For football purists, the best weekend is preliminary final weekend, the people’s finals. A bit like Derby Day, the best day of racing is the prelude to the Melbourne Cup.
As an MCC Restricted member, the preliminary final is the weekend I always look forward to. Unable to attend the grand final, I make maximum value of my membership and attend all the MCG finals, often as a neutral observer.Preliminary finals are the best four teams battling it out with everything to gain. This is desperation stakes day; if you want to dance at the big show you must win the prelim.
But this year I am totally and completely invested.
This year my Swans would joust with Geelong at football’s Cathedral of Sport: the winner is one step closer to premiership glory, the loser prepares for Mad Monday.
I take my pre-game position in the Frank Grey Smith Bar, my favourite bar and enjoy a few pots to settle the nerves and engage in optimistic preamble with my neutral mates, one of whom is wearing an Arsenal scarf for my emotional support. Not sure it helps as he knows I barrack for their arch rivals Tottenham but the gesture of red and white is appreciated.
Swans are first out onto the ground, a portent for events to follow. Geelong finally take their place, we sing the national anthem, handshakes, toss of the coin.
Fifteen minutes later: game over!
The Swans start the game with a frantic energy, like chipmunks on coffee, first to the ball, first to the contest, first to score with a hunger that makes Geelong appear they’ve had too much to eat pre-game. The Cats have no energy.
I pick up the pace in Frank Grey Smith’s fine establishment and order pints.
The Swans kick seven first quarter goals, a huge headstart for a finals game. But sport can be cruel, anything can happen, three quarters left to play and Aliir has gone down with a knee injury. Remarkable how he has become a solid pillar in our back six in a matter of weeks.
It’s time for me to get into the game. I move down to ground level and take a standing room position in front of a few crusty Geelong supporters and a smattering of neutrals.
Carn Dees, yells one, followed by a Go Blues and another thanks Geelong for beating Hawthorn. I enjoy happy football banter, and it’s only quarter time.
The start of the second quarter follows a similar path to the first. I nervously pace like an expectant father, an emotional wreck, unable to do a damn thing but watch and wait.
Geelong are starting to dominate possessions and inside 50s but unable to capitalise on the scoreboard, the Swans magnificent six are impenetrable. Geelong’s forward structure is not working, Motlop feels the effect of being Buddy rolled, Hawkins has become a member of one direction and the Henderson plan is not working.
At half time I chat with an Eagles supporter from WA, a Melbourne supporter and a couple of Bluebaggers. I love how the preliminary finals bring the collective MCC tribes together.
Second half starts and yet it seems the game only begins, although to most neutral supporters it is already over.
Geelong fights back courageously but the Swans back six repel any movement into their zone. Harry Taylor swings forward and immediately kicks three goals to give Cat hearts a pulse. His fightback quickens the heartrate of us Swans supporters, but it is too little too late and a case of too few.
The last quarter is about to commence and while we hold a solid lead, the modern game can turn a big lead into a small margin very quickly. I confer with my standing room brainstrust and they are sure the Swans will canter in. My mate with the Arsenal scarf considers it prudent to catch an early train home; a few Geelong supporters felt the same.
Nobody wants to be the team that loses from a 40 point lead. Just ask Essendon. While looking solid and able to counter what the Cats just throw at us in the third, and while logic tells me we can hang on, my own heart isn’t sure, beating at a pace comparable to our first quarter effort.
The last quarter is a tense, low-scoring affair, 1.2 for Geelong and 1.3 for the Swans.
The siren is often the signal to let out all those pent up emotions. I am emotionally exhausted. I can only watch others around me jump up and celebrate. I soak it all in, how green the grass is, the red and white fans in jubilation, the song sung with conviction and optimism, fans hugging strangers.
I also witness Cats supporters, who have expected so much more. I watch the Geelong players, emotionally and physically spent, leaving the ground, some for the last time perhaps.
In a game with five All Australian midfielders, “Dangerwood” racked up 78 possessions but the fleet of foot and desire of the Swans midfield tore the Cats up in the first quarter. Geelong lacked the midfield depth, lacked conversion inside the 50 and their backline, while serviceable could not sustain the relentless pressure.
The Swans had contributors across the board; it was the sort of Bloods performance we love, hungry and relentless.
Footy challenges our emotions, often several times in the one game. The preliminary final, Friday night at the MCG, the MCC Reserve buzzing and your team winning, delivers a great feeling, if only for a week.
Let’s do it all again this Saturday.
Bio: A keen observer of all things sport, Swans tragic David Parker dabbles in making sporting documentaries and is web editor for www.footyalmanac.com.au
Match Summary
GEELONG CATS 0.5 2.8 7.10 8.12 (60)
SYDNEY SWANS 7.2 11.3 14.4 15.7 (97)
GOALS
Geelong: Taylor 2, Hawkins, Bartel, Selwood, Caddy, Dangerfield, Stanley
Sydney Swans: Papley 3, Parker 2, Tippett 2, Franklin 2, Rohan 2, McGlynn, Heeney, Richards, Naismith
BEST
Geelong: Dangerfield, Selwood, Bartel, Taylor, Duncan
Sydney Swans: Heeney, Mitchell, Rampe, Hannebery, Franklin, Grundy, Papley
Geelong Cats: Taylor (hand)
Sydney Swans: Allir (knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Stevic, Jeffrey
Official crowd: 71,772 at the MCG