AFL Grand Final: Tom Hawkins set tone for Cats’ brilliant premiership
After a decade of being so close but so far, Geelong was never going to fall short after Tom Hawkins set the tone with an early display of raw power and tactical genius.
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It was the blunt-force trauma that kickstarted a grand final avalanche and launched a thousand Geelong fairytales.
It was the raw power that made the best ruckman of the finals series look like a fool.
For Geelong it was the utterly predictable tactic that still proved totally unstoppable for its hapless opponent.
Before the slaughter, before the grand final rout, there was Tom Hawkins versus Tom Hickey at a pair of first-quarter boundary-line throw-ins.
And it wasn’t even a fair fight.
SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP ALL THE NEWS, ACTION OF GRAND FINAL DAY
Hawkins’ dominance with those two scene-setting goals from ruck contests encapsulated Geelong’s sheer dominance after a decade of near misses.
His story mirrored that of Geelong, of a brutal take-down of an opponent that knew exactly what was about to happen but couldn’t do a damned thing to combat the tactical and physical battering.
That was Hawkins and Geelong in the first quarter, the brilliant 34-year-old encapsulating the club’s dominant early display before easing to a three-goal afternoon in a Grand Final demolition.
The 34-year-old Hawkins and his “Dads Army” teammates defied age, defied the finals chokers tag, defied the critics who said Melbourne was on its way to a dynasty and Geelong was old broken-down news.
Just as ageing rocker Robbie Williams had mixed his greatest hits with something new and wonderful, so too was Hawkins thrilling the crowd at the grand old age of 34.
Eleven years after Hawkins dominated in the 2011 grand final as his breakout party, he was bridging the gap to a new side that had learned from all those recent finals mistakes.
“I have done a lot of work on that aspect of the game, which I love being able to do,” Hawkins told the Herald Sun amid the euphoria of the Geelong changerooms.
“Teammates gave me space and the ball fell my way a bit. Tommy is a great ruckman and great with his craft and I was able to get a little bit of space. I don’t think they were necessarily clean off the boot but they went through.
“It was a great start to the game. We wanted to start well against a side which is brilliant when they get their game up and going.
“I have always had the licence to have a go at winning the ball, it’s the luxury the coaches and players let me do.”
His teammate Tom Atkins was hovering close by for that first hitout and was perfectly poised to receive the handball receive from Hawkins gather that never came.
“Yeah, I was in good position and he normally gives them off, but I am glad he kicked it. He did it again 10 minutes later so maybe if he had given it he wouldn’t have kicked the next one,” said Atkins.
“Experience, you can’t buy it. People say we are too old but that’s a guy who has played 300 games grasping the moment and putting us on his shoulders.”
For four-club veteran Hickey this wasn’t a back-street ambush, it was daylight robbery in front of 100,024 fans as Hawkins kicked the game’s first goal.
Hawkins nudged Hickey under the ball as they grappled nine minutes into the game and let go at the perfect moment, kicking a glorious snap as he tumbled to ground.
Then Hawkins did it again five minutes later.
This time on the other side of goal, sending Hickey sprawling from another ruck contest with enough time to balance up and kick a perfect checkside goal.
The grand final was only 15 minutes old and yet with Sydney gasping for breath and Geelong having found its equilibrium, the game was effectively over.
How many times must Hickey have watched vision of Hawkins’ most predictable move at forward 50 ruck stoppages this week?
And yet on the biggest stage of all, like everything Geelong does, it was easy to know what was coming and impossible to stop any of it.
Hawkins said post-match the club wanted to take risks; didn’t want to go down wondering why they hadn’t expended every bit of energy after so many failed chances before.
“We used an analogy of swimming between the flags in waist-deep water,” Hawkins said post-match.
“We didn’t want to do that. We wanted to go in the deep end, where it was dangerous, and play dangerous footy and that’s what we did. We know our game when we get it’s as good as any in the competition. It’s footy at its purest and we have made some magical football.
