Melbourne v Brisbane – Semi Final – MCG – Friday night
The only final where both sides passed the PONR in the same game. At 1/2 time, the Lions were past it, staring down another failed finals series. Amazing what a momentum swing and a coach’s spray can do as Fagan’s words sparked a shift in team mindset. 22pt Demon lead at the 1/2 eviscerated. Jarrod Berry onto Clayton Oliver was the key move. 15 minutes into last qtr, Melbourne passed the PONR. Disaster for the Dees, out in straight sets. Hipwood the destroyer in the Daniher-less Lions forward 50 with 4 goals.
Collingwood v Fremantle – Semi Final – MCG – Saturday night
Fremantle passed the PONR at half time and oddly, Collingwood never got out of 2nd gear and actually didn’t need to…A 28pt lead enough to keep the 90,000 mostly Magpies happy. A defence that never deviated from the task, and Collingwood team pressure, was enough to slingshot Freo back over the Nullarbor with its tail between its legs…Pies by 20pts in a canter! Adios to David Mundy. Warrior. Freo 300+ games
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Geelong v Brisbane – Preliminary Final – MCG – Friday night
A sticking point for the Cats has been Preliminary Finals. Without whispering the concept, Geelong got to work. Still on a lengthy winning streak, the parts of the machine operated perfectly. 10 minutes into 3rd qtr, the Lions passed the PONR. The Geelong lead went from 30pts to 63pts in the 3rd qtr. Enough to send Brisbane back to the losing final mentality. It was not to be in 2022 for the Lions, but significant gains had been made in their finals record under Fagan. The Grand Final day of atonement beckoned for the Cats, off the back of a 71pt win. Chris Scott’s moment of truth had arrived at the same time as Gary Rohan’s finals form!
Sydney Swans v Collingwood – Preliminary Final – SCG – Saturday twilight
This. Was. It. The PONR was the end of the game. As spectacular as the Lions-Tigers final was, this game equally had everything. The PONR was literally the last point. The ball hit the point post in the dying seconds, ending the Pies successful run of last gasp wins. The Swans went too defensive too early in the last, whilst holding a 23pt lead at the last change. Enter momentum. The pendulum swung Collingwood’s way and kept coming, despite Swan McInerney’s heroics to kick the winner..death by 1pt in a Prelim…the Pies just couldn’t get there at the last gasp. Awesome example of finals footy for the audiences everywhere.
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Geelong v Sydney Swans – Grand Final – MCG – Saturday afternoon
10 minutes into game. The PONR was right there to deliver the Swans the last rites. Despite some valiant efforts, it was clear that this was going to be Geelong’s day. And it was. And how. The Cats machine worked its magic from start to finish across the whole ground…so much for too old, too slow…and to slam that point emphatically, Isaac Smith became the oldest player to win the Norm Smith Medal and still have more hair than KB…Whilst not the close spectacle many had hoped, the Grand Final was a celebration of the humanity and values the Cats and their players displayed throughout the season. For Joel Selwood, the crowning glory and pinnacle from which he could end his storied career. 4 premierships, the last as captain!
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