Chasing AFL grand final grail an uplifting experience

In the first AFL decider to be played under lights, this heavyweight grand final marks the farewell of a legend.

Geelong captain Joel Selwood lifts teammate Tom Hawkins’ daughter Primrose at the Cats’ last training session before the grand final. Picture: Michael Klein

The weight of sporting expectation sat lightly on the shoulders of Geelong players as family members joined them on the field at the end of their final training session before Saturday night’s AFL grand final.

Patrick Dangerfield got a hug from his children George and Felicity, ruckman Rhys Stanley had a kick with son Jagger and skipper Joel Selwood playfully hoisted Tom Hawkins’s daughter Primrose above his head.

At the end of the first AFL grand final played outside Victoria, he’ll be hoping it’s the premiership cup he is holding aloft.

No matter whether it is Selwood who gets that honour or Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, history will be created.

Both skippers are cut from the cloth of champions. Both are as courageous as they are skilful, which is remarkable given the sustained excellence of their football for well over a decade in Victoria, the state the AFL was forced to abandon this year.

They are renowned leaders who risk head and shin at every contest and play the game as it should be played.

In the first decider to be played under lights, their contributions will be vital in a heavyweight grand final that also marks the farewell of a legend of the game in Gary Ablett Jnr.

Selwood, 32, will become just the sixth man to captain a club in 200 games on Saturday night. He joins greats including Ted Whitten and Michael Voss.

He is also seeking to become Geelong’s first four-time premiership player after enjoying success in his first season in 2007, along with triumphs in 2009 and 2011, which was Chris Scott’s first year as coach of the Cats.

At the time, the six-time All Australian thought it possible a premiership might come every second season, such is the quality of Geelong. In recent years though, the Cats have been close without getting the cream. Selwood has watched with envy as a resurgent Richmond has roared and Cotchin has held aloft the premiership cup.

“I just dream for my team to be up there and able to enjoy the success again,” Selwood said. “I’ve been in envy of what the Tigers have been able to do in recent years. Now it is up to our guys to take (the premiership cup) away.”

Cotchin, 30, is vying to become the first Richmond captain to lead the Tigers to three premierships in what will be the latest finish to a VFL/AFL season.

Should Richmond add to the Tiger triumphs of 2017 and 2019, he would be the eighth man overall to achieve the feat and the most recent since Hawk Luke Hodge.

The Brownlow Medallist credits everyone from club president Peggy O’Neal to coach Damien Hardwick to the Tigers bootstudder for creating the recipe for Richmond’s success. “We are incredibly proud of what we have created and continue to create and try to grow, week in, week out, year on year,” he said.