“It was the analogy of going out there to attack the game. Play our best football. We didn’t wait around in waist-deep water today, we were in the deep stuff.”
The Cats’ 30-plus players in that first stanza?
Hawkins and Selwood, best mates and resident AFL superstars, both totally dominant as the skipper racked up a dozen first-term touches.
Isaac Smith, Patrick Dangerfield and Mark Blicavs all surging up and down the MCG as the ex-Hawks wingman would eventually roll to the Norm Smith Medal.
Perennial whipping boys Gary Rohan and Rhys Stanley fulfilling their roles just as their constant supporter in Chris Scott has asked of them through years of nurturing and support.
Hawkins has had more dominant days and even better four-quarter grand final performance, but surely has never put a more emphatic early stamp on a game with so much on the line.
CATS SMASH PREMIERSHIP JINX
– Marc McGowan
Geelong has finally smashed down the door.
Eleven years after the Cats won their ninth VFL-AFL premiership – and having lost five preliminary finals and a grand final since – they deservedly added a 10th at the MCG on Saturday.
Hounded for their repeated slow starts in crucial finals defeats under Chris Scott, Geelong fittingly put Sydney to the sword in 30 minutes of scintillating football.
A dream six-goal opening term earned the Cats a 35-point buffer that the outmatched Swans never recovered from despite briefly showing some fight in the second quarter.
The Cats’ 16th straight triumph was by 81 points, with Isaac Smith starring with 32 disposals and three goals – two in the first quarter – as he won a fourth flag to go with his three at Hawthorn.
The victory delivers a second flag for Scott and erases the only meaningful hole in all-time great Patrick Dangerfield’s career.
Dangerfield was brilliant again after a best-on-ground display last week, while fellow stalwarts Tom Hawkins and Joel Selwood joined Smith as the fire-starters.
MARC McGOWAN’S GRAND FINAL VOTES
3. Isaac Smith: A deserving Norm Smith medallist, evergreen Smith’s late-career switch to Geelong was vindicated with arguably the best game of his life.
2. Patrick Dangerfield: The numbers say it all about Danger’s do-it-all game: 27 disposals, 13 score involvements, nine clearances, seven inside-50s.
1. Joel Selwood: Captain Courageous amassed 12 touches – four more than anyone else – when the match was won in the first quarter.
SELWOOD: ‘IT’S COMING HOME’
Joel Selwood says the premiership cup is returning to its rightful home at Kardinia Park.
The Cats skipper claimed his fourth flag, adding the 2023 triumph to his grand final wins in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
“To my teammates and the club, everyone involved in it, not just this year but the years that have gone by, I hope you’re sitting back proud. They’re a hell of a group,” Selwood said.
“And to our 72-plus thousand members, we can’t thank you enough and jump back on board. These boys are so special.
“It’s coming home! Back where it belongs!”
ISAAC ‘NORM’ SMITH WINS GF MEDAL
Isaac Smith has won the Norm Smith Medal, voted the best player in Geelong’s huge win over Sydney in the 2022 AFL grand final.
The 33-year-old was dynamic in his fourth premiership win – and first as a Cat – after featuring in three grand final triumphs at Hawthorn.
“To the Swans, I have nothing but respect and admiration. You’re an unbelievable football club led by Horse and (Tom Harley), so commiserations today,” Smith said.
“To our boys, unbelievable. I’m still in a little bit of shock. It was a phenomenal performance. Thank you to all our support staff and coaches.”
Smith was electric when the whips were cracking early, booting three goals, snaring 12 marks and collecting 32 disposals, the most on the ground in Geelong’s 81-point demolition of the Swans.
