MY heart rate would be much lower this week if I was a neutral heading into today’s AFL Grand Final.
Instead, as a Geelong fan, things can go one of two ways – either basking in a victory as favourites or quite possibly being shattered to the point of no recovery.
I’m well aware most people don’t want Geelong to win the AFL premiership. Sure, that frustrates me as an avid Cats fan (and sixth generation, as I recently found out) but I get it.
It’s also funny how tribal things can get when it comes to supporting. You find yourself referring to the team you support as ‘us’ and ‘we’. Even though you haven’t laid a single tackle or touched one blade of grass in the pursuit of a premiership.
Today also leaves me in a predicament considering fellow Red Cliffs Football and Netball Club alum Dylan Stephens will be plying his trade for the Swans.
I’m in a bit of a pickle because it would be amazing to see “Dewey” win, and knowing his parents Rob and Ollie, how much it would mean to them.
Still, I hope it’s not at the expense of my own team.
I haven’t had the chance to attend an AFL Grand Final as yet, my older brother gets that opportunity today, but I can only imagine being in that atmosphere on the biggest day of the footy calendar.
Preliminary finals, however, just seem to have that bit more about them. With less corporate influence they are the people’s finals for a reason.
I was lucky enough to be there last Friday when Geelong beat Brisbane, although it’s probably raised more questions than answered from my own perspective.
It was an enjoyable game from our point of view, perhaps boring for the neutrals. And I’m glad the music between goals has been told to take a hike.
Sure it wasn’t jam packed, but the MCG still being 77,000 people strong is a sight to behold. The slow walk back afterwards while hip and shouldering the throngs of supporters is something special. When you win that is. After losing it’s a horrible place to be.
What is the better preparation for a grand final? A tight and energy sapping contests that gives you some momentum in close games? Or a runaway win to keep you fresh, but it’s less time stuck in a real arm wrestle?
Considering most of our side are closing on on their seniors cards maybe the way we went in was ideal. And it’s also going to come down to who handles the occasion better. If Sydney aren’t overawed and they can use their blistering counter attacks, they will give the Cats plenty of headaches.
I hope for our sake (see, there we go again) our experience and game plan can see us through, but you never know what’s going to happen on grand final day.
And I think that’s part of the magic we all enjoy.
