Last Saturday’s epic AFL finale will ultimately be framed by a handful of famous moments, yet it’s the quality of soon-to-be-forgotten aspects that define this game’s greatness.
Office water coolers will of course quickly tire of talk of Dom Sheed’s glorious match winner.
The sublime coast-to-coast lead-up to Sheed’s clincher – headlined by Jeremy McGovern and Liam Ryan screamers – will likewise be etched in our memories.
The fact of Luke Shuey’s Norm Smith Medal will endure, not least because you know it will be the subject of a quiz question in years to come.
We’ll remember Collingwood’s blistering start and the rising fear of a grand final whitewash that accompanied it.
West Coast’s resilience – surely borne in large part from the harrowing experience of its 2015 Grand Final train wreck – in withstanding not only the Magpies’ brutal opening salvo, but also their apparent early last quarter KO, is sure to live on.
We may even recall Jordan De Goey’s three goals because it’s hard to forget goals like those.
Jordan De Goey (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
And yet so many more gripping ‘in the moment’ details about this most remarkable footballing contest will inevitably recede from memory.
That such forgetfulness will not in any way threaten this Grand Final’s place in footballing lore is testament to what was a sporting masterpiece.
Start with the bookends.
The warmly celebrated opening goal from – Collingwood’s 2011 grand final tormentor turned black and white treasure – Travis Varcoe was the latest chapter in his inspirational finals story following the tragic loss of his sister.
After Jack Darling’s third quarter resurgence had all but banished the demons of his dropped chest mark in the 2015 decider, he unthinkably spills the sealing mark in the dying moments.
While the end result will mean this will likely fade from view for the rest of us, you can bet there is a big man in Perth who will occasionally wake up in a cold sweat plagued by thoughts of what might not have been.
In between there was Lewis Jetta, the speedy kid from the Swans’ 2012 grand final triumph now all grown up.
Having marked outside 50 with his rattled Eagles facing a near fatal 29-point first quarter deficit, Jetta had the presence of mind to pause.
Cradling the ball in his left hand, Jetta coolly used his right to make a “let’s settle it down” patting motion before summoning his big forwards back to goal.
The result was West Coast’s first major and the Eagles suddenly awakening from their early slumber.
His influence didn’t end there.
Lewis Jetta of the Eagles celebrates after scoring a goal (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images)
For it was Jetta who wrapped a consoling arm around forlorn Liam Ryan after the latter’s “he’d like to have his time over” third quarter dropped mark, a gesture which surely helped enable Ryan’s late game heroics.
Then there was Mason Cox, the American in Jolimont.
His late blooming grand final performance was symbolic of his fledgling football career and boding so well for his future.
Cox’s affable personality, coupled with a footballing detachment that could only be possessed by a foreigner, a fantastic foil for his maniacal club in the lead-up to the big day.
The journeymen played their part in the drama.
An oftentimes tortuous seven years removed from a bad hip and a missed Cats’ premiership, Nathan Vardy finally had his medal.
It wasn’t Chris Mayne’s fault the Pies handed him an inflated contract, and his Herculean 14-tackle effort meant it certainly wasn’t his fault the Pies lost on Saturday.
And now we bask in grand final afterglow, accompanied by our memories of a marvellous decider.
Some will stay, and others that don’t deserve to will drift away.
For it was that type of football game, a true spring classic.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Jack12, I kept writing the Cats off each year and every year they proved me wrong. This year they were that Doggies loss away from 5th and a home final...could have gone anywhere from there. They have turned GMHBAHGMBAHABNGHA stadium into a fortress and will win most games there IMO in 2019. Just thought I can't keep writing them off anymore.
jack12
Guest
peter the scribe. Love seeing ur point of view each week. always a great read. But i cant for the life of me see how the ctas can be up there next year. they were lucky to make 8 this year. have an ageing team reliant on dangerwoodablett and if kelly goes well thats not good. Yes dalhouse comes in and maybe rohan but surely pies,tigers,eagles,demons, gws, ( maybe swans,bombers,hawks) are in front of the cats. Just my opinion
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Looking forward to the replay in 2019 Julian. Let's keep the Demons and Tigers out of it again. Cats will be up and about too no doubt.