The Norm Smith Medal voting panel consisted of Andrew McLeod, Jonathon Brown, Abbey Holmes, Michael Gleeson and David Mundy.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS HAD A GOOD DAY
Australia: I love you. Thank you so much for today x @AFL@DeltaGoodrempic.twitter.com/Kx2rC3EBd7
— Robbie Williams (@robbiewilliams) September 24, 2022
SELWOOD: WE DESERVED IT
Joel Selwood now has four premierships, and he played a starring role today with a late goal capping off a 26-disposal performance.
“They’re so hard to win,” he said on Channel 7.
“They’re so hard to win. Every side says it, but I think we deserved one. Just been bashing away. We don’t apologise to being up there, having a crack at it each year.
“We had a few miss outs today too, which you really feel sorry for. There has been a lot of good people (in the program). I hope they’re sitting back really proud today.”
GAME OVER! CATS WIN
Geelong has won its 10th VFL-AFL premiership with an 81-point smashing of Sydney.
Superstar Patrick Dangerfield tells Channel 7: “This is Everest.”
The Cats are PREMIERS! ðŸ†ðŸ’™ðŸ¤ pic.twitter.com/HXBVs7V2NJ
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 24, 2022
VICTORIA POLICE TROLLS SWANS
Ouch.
The margin has blown out to 81 points, the equal-fifth highest margin in a grand final.
BIGGEST WINNING GF MARGINS
2007: Geelong 119
1988: Hawthorn 96
2019: Richmond 89
1983: Hawthorn 83
1980: Richmond 81
1994: West Coast 80
We're preparing to assist @nswpolice in the search for 22 missing swans, last seen wearing red and white at around 2:30pm in the Melbourne area 🦢 #AFLCatsSwans
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) September 24, 2022
CATS’ SUPER SUB!
Brandan Parfitt joins the first touch in a grand final after being subbed on, first goal club.
Cam Guthrie was subbed off halfway through the final quarter and replaced by Parfitt - and amazingly seconds later he bobbed up in the goalsquare to boot Geelong’s 17th goal of the grand final.
Brandan Parfitt comes on and makes an impact as the sub!#AFLGFpic.twitter.com/vd5uwVTkxE
— AFL (@AFL) September 24, 2022
FULL HOUSE AT THE G
The official attendance for the grand final is 100,024.
WHO WINS THE NORM SMITH?
Smith, Dangerfield, Hawkins – or someone else?
Geelong players are about 40 minutes from receiving premiership medals and there are three clear frontrunners for the Norm Smith Medal.
Closing on his fourth premiership after three with Hawthorn, Smith has three goals and leads all comers with 25 disposals.
Dangerfield’s contested work has been incredible and he has recorded 21 disposals, four tackles and eight clearances with a quarter to play.
Hawkins’ odds are drifting due to behinds but he has 3.3 from 12 disposals.
The bolter is Tyson Stengle, who could complete the ultimate redemption story by being named best on ground.
Stengle has booted four goals including an incredible snap which stretched the margin to 72 points late in the third term.
THREE-QUARTER TIME: HOW FAR GEELONG?
Clear some space in the trophy cabinet down at Kardinia Park, Geelong is on its way to its 10th VFL-AFL premiership.
Cats are ðŸ #AFLGF live: https://t.co/MQdyW3SqW8pic.twitter.com/fL3lJJvvtL
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 24, 2022
Tale of the tape:
1:40 – BALL! Mitch Duncan lays a crunching tackle on an unsuspecting Swan and kicks truly from 20m. 68-26
3:42 – A shocking switch Tom McCartin is swooped on by Brad Close, who snaps the set shot through to take the biggest lead of the match. 74-26
5:25 – Norm… Smith? Isaac Smith unloads from long range to bring up the 33-year-old’s third of the match. Been sublime after a quiet one in the prelim. 80-26
11:53 – Another holding the ball free kick, Cam Guthrie this time, and he converts. Starting to get real ugly now. 86-27
17:43 – An open Tyson Stengle snaps it through from 30m. Three goals in a grand final at his third club. 93-27
20:54 – Take a bow, Tyson. Stengle makes it four with an incredible set-shot snap from 40m out on the boundary. Making a late charge for the Norm. 99-27
BUDDY’S GRAND FINAL NIGHTMARE
It hasn’t been the grand final Sydney fans or Lance Franklin were hoping for.
