AFL grand final: Pressure’s on … especially for son of a Collingwood gun

Collingwood captain Darcy Moore’s father played five grand finals. Lost the lot. But his son can right the family wrongs by winning Saturday’s AFL grand final against Brisbane.

Collingwood skipper Darcy Moore and Brisbane Lions co-captain Harris Andrews flank the Premiership Cup after Friday’s grand final parade. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood captain Darcy Moore’s father played five grand finals. Lost the lot.

The son of that gun can right the family wrongs by winning Saturday’s AFL grand final against Brisbane. No pressure, mate.

Because if the Pies get up, Moore will be presented with the trophy by … his old man. Peter Moore. What a wonderful touch. What a moment if it happens.

Peter was so peeved by his 1981 defeat that he famously chucked his runners-up medal over the fence. There’s nothing better than winning a grand final. And nothing worse than losing one.

He rang his son this week to tell him: “You’ve got to get the job done!”

Pressure there, old mate.

“It was a nice, welcome surprise,” Darcy Moore said of his dad doing the honours if the Pies prevail. If the Lions win, Leigh Matthews will hand the silverware to co-captains Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale.

“Dad rang and told me,” Darcy Moore said. “And then just qualified it with, ‘You’ve got to get the job done! You’ve got to get the job done!’ About 50 times. It’d be a lovely personal moment if we’re successful.

“There’s obviously not a lot of control he has over the result now, so he’ll just be watching like a fan. His support has been amazing. The way the club has embraced the past and told the stories to our fans about past generations and how we fit into that is special. It’s a really cool part of this week.”

Brisbane Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and Penrith Panthers skipper Nathan Cleary. Picture: Adam Head

Here comes a blockbuster weekend of grand finals. Pressure everywhere. Magpies v Lions at the MCG, Saturday, 2.30pm. Then Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium on Sunday, 7.30pm.

It’s the NRL decider and, ­potentially, another belter.

The ‘Pies and Panthers are favourites but the Lions and Broncos play with a fearlessness that gives them a puncher’s chance.

All four teams have a common foe. The pressure. Because again, there’s nothing better than winning a grand final. And nothing worse than losing.

The Panthers under another son of a gun in Nathan Cleary are trying to be the first league side since the Parramatta Eels of the 1980s to win three consecutive premierships. As Broncos skipper Adam Rey­nolds says for all four clubs: “We have the chance this weekend to do something great.”