The Geelong Falcons have won their first TAC Cup in 17 years, defeating the Sandringham Dragons by two points in an absolute thriller at Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Geelong Falcons 13.11.89
Sandringham Dragons 13.9.87
The Sandringham Dragons will look to win back-to-back TAC Cups this Sunday at Etihad Stadium, as they take on the Geelong Falcons, who are after their first since 2000. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:35pm (AEST).
The Falcons are looking for their first TAC Cup in 17 years, and have been on an eight-match winning streak, their last loss coming all the way back in Round 12.
Now, after beating the Dandenong Stingrays to the tune of 39 points, they are through to the big dance.
It wasn’t the easiest of wins for Geelong though, with the tightly fought contest going down until the Falcons finally managed the kick away late in the game.
Meeting them at Etihad Stadium will be the reigning premiers, the Sandringham Dragons. The journey hasn’t been as easy for Sandringham, who got up by only 10 points in a thriller against the Oakleigh Chargers last week to make it.
The Dragons seemed to have the number of the Chargers, opening up the third term with a 26-point lead, but a late fight back from Oakleigh put the contest down the wire, before the Dragons eventually ran away 10 point victors to book themselves a place in the final.
Players to Watch:
Geelong – James Worpel
The captain of the TAC Cup team of the year, Worpel is a star in the making. He can crash packs, and is extremely dangerous in the stoppages. He is a relentless tackler, so expect him to bring absolutely everything this Sunday.
Sandringham – Andrew Brayshaw
Young brother of Melbourne’s Angus, Andrew Brayshaw has every bit of heart and grit that his older brother does. He has great running capacity, and football smarts to boot. The winner of the battle between Brayshaw and Worpel will go a long way in deciding who hoists the cup.
Prediction
While the Dragons are the reigning premiers, it will be hard to go against the Falcons. They are on an incredible winning streak, and with their drought going back almost two decades, expect the hunger for another TAC Cup to be enough to get them over the line.
Geelong by 10 points
Can the Falcons break their TAC Cup drought? Or will Sandringham go back-to-back? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:35pm (AEST).
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
END OF THE GAME Sandringham 13.9.87 defeated by Geelong 13.11.89 by 2 points. How cruel is footy? After trailing by 30 points in the third quarter time break, the Dragons came storming back into the contest, before Joel Armatey marked with 10 seconds to go. Kicking after the siren from 20 meters out, slight angle, he missed, and Geelong won. Heartbreaking. Great stuff from the Falcons, they've won their first premiership since 2000, and how well did they play? They were led by Gryan Miers, who booted an outstanding 7 goals. He will win the TAC Cup Medal, no doubt. Kai Owens was great, he brought them back into the contest. That's all from me today! What a game, there are going to be some stars at AFL in the future! Thanks for joining me, been a blast!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
BEHIND DRAGONS THEY'VE DONE IT!!!! JOEL ARMATEY!! HE'S MARKED AND WILL KICK AFTER THE SIREN!!! HE'S GONNA GET IT!! NO HE WON'T!!! HE WON'T!!!! HE MISSED, HE MISSED FROM 20 METERS OUT!!!!!!! GEELONG WIN, GEELONG WIN!!!!! Incredible! Sandringham 13.9.87 Geelong 13.11.89 Q4 0.00
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Dragons in the centre, 40 seconds left!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
BEHIND DRAGONS Quick snap, and a miss! Sandringham 13.8.86 Geelong 13.11.89 Q4 1.26
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Its out for a throw near the Dragons goal!! 1.30 left!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
BEHIND FALCONS Noble snaps, and misses! Sandringham 13.7.85 Geelong 13.11.89 Q4 4.34
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
BEHIND FALCONS Garner !! Great kick by Noble, good mark from Garner, good positioning. He comes in...and hits the post! This is incredible. Sandringham 13.7.85 Geelong 13.10.88 Q4 5.24
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
BEHIND DRAGONS Jarnestrom with the mark!! This is incredible stuff!! 30 odd out, slight angle, but his shot is just off. Sandringham 13.7.85 Geelong 13.9.87 Q4 7.38
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
GOAL DRAGONS What a game this is!! Owens pulls down a huge pack mark after a deliberate out of bounds! He is in the goal square and kicks it!!! They're back to within 3!! See-sawing game, incredible stuff! Sandringham 13.6.84 Geelong 13.9.87 Q4 9.45
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
GOAL DRAGONS JARNESTROM! Big mark from Alfie, he needs to kick this, and he does!! 30 out, right in front, no mistake, and here come the Dragons!!! What a game!! Sandringham 12.6.78 Geelong 13.9.87 Q4 13.37
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
GOAL DRAGONS Owens!!! Huge from the youngster! Takes the grab right in front of goal, 20 out, and slots it! Dragons only 15 down now!! Sandringham 11.6.72 Geelong 13.9.87 Q4 15.17
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
BEHIND DRAGONS Brayshaw, Hamish this time, wins a free kick inside 50. Set shot from 45 out, and he misses too. These are important for the Dragons, they have to kick these. Sandringham 10.6.66 Geelong 13.9.87 Q4 16.47
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
BEHIND DRAGONS Smart from Owens, who roves near his own goal line, then centres this back to Andrew Brayshaw. The brother of Gus has been quiet today, and now he misses this to the left. Sandringham 10.5.65 Geelong 13.9.87 Q4 18.06
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
BEHIND DRAGONS Smith with the quick shot, but its off to the right. Sandringham 10.4.64 Geelong 13.9.87 Q4 19.13
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
GOAL DRAGONS Owens with the mark, and the goal!! Big for Sandy, exactly what they needed!! Their first goal since the second quarter, good set shot and Sandy are now only 4 goals down! Sandringham 10.3.63 Geelong 13.9.87 Q4 21.16
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Here we go, last quarter of the TAC Cup Grand Final! Wrapped up straight away, and it will be thrown up again in the centre of the ground.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER Sandringham 9.3.57 trails Geelong 13.9.87 by 30 points. Wow. What a quarter from the Falcons. They needed to lift, and oh boy they did. An 8 goal to nothing quarter. Sandringham did not score. Crazy stuff. Miers has been best on ground, he has 7 goals. Geelong are well on their way to their first TAC Cup since 2000, Sandy will need a huge comeback from here.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
GOAL FALCONS MIERS!! WHAT A GAME FOR HIM!! NUMBER 7 Ball spills out the back, Miers is the first to it, could have handed them off, but why would you when you're in this sort of nick?! Snaps around the body, and It is 30 points!! Sandringham 9.3.57 Geelong 13.9.87 Q3 1.26
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
GOAL FALCONS This is incredible. Falcons are running riot. Noble pulls down this one, set shot from 30 out, slight angle. He kicks it!! 24 point ball game!! They call this the premiership quarter, you can see why!! A 44 point turnaround since the 2nd quarter!! Sandringham 9.3.57 Geelong 12.9.81 Q3 3.43