The megastar has barely had a sniff, recording just two kicks until late in the third quarter, one of them a running shot on goal that missed to the left.
The Swans have had limited opportunities inside 50 but it’s a huge win for his opponent Jack Henry.
Geelong is on its way to grand final glory with the margin blowing out to more than 11 goals. Tyson Stengle has booted two this term to make it four for the match.
SWAN SUBBED
Sydney has pulled the pin on Sam Reid’s day early in the second half.
Reid went down into the rooms just before the main break but emerged with the team after halftime.
But he only lasted a minute or two before the Swans made the call to activate medical sub Braeden Campbell.
The Swans are staring down the barrel after Geelong kicked the opening three goals of the second half, the second after a horror mistake by Tom McCartin who kicked the ball across goal only to be picked off by Brad Close.
SEVEN’S GRAND FINAL STREAMING FAIL
Footy fans have voiced their outrage after discovering the grand final wasn’t streaming on 7 Plus.
Instead of the biggest game of the year, 7 Plus was showing The Best of Border and Police Force.
Channel 7 issued a statement on social media: “We are aware that some users are experiencing technical difficulties accessing the Grand Final on 7plus via Android TV.
We are currently investigating and hope to have an update very soon.
We apologise for the inconvenience.”
Hey @AFL, @7AFL how is it that there is no way to stream the grand final? Am I missing something? I don't care if I have to watch ads or pay for it, I just don't have a TV because I'm not 50 #AFLGrandFinal#Bloods
— rossardenðŸŽ—ï¸ (@smallruraltown) September 23, 2022
One of these Border Force officers is a lock for the Norm Smith today #AFLGF
— Adam Bagnall (@adsy2586) September 24, 2022
FANS ROAST HALFTIME ENTERTAINMENT
The halftime entertainment of Goanna and Temper Trap hasn’t gone down as well as pre-match superstar Robbie Williams.
Some viewers loved Goanna’s rendition of their hit Solid Rock, but others were less complimentary on social media.
THAT’S IT! I never thought I’d say this. Bring back Meatloaf. #AFLGF
— Amber (@xplentyofpeachx) September 24, 2022
This half time entertainment is an absolute joke. @AFL lift your game!! #AFLGF
— Jack Ibrahim (@Jack200285) September 24, 2022
HALFTIME: CATS IN BOX SEAT
Sydney lifted in the second term but Geelong was still able to extend its lead, booting 3.3 to 3.2 for the quarter.
HOT AND NOT: SAM LANDERBERGER’S HALFTIME RATINGS
HT - The Cats take a strong lead into the main break. #AFLGF live: https://t.co/MQdyW3SqW8pic.twitter.com/4l7QYtP83q
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 24, 2022
Tale of the tape:
4:29 – Another defensive turnover from the Swans and feel-good story Tyson Stengle salutes from 50m for his 50th goal of the season. What a recruit. 47-7
9:03 – One-handed grab and goal from Hayden McLean – not a bad way to get your first disposal. Much-needed for the Swans. 49-13
16:11 – Tom Hawkins receives a fortunate free for a hold and nails his third from 40m. Has his kicking boots on today. 55-13
19:07 – A ripping play from Chad Warner up the wing gets it to Callum Mills. And the skipper launches from long range when his team needed it most. 55-19
20:53 – Tyson Stengle makes it two in the second term, with another set shot from the arc. And he celebrates accordingly. 61-19
26:04 – Isaac Heeney hadn’t touched the ball until halfway through the second term, and his set shot sneaks in after a pass from Hayden McLean. 62-26
SHOULD SAM REID BE OUT THERE?
