‘Grand finals stamp you forever, so it’s going to mean a lot to both footy clubs’

AFL great Paul Roos is excited for the big clash between his two old sides. The former Fitzroy captain, who also played for Sydney and coached the Swans to a premiership, is tipping a one point result.

Paul Roos with the 2005 Premiership Cup.

AFL Hall of Famer Paul Roos can’t really lose in Saturday’s Grand Final.

On one hand, he coached Sydney to its famous drought-breaking premiership after 72 years in 2005 and played 87 matches for the Swans, including the 1996 Grand Final.

But his Lions heritage runs deep, as a former Fitzroy captain, five time best and fairest winner, 269 games in maroon and centre half back in its team of the century.

Roos, a seven time All Australian plus coach of the 2005 team, flew into Melbourne from Europe to see his two great loves duke it out for grand final glory for the first time since 1899 and their first ever since moving interstate.

Roos is a seven time All Australian. Picture: Aaron Francis

He told the Herald Sun it was a dream come true to have both sides in the Grand Final.

“My most recent connection is with the Swans but obviously I played a lot of footy with the Brisbane Lions, or Fitzroy,’’ he said.

“I said about a month ago I would love to see a Brisbane-Sydney grand final, when Brisbane were playing really well and obviously Sydney were on top, I thought that would be great.

“My wish has come true.’’

Roos, Fitzroy captain from 1988–1990 and 1992–1994, said both teams had done “an exceptional job’’ not closing the door on supporters from the Victorian clubs that made them.

“Obviously my connection to Sydney was post South Melbourne but I remember 2002 or 03 I was working for Channel 7 when Brisbane won its first final and walking back to the hotel I got more congratulations from Fitzroy people than when I played my best game for Fitzroy.

Roos played 269 games for Fitzroy.

He played 87 matches for Sydney.

“So I’ve seen it first hand with both footy clubs and that is excitement for me, being in Melbourne, being at the MCG and watching Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans.

“The parade is going to be awesome, a lot of people are going to travel down from Brisbane and Sydney but there will be a s..t load of people that don’t need to travel.

“It’s just going to be an exciting grand final and the excitement in Victoria is huge.’’

Roos said coaches Chis Fagan and John Longmire deserved credit for hauling their teams to the last Saturday in September after one of the AFL’s most even seasons.

Roos says he is expecting it to be an exciting grand final. Picture: Sam Rosewarne

“John’s record speaks for itself and the Swans’ success over 20 odd years has been amazing,’’ he said.

“It’s incredibly impressive … but I thought the Geelong-Brisbane game was as good a game of football as I’ve seen for a long period of time.

“I sent Chris Fagan a text message after the game saying so, I just thought his coaching performance this year has been exceptional.’’

While Brisbane qualifying for two straight grand finals was special, he said both clubs were playing for history.

“These two have been really good footy clubs but grand finals stamp you forever, so it’s going to mean a lot to both footy clubs,’’ he said.

“I guess the difference is that Chris hasn’t won one as a coach and John has.

“That is not to say that John doesn’t want to win another one and you’ve got players from both teams that haven’t won premierships.

“I just think both teams would be desperate to win and both teams cement a great legacy by winning.’’

If the Swans lose, he said losing to the Lions was “the best case scenario really”.

“It’s good for Chris, it’s good for John and it’s good for both footy clubs and footy in the northern states.

“I will go along, I hope the Swans get up and it’s a really good game but if they don’t, it will be bitter sweet.’’

Who does he think wins?

“I’ll go for Sydney because they are on top of the ladder and have been the best team, but it is going to be a cracking game,’’ he said.

“It’s a line ball on talent, they are both super talented, they’ve both got great game style but Sydney by a point.’’

Originally published as ‘Grand finals stamp you forever, so it’s going to mean a lot to both footy clubs’