User
Roar Rookie
What I've always loved is his skill by foot, he can hit targets that for nearly all other players in the AFL couldn't dream of doing. I've never expected him to be a physical player which has been one of the criticism that's been said, because he's a laid back bloke his laconic style is often misread as lazy or uncommitted. Also I grew accustomed to the fact that for the 9great things he'll do he will also coq up completely atleast once per game but he is also able to pop up with something awesome when needed most much like Jeff farmer would do. His move to hbf to play a role not unlike Peter Matera did later in his career along with the mentoring he's been doing I believe it's taken his game up a notch to the point that the games he's been injured this season his absence is noticeable as he and Hurn were keys to delivering the ball off Hb all season.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Jetta was a much better footballer for Sydney than the Eagles IMO. There were many who got seriously frustrated with him post 2012. Maybe ditto Eagles since the move. Injuries ? Not clear. You are seeing stuff from him we missed, but i’m happy for the guy whatever. A talent no doubt. Has he over or underachieved?
Julian
Roar Rookie
Jetta who is unfairly maligned by WC morons (read - the FB page) has had a great two years and has grown up a lot. He also played out the rest of the game with a calf strain in the second quarter and couldn't run properly. When interviewed he said that he kept it from most of the team and only told Duggan and Cole, asking them to take the quicker guys. Duggan's reply 'We've got you Jetts' is just a brilliant illustration of the team's cohesion this year. I just love this team. The most proud I've ever been of this club. What a brilliant grand final fought between two great clubs. Unfortunately there can be only one winner and thankfully this one is ours.
Scott
Guest
Agreed.
Scott
Guest
So true. This article prob deserves to be the one getting all the attention. Congrats to both teams, that game was truly epic
User
Roar Rookie
Jetts was always unfairly criticised but was my favourite player not at wce when he was a swan and has remained one of my favourite players still. Sublime skills and a ability to create with little time and space. The mentoring role he has embraced to offer guidance and support to rioli and ryan has been superb and I'm sure Francis Watson is part of the brother boys posse they have going on. Great piece mate to highlight the class and strength both clubs showed on Saturday.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Agree totally with everything you wrote WCE. An incredible achievement.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Hear Hear. Buckley was all class. And if you listen to Eddie's address to the Collingwood faithful at the Holden Centre on Sunday morning, your opinion of him will go up a few notches at least. Thier club is in good hands with these two at the wheel.
Jermayn Parker
Guest
At the end of the day my respect levels for Collingwood soared the way Buckley and McGuire conducted themselves. I also feel WCE won a lot of admirers the way they won and behaved as well. For possible the most two hated clubs in Australia, this was the perfect PR Christmas gift. Now if only some journalists, fans & other idiots can relax over the final goal.
WCE
Roar Rookie
the whole finals series by the Eagles was nothing short of exhilarating ! then to top it off with a close fought GF win was just incredible. When you consider we lost the best ruckman in the game in Nic Nat towards the end of the home & away season , Josh Kennedy & Darling were out for a huge chunks of the season, then losing Gaff and Sheppard, I personally thought we had no chance of getting through. It just goes to show what a wonderful resilient determined skillful playing group we have and that flows into the whole club from the staff, volunteers , coaches etc... just incredible
Brian_K
Roar Rookie
Good read. Great game, I was kept on edge even after a 5 goal headstart. I knew the day wasn't done when Rioli got that lucky goal in the first quarter. The Eagles kept getting late quarter goals that kept pegging back the margin. In the end the pies looked like they were just trying to hang on. Let's hope both teams can back it up next year.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
A perfect bookend to Camerons negative piece Jump Ball. So many magic moments, theatre, drama, tragedy and triumph. I'm too emotionally invested in the result to reflect on these moments but as Eddie said on MMM, waking up Grand Final morning is the second best feeling in football and the Pie fans get to do it more than anyone. Life isn't about watching it go by, it's about participating and the Woods hurt us like hell but would still rather be there than spending time from round 15 waiting for the draft.
Slane
Guest
The Crows were smashed by the Tigers and made to look/feel like they weren't up to it. The Pies were not. Chalk and cheese comparison, really.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Nice one.. I definitely had the Jedda consoling as an inspiring memory to store away.. Darling's marks all round the ground in the third quarter.. The great sequence that lead to the final goal.. Collingwoods amazing goals in the first quarter ... Compare to Rioli's goal line dribble that was crucial.. Josh Kennedy's constant presence and two great goals.. (Long bomb and curly snap) So often the camera's were in the perfect spot so well done channel 7
Botticelli
Guest
Great work
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
And the question is........will Collingwood fall into the same hole as the Crows last year? I guess that depends on their pre-season training camp!