Sam Reid entered the match under an injury cloud and appears to be battling.
The Swans opted to take Reid into the game while dropping young key forward Logan McDonald.
Hawthorn and Brisbane champion Luke Hodge flagged Reid’s fitness in the second term and he went down to the rooms after heading to the interchange bench just before halftime.
“He’s hobbling at the moment,” Hodge said. “Didn’t want that ball to come to him.”
You’d be proper filthy being Logan McDonald. Sam Reid has provided nothing and looks ready to be subbed.
— James McKern (@jLmcKern) September 24, 2022
Nightmare gamble from the Swans. #AFLGF
Longmire thinks a 20% fit Reid is better than McDonald. Come home Logan. #AFLGF
— mjso (@mjso3) September 24, 2022
WHERE’S ISAAC?
Ten minutes into the second quarter Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney is yet to record a disposal.
His only stat is a tackle.
The only other players without aa disposal are medical subs Brandan Parfitt and Braeden Campbell, who are both still sitting on the bench.
Hayden McLean kicked Sydney’s second goal at the nine-minute mark to cancel out Tyson Stengle’s 50th goal of the season early in the quarter which pushed the margin beyond 40 points.
UPDATE: Heeney records his first kick late in the second quarter after winning a free kick for holding the ball deep in Sydney’s defensive 50.
Sydney needs him in the midfield https://t.co/xW7aQ1Nr8m
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) September 24, 2022
QUARTER-TIME: ALL GEELONG EARLY
Geelong has made an almost perfect start to the grand final.
Well... 😳
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 24, 2022
Can the Swans respond?#AFLGF live: https://t.co/MQdyW3SqW8pic.twitter.com/VLXjKGDryD
Tale of the tape
9:10 – Word has it Tom Hawkins goes all right in forward 50 ruck contests. Snap across the body from 15m for the opening goal. Cats lead 7-0
14:43 – Would you believe it, another Tom Hawkins goal out of the ruck. This time, a banana from 30m swatting off Tom Hickey 13-0
16:25 – Two Cats fly and Will Hayward pounces on the loose ball to slot the Swans’ first. 13-6
18:09 – Mr Fix It Mark Blicavs bends home the Cats’ third on the left from a set shot after a sizzling pass inside 50 from Patrick Dangerfield. 19-6
19:22 – A deft tap out of congestion finds Isaac Smith in space and he snaps it through. Cats right on top. 25-6
21:38 – Isaac Smith again! Joel Selwood fires out a handball to the runner who has his second in a matter of minutes. 31-6
26:49 – It wasn’t pretty, but the set shot sails through for Brad Close from 30m. Swans are being blown out of the water. 38-6
CATS HAVE SIX!
Geelong has hit the ground running in the grand final with a blistering opening burst.
The Cats have kicked six goals in the opening term to Sydney’s one and are dominating every statistical category.
With two minutes left in the first quarter Geelong leads inside-50s 20-8, disposals 103-59, contested possessions 44-24, uncontested possessions 66-27.
Lance Franklin has one disposal and Isaac Heeney is yet to record a stat.
AMERICAN PIE WHACKS SWANS BACKMEN
Mason Cox is watching the grand final closely, and he wasn’t impressed by how easily Tom Hawkins kicked his second goal after taking the ball from a boundary throw-in.
Most embarrassing thing as a ruck is to be pushed under in F50 and they kick a goal. Hawkins has done that twice now. 😳
— Mason Cox (@masonsixtencox) September 24, 2022
TOMAHAWK ON FIRE EARLY
Geelong has made a strong start to the 2022 grand final.
Tom Hawkins has kicked the first two goals of the game and after 14 minutes he is responsible for the entire Cats’ score with two goals and a behind. Will Hayward kicked the Swans’ opening goal.
The Swans have elected to tag Tom Stewart with John Longmire sending stopper Ryan Clarke to Geelong’s star defender.
