Opinion
After one of the greatest seasons of football of them all, we are finally down to the last two sides and the last Saturday in September.
Geelong and Sydney to face off for the 2022 AFL premiership, as the MCG awaits its first Grand Final since 2019 with anticipation of a crowd of 100,000 people.
Geelong and the Swans are meeting in a Grand Final for the first time in history.
It is the Grand Final that we deserve, the two sides finishing first and third on the ladder. It is the Grand Final that will capture the hearts and minds of all footy supporters. Victorians and all comers from interstate will flock desperately to the MCG in anticipation of a classic contest.
Geelong have defied the odds this year. At Round 10, the Cats were only 6-4 and only a game inside the eight coming off a loss to St Kilda. Since then they have not looked back, they have been unbeatable, winning 15 consecutive games to reach this year’s Grand Final and turned a lot of heads.
Geelong earned their place in the Grand Final following a thrilling six-point win over Collingwood in the qualifying final, before simply outclassing the Brisbane Lions by 71 points in last week’s prelim.
Sydney have been unbelievable this season as well, winning their last nine games, including ending Collingwood’s 11-game winning streak in Round 22, upsetting Melbourne at the MCG in the qualifying final and then surviving a 35-point comeback attempt from a determined Collingwood, as the Swans defence desperately held out late one last Collingwood attack to rush it through.
Both sides will break important premiership droughts. Geelong’s last flag came all the way back in 2011 when they defeated Collingwood by 38 points. Since then, Geelong has made seven prelims, but lost five of them before this year’s victory over Brisbane.
The’ve made only the one Grand Final appearance since 2011, in 2020 where they put up a competitive effort, but went down to Richmond by 31 points in the end. They are on the hunt to break an 11-year drought and bring home flag No.10.
Patrick Dangerfield (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The Swans’ last premiership came all the way back in 2012, when they defeated Hawthorn in one of the all-time classic Grand Finals by 10 points. Since then, they have appeared in two Grand Finals, loosing the 2014 decider comprehensively by 63 points to Hawthorn before loosing a close, hotly contested Grand Final to the Bulldogs in 2016, as the Dogs broke their 62-year premiership drought by 22 points.
Sydney are looking to break that decade-long drought and bring their sixth flag in their history of being the Swans across South Melbourne and then Sydney.
Geelong
– Joel Selwood
– Jeremy Cameron
– Tom Hawkins
– Patrick Dangerfield
Sydney Swans
– Lance Franklin
– Isaac Heeney
– Luke Parker
– Sam Reid
It truly it a tough one to call. Two of the competitions greatest sides. Geelong being so consistent. Sydney have proven themselves highly this year.
Geelong to win by 15 points.
But expect a hot, closely contested game of footy, that well and truly could go either way and never count out the Swans.
This may be the last chance for Patrick Dangerfield to win a flag. Who knows for Lance Franklin if he will achieve a flag with the Swans if they cannot get the win this Saturday either.
Norm Smith: Patrick Dangerfield.
After two COVID-impacted seasons, the Grand Final finally returns to where it traditionally and truly belongs, the MCG. Victorians have hungered to be back at the last day in September desperately. Finally, this weekend they get their chance.
So, sit back and enjoy what will be without a doubt, one of the all-time classic Grand Finals as another chapter in history will be written.
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