2018 SANFL Grand Final is a match for the ages
THE team that many believed should not have been in the grand final at all became the team that defied the odds to become the SANFL premiers at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
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THE team that many believed should not have been in the grand final at all became the team that defied the odds to become the SANFL premiers at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Out of the chaos of a mad week, the SANFL delivered a grand final for the ages and North Adelaide became the first team since Port Adelaide in 1998 to take the flag after emerging from the elimination final. They also became the first team since South Adelaide in 1964 to make the transition from wooden spooners to champions in 12 months. The final margin of victory was 19 points – that number again.
After all the drama of the 19th man controversy, where North played for four minutes with an extra player against the Eagles in last week’s preliminary final, the Roosters entered the game against hot favourites Norwood as underdogs, both in playing terms and in public sympathy. That they would emerge as victors by 19 points seemed a coincidence too far.
There were concerns that the controversies of the week could dilute the crowd, that the feeling that North got away with one, may undermine faith in the game itself.
Instead, the old adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity held true as 40,355 fans turned up on a sunny September Sunday afternoon to watch what became an epic battle. It was the biggest grand final crowd since 1998.
It was also North’s first premiership since 1991. The Roosters ruckman that day was Mick Redden and he said it was a relief the club had won another one after such a long wait.
“It was amazing, incredible, incredible,’’ Redden said in the rooms after the game.
“It’s a load lifted off my shoulders being a part of the last premiership team. It’s a long time, 27 years.’’
The Roosters’ fans saluted the statue of legend Barrie Robran that sits outside the southern gates, Norwood fans gathered at the bar named for its hero, Garry McIntosh.
Being a grand final, all had to suffer together through the pre-match entertainment.
This year’s feature act being aged rockers Dragon, which turned out to be a good description of their act. It’s probably best not to ponder too much about a 64-year-old lead singer belting out the band’s hit song Are You Old Enough.
But once the action started, the Roosters jumped the Redlegs and were rarely headed after that, even if the gap was never large.
Indeed, the gap between the two teams at quarter time, half time and three quarter time was exactly the same – five points.
It was a vastly entertaining game which summed up the best the SANFL has to offer. There were many mistakes but also moments of great skill, Norwood’s Anthony Wilson bending one in from the boundary line, or North’s Alex Barn’s instinctive toe poke from 20m that dribbled along the line. There were moments of class from emerging stars such as Roosters’ draft prospect Boyd Woodcock, who kicked three goals and then there was the enduring brilliance of Norwood’s dual Magarey Medallist Mitch Grigg.
Last week, the Roosters played with 19 players, on Sunday it seemed as if Norwood played most of the game with one – Grigg. The midfielder kicked six and became the first player from a losing side to win the Jack Oatey medal for best afield.
But in the end, the Roosters’ had too much determination and were much better organised than a Norwood team that was only just hanging on to the Roosters’ coat tails. And they managed to do all that with only 18 players on the ground.
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