Tomahawk slots the first of the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final 😻#ColesGoals | #AFLGFpic.twitter.com/JnT21Gh8oB
— AFL (@AFL) September 24, 2022
SELWOOD AND ABLETT IN TOUCHING MOMENT
Geelong captain Joel Selwood had a special companion when he ran through the Cats’ grand final banner – Levi Ablett.
The three-year old Levi was diagnosed with a rare degenerative illness at birth that Ablett Jr and partner Jordan have previously described as having a “very short life expectancy.”
Ablett Jr, one of Geelong’s greatest players, was waiting on the boundary line when the Cats came up the race and handed Levi to Selwood, who carried him through the banner in a tear-jerking moment.
You'd need a heart of stone not to be moved by Joel Selwood carrying Levi Ablett through the banner.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) September 24, 2022
ROBBIE WILLIAMS’ TRIBUTE TO WARNIE
Music superstar Robbie Williams was joined by a packed MCG in a stirring rendition of his mega hit Angels in tribute to the late Shane Warne.
Williams, the star act of this year’s AFL Grand Final, dedicated the ballad to Warne, who had the Southern Stand at the MCG named in his honour after his death in March.
Two of Warne’s children Jackson and Brooke were pictured watching Williams’ performance in the stand.
Williams, a friend of Warne’s, provided a tribute which featured at Warne’s public memorial earlier this year.
Williams today dedicated the song to “one of Australia’s biggest rock stars, Shane Warne”.
Earlier this year he told the ABC: “I don’t think words do death justice, and words could never do the passing away of such an icon justice.
“I won’t even attempt them, but I will say this, and I mean this with a 1000 per cent sincerity.
“There is a lot of tribalism in sports, it is what it is all about. Seldom does somebody transcend their sport and transcend that tribalism because it’s genetically encoded in us to hate the other lot.”
Williams also sung You’re the Voice and dedicated the track to John Farham and performed his hit Kids with Delta Goodrem.
This one's for Warnie â¤ï¸#TelstraPreMatch | #AFLGFpic.twitter.com/FqPOfY5cWU
— AFL (@AFL) September 24, 2022
Better than Meatloaf so far. #AFLGF
— Andrew (@wombat1974) September 24, 2022
He's a bloody genius. Robbie ðŸ˜#AFLGF
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) September 24, 2022
This is worth every single dollar the AFL spent!! #AFLGF
— Jack Heverin (@JackHeverin) September 24, 2022
It’s going off. #aflpic.twitter.com/9G26cZNpPi
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) September 24, 2022
FINAL TEAMS: CATS, SWANS CONFIRM GF LINE-UPS
Geelong’s official team sheet has confirmed the news that Max Holmes is out of the team selected on Thursday night, replaced by Mark O’Connor. Brandan Parfitt is the medical sub.
Cats football manager Simon Lloyd said: “As a club we decided the risk was too great to play Max today. Max has done a remarkable job in preparing all week and ticked the boxes required on Friday morning, however in a Grand Final the risk was deemed too great when we are in the fortunate position of having a number of other players available who can come into the team.”
Sydney will go in unchanged, confirming Sam Reid (adductor) will play after being under an injury cloud following an injury in the preliminary final.
The Swans medical sub is Braeden Campbell.
Captain Joel Selwood will start on the bench for Geelong alongside Tom Atkins, Zach Tuohy and Zac Guthrie.
The Swans’ starting bench is Chad Warner, Hayden McLean, Errol Gulden and Paddy McCartin.
TIGER TIME ON GF DAY
Richmond’s mens team was knocked out in an elimination final but the Tigers have scored a couple of wins on grand final day.
Speedster Hugo Ralphsmith won the annual grand final sprint and the Tigers have pulled off a huge upset in the AFLW clash at Punt Rd, toppling the previously undefeated Brisbane Lions.
Read all about the nailbiting win here.
