against premiership winners Adelaide, away from home, after 120 minutes of the most gruelling football imaginable, is too big an ask.
For hat-trick hero Romeo Castelen – who couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo all season – to do it again… it’s just too much.
And for Dario Vidosic, once a Red, to rise from the bench and score the decisive goal for the second week in a row? Not for me, sorry.
Neither of these sides have won a grand final – Adelaide have lost to Melbourne Victory twice, while the Wanderers have had their hearts broken by the Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane Roar.
But it is Adelaide’s time.
If this was a Melbourne Cup, you would say the Reds have had the perfect preparation.
They’ve had a long time to freshen up for the main event, they’ve run themselves into some serious form, and they would have to be the bookies’ favourite.
Western Sydney meanwhile have toughed it out just to qualify for the big one, but they’re the kind of competitors who, once they’re there, will give it a shake. Include them in your trifectas, you’d say.
But Bruce Djite’s form is irresistible and the sumptuous talents of Sergio Cirio and Isais will prove too much for Western Sydney’s weary legs.
Enthusiasm and adrenaline will pump up the Wanderers early on, of course. But Guillermo Amor is clever and won’t be naive enough to think the match can be won in the first half an hour. Brisbane Roar found that out the hard way.
The Spanish tactician will ensure that Adelaide keep the Wanderers at arms’ length, which Brisbane so spectacularly failed to do despite the cushion of a 3-0 lead.
There was something flaky about this Brisbane side all year, but you couldn’t possibly level the same accusation at Amor’s Adelaide, not since Round 8 anyway.
The Red machine is looking lean, mean and absolutely ready to take home the toilet seat for the very first time.
The grand old Adelaide Oval will be full to bursting, but it won’t see the sort of 5-4 chaos on Sunday afternoon.
They won’t care one jot how it happens either, because this is Adelaide’s year.
AZ_RBB
Guest
My tip is that I'm going to be too nervous to sleep next two nights haha. There's seriously never a dull moment at this club. I really thought after our slump late in the season that we would go quietly and hope to step up next season. No! Instead we had to play the craziest semi ever and now head to another GF. 3 GFs in our first 4 seasons still blows my mind. A Premiership and Asian title in between and you have yourself something pretty special.
pete4
Guest
My tip is WSW 2-1
AZ_RBB
Guest
If we are to go 0-3 it'll be pretty horrible but we'll always have the ACL title to throw back at the mockers. That'll keep us warm at night for a while now.
Midfielder
Guest
Go Greg .. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/a-league/teams/adelaide/adelaide-united-boss-greg-griffin-calls-afl-mindless-bastards-for-letting-fans-on-adelaide-oval-before-aleague-final/news-story/c89d0cc3bb8518e3871fabb3d5ecff3a ADELAIDE United boss Greg Griffin is labelling the AFL as “mindless bastards” for not cancelling a fans’ “kick-and-catch” session after Saturday’s Crows AFL game — and before Sunday’s A-League grand final. The Stadium Management Authority will rope part — but not all — of the centre of Adelaide Oval after Saturday afternoon’s Crows-Fremantle AFL clash when as many as 50,000 fans will be invited onto the field. Griffin told The Advertiser on Friday he would not even bother appealing to the AFL to cancel the “kick-and-catch” session to protect the pitch for the Adelaide United-Western Sydney A-League grand final. “It is just pointless because this is an act of mindless bastardry by the AFL — and not for the first time,” Griffin said. “Check back, the AFL never misses an opportunity to do something deliberately against Adelaide United ... and what are they achieving? “We have to put up with it. But every dog will have its day.” SMA general manager (operations) Darren Chandler told The Advertiser the “kick-and-catch” fans’ session would only be cancelled if bad weather — with rain forecast in Adelaide — increased the risk of damage to the playing field. “We have to make sure we do not detract from the AFL game-day experience,” Chandler said. “A bigger area (of the centre square) will be roped off. “If we thought (the kick-and-catch session) was going to detract from the pitch we will present for the A-League grand final, we would not do it. We are confident we can handle it.” Griffin was hoping “common sense would prevail” with the SMA calling off the “kick-and-catch” session.
Kasey
Roar Pro
fairy-tale for the winner, yes God help the fans of whoever loses. 0-3 in A-League GFs would lead to merciless mocking in the online sphere! Lord I hope we win! Football fans seem to spend a lot of time on line....I suppose it was a response to the lack of football coverage in traditional media? COYR!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Ah well. Hopefully it slows down the tempo of the game a little. Might help us.
marron
Guest
Kick to kick going ahead after the AFL. Sometimes you have to laugh. As a show peice between two sides that like to play, it's going to be adversely affected by a ground that already plays fast being chopped up.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Less than 48hrs to go. *deep breath*
jupiter53
Roar Pro
I am with you [and ready to bring it up to a massive 6 comments]. We are in Australia which is trying to get a functioning high level football competition going - so far so good, and usefully better than prior to the A League. At present the A League has Premiers and Champions; works for me. So let me totally agree about celebrating the A League as it exists now. And what a mouth watering prospect on Sunday! A new winner of the toilet seat is guaranteed. I expect a tight, tactically fascinating game, with Adelaide warm favourites. This is not based on home advantage as I don't think the Wanderers are particularly susceptible to away nerves. I do think that Adelaide have tremendous defensive discipline, and such a variety of attacking threats that it will be too much for the Wanderers, particularly with the drain on their energy from Sunday's semi. But good luck to both teams [and to Jared Gillett and his assistants].
Dean
Guest
I love that this article about the match gets 4 comments while the clickbait about finals/promotion/relegation gets 100 with the same people trying to convince the same people without success. It's the definition of madness. We need to focus 90% on celebrating the league and maybe 10% on improving it, not the other way around.
Waz
Guest
You could make this case for any club in the comp but not the Wanderers. Competitive little buggers to the west of Sydney! That said if AU get their game going I think they'll win so Wanderers need to disrupt them first
Dean
Guest
What an exciting finish to the season and a fairy-tale for the winner. I agree with the author that WSW have played their GF, but they managed to keep going in the ACL when they won that, and came from near-death last week, so you can never discount them. I'm tipping a pretty dour affair, with the Reds to eke out a 1-goal lead within 10 minutes of half time and maybe kick a sealer in extra time when WSW go all out attack. Will be a great match and finish to the season.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Championship Final... Please!
Kaks
Roar Guru
Very happy that all of the expectation is on Adelaide, I'm sure their fans who only turn up when their team starts winning will make sure they know that they are expected to win as well. Our boys can prepare with zero pressure and go out there and play their game knowing no one expects them to win.