Gary Ablett sets up fairytale exit in Grand Final against Richmond, writes Mark Robinson
One of the game’s modern greats has the chance to finish his career with a premiership after Gary Ablett inspired Geelong into this year’s Grand Final. Ablett’s is a fairytale we should all want to happen, writes Mark Robinson.
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Fairytales are wrapped around preliminary finals.
And a fairytale has wrapped itself around Gary Ablett.
On Saturday night, the 36-year-old legend, who is the son of a legend, who played his first game in 2002, made this week’s Grand Final the ultimate of possible fairytales.
So much has been said of Gary Ablett and, after Saturday night, the last remaining compliment comes with a question.
Why are you retiring, Gazza?
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He said last week the body was willing and the mind was not.
The mind and body did not abandon him on Saturday night and, if we are to be frank, he easily had the best of opponent Daniel Rich.
Too much space for Gazza from Rich, and Rich didn’t use his space to seriously impact the game.
The Cats won by 40 points and although Gazza maybe wasn’t best afield, his impact was profound.
The victory over the Lions sets up a heavyweight contest in the Grand Final.
It’s Richmond v Geelong. Somewhat chaos v somewhat control. The veterans v the champs.
Both teams are professional, committed and tough.
Both have been on the road for 100 days.
Both teams have proven to be the season’s best teams.
Unquestionably, it is a team sport, but rest assured the promos will be Dusty/Cotchin/Lynch v Hawkins/Dangerfield/Selwood and the Little Master.
In a sport devoid of nicknames, once the domain of the incomparable Lou Richards, Ablett has earned his nickname 10 times over.
He’ll retire, of course, and finish his career with 357 games, which places him in the top 10 games played in the history of the game.
He is not deserved of a third flag, for footy owes nobody, but only Richmond fans would hate to see him on a podium one last time.
“I’m proud of the boys,’’ Ablett told Channel 7 in the post-match, continuing his custom of being “proud of the boys’’ in every winning interview he’s ever done.
Paddy @dangerfield35 knows the job isn't done yet.#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/K7FlyCwdVw
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) October 17, 2020
The fairytale lives for Patrick Dangerfield, too
He will play in his first Grand Final, the grail he’s chased across 268 games.
He was OK on Saturday night without being the difference, but he’s fit and healthy and hungry. That’s the main thing.
And for coach Chris Scott. He coached his only flag in 2011, gave Geelong a shot at the title every season since, and now a second flag beckons.
There’s Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson and the Irishman Zac Tuohy. Could it be one and done for them as well?
For a period in the third quarter — on the scoreboard at least — it seemed to be Gazza v the Lions.
The scoring was as follows: Gazza goal. Rayner miss, Gazza goal, Hipwood miss, Gazza miss and, at the end of the third quarter, the Cats led by three goals.
Ablett’s quarter was four disposals and three shots at goal.
Offensively and the middle, the Cats were far too good.
But it’s the defence which is the pillar.
Their defensive game plan has been widely identified and applauded this season, but on Saturday night Geelong’s actual back six was formidable.
Henderson enjoyed a miracle-type comeback and Tom Stewart, Jed Bews, Jack Henry, Mark O’Connor, Jake Kolodjashnij — he corralled Charlie Cameron, so much so, he only had two disposals after quarter-time — and Taylor thwarted Brisbane time after time.
Then they’d find the exit player and then they’d be rolling again.
The inside-50 count was 50-32 Geelong’s way and the Cats held the Lions to their fourth-worst score per inside-50 ratio this year.
The Lions will rue missed opportunities and, unfortunately, the monkey on the back, which was thought had disappeared over the past six weeks, found itself at the Gabba.
The Lions kicked 6.6 and misses to Dayne Zorko and Cameron will rue misses in the second and third quarters. Grand Finals are reached on the back of moments. The two fluffed theirs.
The final score would indicate, however, there were other issues in the Lions playbook.
The teams played tag in the first half.
The Cats dominated in the first quarter and the Lions controlled the second.
In the first quarter, Brisbane was smacked around contest. The Cats were plus 18 contested ball, plus 18 groundball, plus 12 in clearance and led inside-50s by 10.
It flipped after the break, led by Lachie Neale. He had 10 disposals in the quarter and the Lions won clearance 13-6 and were plus 12 contested ball.
Neale’s goal in the minute before halftime threatened to be profound.
Ablett’s two goals in the third quarter were more so.
The Lions finished so close, yet so far. Such is the narrative for the preliminary final loser, but clearly the foundations are set and, remember, Joe Daniher will join the team next year.
Their fairytale was to be coach Chris Fagan.
The 59-year-old won the job at 55 and was the key pillar in turning around the franchise. A flag would’ve been a tip of the hat to the ol’ boy.
Mind you, he has seen Gazza come and on Saturday night saw first-hand Gazza as he is about to leave.
In a less painful hour, he might even ask: Why didn’t you retire last year, Gaz?
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