CATS NAME FINAL 22 AND SUB AFTER BRUTAL LATE OUT
Max Holmes is officially out of the Geelong side for the Grand Final with Mark O’Connor to take his place and Brandan Parfitt to be named the Cats medi-sub.
Geelong assistant coach Shaun Grigg confirmed ahead of the 1.30pm lodgement of final teams that Holmes would not be risked by the Cats.
Holmes had ticked off his rehab program at a Friday fitness test but the Cats believed it was not worth the risk given he could break down with the same hamstring concern that saw him miss the latter stages of the preliminary final.
It will be a heartbreaking decision if the Cats win the Grand Final after the second-year player believed he had proved his fitness on Friday.
CATS MAKE TOUGH CALL ON HOLMES
Geelong coach Chris Scott made the tough call to leave youngster Max Holmes out of the Grand Final yesterday afternoon.
It’s understood Holmes was able to move at 100 per cent during a secret training session on Friday morning and was confident he’d recovered from a hamstring injury suffered in the preliminary final win over Brisbane.
But Scott clearly didn’t want to take any risks into the game and instead made the brutal early call following Friday’s Grand Final parade, which Holmes took part in.
Either Brandan Parfitt or Mark O’Connor, who has been the medi-sub for the Cats’ two finals, will come into the team.
Holmes, 20, has been a key part of the Cats rise up the ladder before he went down with a hamstring problem in the third quarter of the preliminary final.
With Holmes out of the team Parfitt has been told he will be part of the club’s 23 but is yet to be informed if he is in the 22 or will be used as the medi-sub.
The Cats have been aware for most of the back-half of Grand Final week that they were not prepared to take a risk on an underdone Holmes.
Even with a neural hamstring issue there is still a possibility it would fail him again early in a Grand Final.
But he needed a chance to be prove his fitness, with Parfitt to be preferred to wingman Sam Menegola.
Parfitt’s contested game will hold him in good stead against Sydney, given he is an elite inside ball winner.
He has not played for 35 days given the club’s VFL side was not part of the finals, but Geelong has played a scratch match against the Footscray VFL side and been in heavy match simulation.
This will be the last AFL grand final with the current medi-sub format with the AFL committing to a review of the sub rule.
The AFL Doctors Association has sought assurances from the league that it will change a rule that puts massive pressure on club doctors to sub out players with border-line or minor injuries.
ALBO CHEEKILY ROASTS GILLON McLACHLAN
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cheekily roasted AFL boss Gillon McLachlan at this morning’s North Melbourne Grand Final breakfast.
Albo must have been watching the Brownlow on Sunday night, where McLachlan struggled to pronounced the surname of Melbourne gun Christian Petracca.
Petracca was caught on the coverage appearing to exclaim “it’s Petracca for f***s sake” .
And Albo didn’t miss McLachlan this morning.
“I’m glad that you didn’t have to do the honours introducing me today, I understand from Christian Petracca that you have a few problems with the Italian surnames,” Albanese said.
McLachlan enjoyed the gag, which must have encouraged the Prime Minister, who went again soon after.
Turns out Albo wasn’t a fan of the new-look grand final eve parade, where players were floated on barges down the Yarra River.
“To Gill, I would say, having watched the parade on the Yarra yesterday, to quote a former Prime Minister, we do need to stop the boats,” he said.
The crowd applauded and McLachlan kept laughing.
TUOHY FAMILY’S MAD DASH TO GRAND FINAL
Lauren Wood
Zach Tuohy’s family has made a last-minute dash from Portlaoise to Melbourne to hopefully watch the Cat become just the second premiership Irishman.
The 32-year-old will play his 250th game in the Grand Final, having uprooted his life from playing Gaelic football in Ireland at the end of 2009 to play Australian rules.
His sister Naomi and her partner landed in Melbourne on Friday morning and will be at the MCG as he bids to win his first AFL flag.
