Record ratings. What a game, what a day for both sides and the audience who were there or who watched via TV, radio or internet.The AFL released a press statement on Sunday stating that the numbers that tuned in to this epic game were the 2nd highest watched non Grand Final match in the history of the game. (The highest being a Collingwood v Geelong 2007 prelim). The ratings drew a total average audience of 2.387 million with a peak of 3.65 million across Australia.So much for the Giants not being a football team or that the Dogs couldn’t draw much of a crowd. It was an intense, pressure cooker atmosphere at the Sydney Showgrounds and folks I have spoken to told us the vibe was clearly conveyed via the electronic medium. You get the feeling these two sides arent going away anytime soon. They represent a new era of the AFL.
What it’s ultimately about. The 2016 AFL premiership trophy on display after the game. Photo: Jodie Newell
Conflicting emotions. We had conflicting emotions on Saturday. For years I followed the Footscray Football Club and experienced some very exciting moments and some very awful moments such as the proposal for Footscray and Fitzroy to merge in 1989. For me, the 1985 season where the Dogs of that era came from nowhere and began to beat teams like Essendon, Hawthorn and Carlton was my favorite. It was an exciting year. Simon Beasley, the statistically greatest full-forward of the 1980’s booted 105 goals. Brad Hardie won the Brownlow medal in his first season. That amazing 1985 season ended painfully via Leigh Matthews’s boot as he helped Hawthorn defeat Footscray in a Preliminary final. There were other agonizing finals. The 1976 Elimination final where Geelong snatched the game away from Footscray in the final quarter. Geelong would do it again on several occasions including a last gasp steal from Billy Brownless that left me stunned and speechless for days. The infamous Adelaide game where Tony Liberatore was certain he’d nailed a sealer only to see the man in a white coat behind the goals signal one point, which sent Libba and thousands of Bulldogs fans in need a white coat with back to front arms! Footscray / Western Bulldogs never made a grand final in those years.The only consolation prize during those days were Brownlow medals via Scott Wynd, Tony Liberatore, Brad Hardie and Kelvin Templeton.Fast forward to the 2000’s and now I am fortunate enough to be covering football in Sydney. Those years following the Bulldogs have held me in good stead with regards to the game. You see the high and lows, the unforgettable moments, the emerging champs and significant plays. Now in Sydney, I really do have a soft spot for the Greater Western Sydney Giants. They have been unfairly pilloried by many of the “entitled” fans who feel the game only belongs in Victoria. It is a national competition and Sydney is and should be a key component. Since 2012, we’ve seen the Giants grow from boys to men and into a club that has soul, that has a unique club culture and toughness that is irresistible. I’ve gotten to speak to a great team leader on several occasions in Phil Davis and have shared a purely football related conversation with legends such a triple premiership player Luke Power and Port Power premiership ruckman in Dean Brogan.They have worked so hard and put in a lot of time and effort to get the team where they are now and I feel for them during last night’s disappointment.Unfortunately they fell short by a single goal. The would haves and could haves account to nothing. They will bounce back of that I am certain.It was a fantastic year for the Giants. They may have over achieved in terms of their original goal of simply making the finals. Their debut win was stunning and hopefully a sign of things to come.
The chance to play in an AFL Grand Final is gone. Utter despair for GWS Giants Phil Davis & Zac Williams (left) Photo: Jodie Newell
Emotional, Unforgettable Scenes in the Bulldogs Camp As for observing the thrilling win by the Western Bulldogs was simply amazing. Fans were genuinely weeping as their dream of seeing the Dogs in a grand final had come true. They had to come to the Emerald City to find it, but find it they did and in style. The scenes around the Bulldogs race were astounding. Club president Peter Gordon was waving his arms in celebration of the win. Club legend John Schultz had a wide grin. David Smorgon was joyfully delirious. Skipper Bob Murphy whilst happy, was visibly distressed with the realization that he would not be playing in the Grand Final due to a season ending knee injury. It was a sincere, heartfelt but bittersweet moment. The type that Kipling would famously state in the poem “If “whose words that hang in the rooms at Wimbledon : “If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same”
Where to now for the GWS Giants? It was a tough day for the Giants boys.It was very clear that despite it being their patch of turf, it was overrun by the “Legion of Bulldog” who booed at anything that was donned in orange. They booed former Bulldogs players in Callan Ward and Ryan Griffen. The partisan crowd did have an effect on the game, which we thought the Giants were a little rattled. Rory Lobb, metres in the clear fell over his own nostrils! There were dropped marks and failure to tag an opponent. A shocking turnover for a goal to the Dogs by Nick Haynes was as close to gift wrapped as you can get. Mistakes were aplenty. Losing Cal Ward didn’t help. His inspirational toughness was missed. It was really bad luck that he copped that nasty knock.
Callan Ward earlier in the game. His leaving the game was significantly felt by the GWS Giants. Photo: Jodie Newell
The GWS Giants obviously need more fans and they will come especially after a successful season.The areas that need improvement are the defense and surprisingly the ruck department. Joel Patful and Shame Mumford are getting closer to veteran class. Mumford had his best year with the club, but he is suspect to injury and the Giants need a plan B in the ruck strategy. The defense needs bolstering. Adam Kennedy is a good option. Patful had a good season, but he went missing in this game. Jeremy Cameron also had a shocker. He couldn’t get a handle. Thankfully Jonathon Patton played a great game in difficult circumstances.
We spoke with Phil Davis after the game and he was obviously bitterly disappointed. Still dressed in his playing gear a good hour after the match, Davis spoke of the desire to work hard in the pre-season and come back stronger. He’s a man of his word. We remember a losing game against Geelong a few seasons ago and Davis sat at the post-game press match clearly annoyed that his team had been beaten. He drew a line in the sand that day and said the days of being competitive weren’t enough and that his team had to start winning. Fast forward a couple of seasons later and it’s happened. Davis and Callan Ward are great leaders and they will feature again in finals football. The important thing they must understand is nothing is guaranteed at this level.
Nervous Start. The GWS boys body language looked hesitant as they headed out. Photo: Jodie Newell
Big Thanks to James “Jim” Avery GWS Giants GM Corporate Affairs & Communications A very big thank you to James Avery and all of his media team at the Giants. We really appreciate the opportunity to speak with Giants players and senior club officials during match-day.Hope your department has an enjoyable off-season and comes back bigger and better in season 2017.
