Collingwood’s Anzac Day matchwinner Jarryd Blair reflects on 2012 heroics
Jarryd Blair thought the hero in the 2012 Anzac Day clash had been cast. Then he landed in the right place at the right time to etch his name among the classic finishes to the annual blockbuster.
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When Brent Stanton put Essendon five points in front with little more than two minutes on the clock, Jarryd Blair feared the hero had been cast in the 2012 Anzac Day script.
But the former Collingwood midfielder should have known there is always a “twist and turn” in the annual Anzac Day blockbuster – the best in this one was yet to come.
And he was to play a starring role.
“I remember Marty Clark had been tagging Stanton and he had done an absolute number on him,” Blair recalled this week.
“And when Stanton got that goal late, it sort of looked like he was going to be the hero … then the pressure was on.”
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A Happy 30th Birthday to @CollingwoodFC premiership player Jarryd Blair.
— Nicholas Sacco (@NicholasSacco22) April 13, 2020
157 Games
121 Goals
2010 Premiership player
2013 Gavin Brown Award
Any excuse to reminisce in what was probably his most memorable moment, this time accompanied with the classic @triplemfooty call. pic.twitter.com/71PqaTH7DZ
Video review confirms a Collingwood goal to Blair! 1-point lead to the Pies, 1:20 left! Amazing #aflpiesdons
— AFL (@AFL) April 25, 2012
Blair's last minute goal to win on Anzac day 2012 to put us back in front! #gopies https://t.co/sXz1KQ0xLd
— mathew wilson (@mattygopies76) August 22, 2019
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After Stanton’s late goal – Essendon’s fourth in a row in a last-quarter charge – the Magpies won the next centre clearance to set up one last attacking play.
Ben Sinclair marked the ball at half-forward and launched to the top of the goalsquare.
As the pack went up, the ball spilt to ground and Blair found himself in the “right place at the right time” and his goalsquare glance went through to put the Magpies in front by a point with less than a minute and a half to play.
“I remember Ben Sinclair taking the mark at half-forward and rolled around and (kicked it in) and there were blokes everywhere,” Blair said.
“I was just in the right place at the right time and just tapped it over the line.
“I sort of thought I had a decent spot to crumb the ball. I remember rolling in, I think I had been playing on Dyson Heppell for most of the day and might have had a metre or two on him.
“Luckily enough (the ball) sort of fell to that side and I picked the right side and got lucky.
“There was still probably a minute and a half to go at the time so we weren’t sure we were over the line.”
But as Blair celebrated the goal with his teammates, another twist.
The umpire called for a video review, querying if the ball had come off the boot, adding to the already unbearable tension for the almost 87,000 supporters at the MCG.
It was a swift review, however, and Blair’s goal was confirmed, sending the Magpie army wild.
Not that Blair ever had any doubt.
“I was actually a bit surprised they reviewed it. I can’t remember my exact thoughts but I think I was a little bit annoyed, I just wanted to carry on and celebrate the goal,” Blair said.
“I was confident that it was going to be called a goal and knew that I had kicked it. I wasn’t concerned that way. But 30 seconds later it was confirmed and I celebrated again.
“It added to the drama … I don’t think the review always does that, it just slows the game up. But that day it was just a pretty exciting review and when the game is hanging in the balance on a review it made it all that more exciting.”
One point up with less than a minute and a half to play, the Magpies weren’t over the line yet.
“We were in lockdown mode by then … we still felt with one point in the game it was obviously still right in the balance,” Blair said.
“I reckon once Kirk Ugle took a mark in the middle, I sort of felt like we were home and like most close footy games there is always a twist and turn.
“He got caught holding the ball after they called play on and someone took the advantage, which I think probably cost Essendon in the end, which surprised me.”
Fittingly, it was star midfielder and eventual Anzac Day medallist Dane Swan, who finished the match with the final kick after the Magpies hung on.
It was a day where Swan could do no wrong. He ended with 42 disposals, three goals and three Brownlow Medal votes, even leaving his teammates in awe of his exploits.
“Sure enough Swanny ends up with the ball in his hands after a pretty fair old day out,” Blair said.
“I actually remember a few times during that game thinking he was, how would you put it, taking the piss really.
“He was just went to another level and everything he was doing was falling his way.
“He sort of dragged us over the line really, he had 40-odd touches and kicked a few goals, so it was just your textbook day out and anything he went near turned to gold and it was fitting that he finished with the ball in his hands I think.”
For Blair, playing on Anzac Day was always special.
Winning the close ones, even better.
Kicking the winning goal in a one-point ball game. Well, that was “pretty cool”.
“I think to play in any Anzac game is pretty special. You obviously want to win them but it’s a massive occasion for both football clubs,” Blair said.
“To represent on the day is pretty special. To win a close one even more so.
“You just want to contribute in some way and that was the way I contributed that day. It’s pretty cool to reflect on now and something to look back on in years to come and be proud of.”
THE MATCH
Collingwood 2.4 5.6 9.8 11.14 (80)
Essendon 1.3 3.6 7.8 11.13 (79)
Crowd: 86,932 at the MCG
Brownlow Medal votes
3 Dane Swan (C’wood)
2 Scott Pendlebury (C’wood)
1 Dyson Heppell (Ess)
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