“My parents didn’t get up, but my sister and my brother in law booked flights at the last minute and got in (Friday) morning, which was a good effort,” Tuohy said on Friday.
“But the support back home is pretty immense at the minute.
“The coverage around the game has grown significantly in the last couple of years, so lots of early morning coffees (for them).”
Tuohy’s sister revealed this week that the family was set to gather at the home of his parents, Noel and Marie, from around 4am onwards.
The Cat said after making such a huge lifestyle change, “it would mean everything” to claim victory.
“I’m really proud of the club that I play for, and that it keeps giving me an opportunity to win it,” he said.
“If it’s not to be, it’s not to be. But this is why we play, and to be back on the big stage again is something I’m not taking for granted.
“I also appreciate that there’s a ton of work left to do.”
FANS HIT THE MCG
– Brianna Travers
Swans supporter Nellie Cooper, 93, said she was “quietly confident” about this afternoon’s clash.
“I’m feeling quite confident, but not overconfident,” Ms Cooper said.
“If we win I’m just going to be so happy. I don’t drink alcohol so it will be a natural buzz.
“I’ll be screaming ‘Go Swans’ if the boys get up.”
Ms Cooper, a foundation member of the Swans cheer squad, is attending the game with her grand-daughter and her great-grandchildren.
She has promised to get a Sydney themed tattoo should the Swans be victorious today.
Ms Cooper already has a tribute to Sydney’s previous two premierships on her forearm.
EXPECT SURFER CAT TO BE CHILLED STANDING BUDDY
Geelong defensive young gun Sam De Koning has the backing of his teammates to go head-to-head with premiership star Swan Lance “Buddy” Franklin in the flag decider.
The 21-year-old — who recently moved to Torquay — has arguably the biggest job of all Cats come the final face-off for the season against Sydney.
But he’s just the man for the job, according to teammate Mark Blicavs, who said there was no need to offer advice to the backman who has taken some of the biggest names in the game this season.
“He’s so cruisy,” Blicavs said.
“He’s had a great year and he’s taken the best forward almost every week.
“He’ll just take their whole forwardline in his stride. He’s naturally competitive, so it’s more … the less advice you give him, the better.
“He just keeps it simple.”
If anything, Blicavs said De Koning would be anything but fazed by the prospect of the task at hand.
“He’s just a coastal surfer lad that just plays footy,” he said.
Blicavs said the Cats would be taking “a team focus” approach to their battle with the Swans’ midfielders.
“They run pretty deep in their midfield, so I think as a midfield group we’ll just go head to head with their midfield. I tend to play better when I’m on a body, but I don’t think it’ll be a specific match-up,” he said.
In a case of unfortunate timing but an incredible weekend for the Blicavs family, the Cat’s sister Sara will watch on from Sydney where she is competing for Australia in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, with both as important as each other when it comes to the respective prize.
“A Grand Final (is the one) for me and a World Cup for her,” Blicavs said.
JOEL’S LAST STAND: WILL CATS SKIPPER FINISH ON HIGH?
– Jay Clark
Inspirational Geelong captain Joel Selwood says he will have talks on his future with club chiefs after Saturday’s premiership decider.
Selwood, 34, will attempt to win his fourth premiership in the showdown against Sydney Swans and then decide next week whether to bow out on a glorious high.
The champion onballer, who will run out on to the MCG with Gary Ablett’s son Levi as part of a tribute to the Ablett family, said he played every game like it was his last.
But the 354-gamer bristled when asked directly about whether he was playing on next season at Friday’s press conference.
“Another one (reporter) trying to push me out the door, but that’s OK,” Selwood said.
“I just feel so lucky that I have been able to be in a (great) side along the journey. Forty finals it has crept up even on me.
“Right from the outset I played among a lot a good players and I play every game like it is my last. This one will just be the same.
“We will have those discussions and we will be aligned as a footy club whatever that is but there is no resting yet.
“I have got to make sure I have got a job to do.”
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