Emotionalists,
Well, how about that then?
Just as predicted, they really did it for the McVeigh's!
Nice one.
The Geelong record aka longest winning streak at home at 29 games stomped on, not to mention Sydney's first win at the House of Pain in 12 years.
Without doubt a landmark victory that was worth much more than the mere premiership points.
The Goodes Train busted them wide open in the mid-field, with Rhino and Bolton, J. on assist as the rovers working off Mummy as he smashed them to bits in the hit outs, while In Like McGlynn did some strong work in front of goal as did Rick Shaw, with the youngsters Parker and Reid to finish off, along with The Rohan Kiddie.
A case of the "Best" in the scorebox in the Sunday morning fishwraps could have easily read "All Played Well".
It was touching to see The Train cry as he came off the field; he would have really felt for his mate Oddhead, but would have also been overcome by the fact that he'd been to Kardinia Park year in year out for so many years and never got any satisfaction from it, and now, at long last, there was something worthwhile in the trip.
Swans took the opportunity on offer, and went for it.
You could of course take the cynical view that there was a whiff of tanking going on with regards to the Geelong performance.
Unlikely given that maintaining the ridiculous winning run at home would have held some importance for them, but the fact of the matter is that they have known for a very long time that they will comfortably finish in the top four, probably second or third, will almost certainly play their favoured opponent Hawthorn in the first week of the finals in the knowledge that a win gives them a saloon passage through to a grand final qualifier without having to play again, and therefore they didn't need to bust a gut to improve their finishing position.
For the Cats it really was a nothing game.
What's the point of playing flat out and risking injury when there's nothing in it for you?
It probably didn't happen, they "just didn't turn up to play" is the usual excuse, but there is a bit of wondering going on about it in the blogosphere.
Then there's the super-cynical view that suggests if the outcome of the game was known before it began, then the $9 on offer at the books about the Swans to win straight out would of been irresistable.
Surely not?
Well, there have been no reports of irregularities and the stewards haven't called for the betting sheets, so that one can be pretty well ruled out.
But still, there is certainly some late season ducks & drakes going on in the AFL, much more so than in the rugby league.
Perhaps it's best to call it what they describe in 10-pin bowling as "sandbagging" - doing just enough to protect your position.
Who knows?
What is known is that the Hare-Clarke Duckworth-Lewis System used in the AFL finals massively favours the top four.
It's also known that the Swans will play the Saints in the first week of the finals with the venue the only question, but whether it's here or there hardly matters, as it's almost impossible to win the flag from the bottom half of the eight.
Oddhead probably won't ask to be picked this week, and who can blame him, but watch out for the bloke on a mission in the finals.
After that performance and a pretty much on-song season, what chance The Train in a tie with Mr Judd for their third Brownlow each??
Bamfords like consistency, a level playing field, that sort of thing.
The news filtered through mid week that Tadhg "The Great Irishman" Kennelly has given the game away.
The writing was on the wall really when you can no longer be guaranteed a game in the firsts
Probably played on a year too long, but you'd happily give him that.
An ornament to the game who had a glittering career, and a fiercely loyal clubman who will long be remembered.
After all, there's not many who can retire with both an AFL Premiership and an All Ireland Championship to their credit.
GEELONG: 2.5, 5.7, 8.10, 12.14 (86). Goals: Ling 3, Bartel 2, Menzel, Wojcinski, Stokes, Byrnes, Johnson, Varcoe, West.
SYDNEY: 3.1, 7.5, 10.9, 15.9 (99). Goals: Rohan 2, J Bolton 2, Parker 2, Reid 2, Goodes, McGlynn, Meredith, J. Kennedy, White, Spangher, Mumford.
At Kardinia Park.
Crowd: 25,900.
Ducked into the Front Bar at The Local just in time to catch up with the Good Lady Wife as she walked home from the train from the office.
Noticed that the Brown Brothers were entirely absent on a quiet Monday night, but The Philospher was in, nursing a glass of this week's House Red special, a cheeky Barossa Valley shiraz.
Strangely, the biggest screen in the pub is in the Bistro, so we moved to a front row table and they were kind enough to serve us plates and bowls of noodles as we happily watched the Mighty Tiges whipsaw the hapless Titans.
How long has it been now since the Farah/Marshall Show caught fire?
The purple patch has now extended out to seven undefeated weeks, so it's got to be a couple of weeks longer than that.
In his best ever season, Benji on the burst is right out of the box.
It's not much of a stretch of the imagination to suggest that he just might be the most spectacular player in any football code world wide.
It's a big call, but the trade marked jink, the step, the weave are of course, plain genius.
But he also showed in this game his tremendous speed over 10-15 metres from an almost standing start, not to mention his well known ability and agility to throw the dummy in a way in which most players think he wouldn't throw the dummy.
It makes him one of the most lethal finishers in the caper; doesn't matter whether he passes, kicks, or palms it off, or scores himself, the bloke is undoubtedly at the height of his career.
It also helps that his paradoxically poor goal kicking has improved out of sight in recent weeks
As The Stats Guru pointed out: after one try, two try assists, four line breaks, eight tackle busts, four goals and 187 run metres in attack, it was little wonder that SC Sheens benched Benji for a well deservered rest with 12 minutes left in the match and didn't use him again with the result already well beyond doubt.
"thanks mate. that'll do for tonight".
Deserves the pinnacle of another premiership, if anyone does, if only for his loyal service.
The Best Leb In The Game is also having a landmark season, and relishes being Marshall's partner in crime.
Robbie can read Benji like a book, and visa versa.
Forwards are playing as well as any pack in the league.
Steely in defence and making plenty of yards in attack while laying the platform for the backs to do their thing.
Although most people don't see it, Balmain's third marquee player is That Pom Ellis - and his wage is now comparable to the other two, after signing his new contract - a genuine old school hardman who stamps his authority on the game and dominates the tough stuff all around the park.
Said it before, say it again, Gareth...worth his weight in gold.
As we left the pub through the Front Bar after the on field full-time interviews, The Philospher fixed me with his beady eye and said "The publican has mucked around with the abacus out the back. He says that's enough for top four. In the bag".
And so it came to pass.
The McIntyre Finals System is rather more convoluted than the system used in the AFL - but it's very good in that it tends to favour teams coming into the finals with good recent form and therefore ladder position.
Sandbagging is not rewarded.
In the Mcintyre, the scheduling of the first week of the finals is crucial so no one knows that they really have to win, or can cop a loss, to get through to the next week.
It must be played in the exact order of 4 vs 5, 3 vs 6, 2 vs 7, 1 vs 8.
So, after they easily put away the Sharks in the final round of home and away this week, the Tiges will meet the Cowboys in Week 1 of the finals, most likely at home [with three home grounds to choose from, they'll no doubt take the SFS and put in 30,000+].
It's oh so freakingly similar to the Miracle of '05, when they also had a late season purple patch, and then just kept on winning all the way to the flag.
However, as SC Sheens would no doubt be quick to point out, optimism is a good thing, but counting your chickens is not
WESTS TIGERS 39. Tries: Ayshford, Heighington, Marshall, Moltzen, Ryan, Tuqiri, Utai. Goals: Marshall (4), Brown (1). Field Goals: Farah (1)
GOLD COAST TITANS 10. Tries: Mead, M.Minichiello. Goals: Campbell (1).
At Campbelltown Sports Ground.
Crowd: 14,378.
