“The Miracle at Moore Park” game
Unbelievable, Amazing, “Steal” Theft” Heist” Extraordinary, etc etc You name it, you could apply any of those words to what we saw on Friday night. Damn it! I’m going to dub it The Miracle at Moore Park” game. I was trying to think of similar games. One which involved Essendon in 1981 versus Carlton came to mind. The Blues were all but over the line, except for one Neale Daniher. The Bomber forward booted 3 clutch goals and the Dons won that game by a point when it seemed there was no time left. Another Daniher was involved in Fridays game, namely Joe who took a spectacular backline mark in the final seconds and everyone thought, “well that’s the ball game, he and his team can run the clock out”. Sadly for him and his Essendon teammates it wasn’t the case as Sydney somehow found a way to win. I still have to watch the final 2 minutes to drum it into my head as to what I had just witnessed. Dane Rampe’s little left footer lob to Gary Rohan who took a one handed mark. Tom Papley’s smother on Brendan Goddard’s kick out play on was another clutch moment. Essendon couldn’t keep the ball in their hands and eat clock. Sydney just kept scoring be it goals or behinds. Lance Franklin was like North Melbourne’s Arnold Briedis in the 1977 Grand Final who booted 7 behinds, except Buddy kicked 6. I was near the Essendon race on the presumption of an overdue Bomber win and the expectant scenes afterwards. Instead look what happened. I made a mad scramble to head for the Swans rooms and I am so lucky to witness and photograph some of the mayhem that occurred. I made it to the stairwell to see assistant coach in John Blakey grinning from ear to ear. Other Swans line coaches rushed past me in the stairwell, not knowing how to react and it took time for them to finally realize what had happened and then they burst into mad laughter. Swans stalwart Kenny Williams beamed with a wide grin as he made his way down into the Swan’s sheds. His face a ruddy glow and ready to to belt out a rousing rendition of the Swans club song. Unlike other teams, the place where Sydney sings their song is a very tight,close place and the intensity and joy gets magnified. The buzz inside the sheds was incredible.
I can’t believe it! I get to sing the song! Swans stalwart Kenny Williams heads to the Swans inner sanctum. Pic: Jodie Newell
What the win means
The win was massive for Sydney. As we keep saying week after week, the hole they dug for themselves in losing the first six games was massive. They have to win almost every game from hereon in to have any chance to make the final eight. And playing a red hot Melbourne at the MCG this Friday doesn’t make it any easier. One thing I have noticed over the past few weeks is the mental toughness that has been brought up time and time again with this group. They had the strength to overcome Richmond and they had the desire and will to overcome Essendon. They should approach this week’s game with a lot of confidence knowing they can win at the MCG against quality opposition and they can beat the Demons in what should be one of the games of the round. On a practical note, the win keeps Sydney just outside the eight and their destiny is now in their hands. They just have to keep winning.The other Sydney team in the Greater Western Sydney Giants (1st) play 3rd placed Geelong in another blockbuster on Saturday. I love the fact Sydney football has been the most thrilling spectacle over the past year. Look at last year’s epic Sydney finals then in 2017 with the Giants last minute steals and now Sydney has had their turn. We have the best in AFL footy in Australia held in the beautiful Emerald City that is Sydney!
Pure exhilaration, the wild scenes of the crowd immediately after Gary Rohan’s “Miracle of Moore Park” goal. Photo: Jodie Newell
Honestly Brian Taylor you need to eat some humble pie.
As a famous Carlton fence banner once humorously stated in the 1970’s “Cripes! You Galah’s Couldn’t Beat Carlton On A Month Of Sundays!..well Channel Seven commentator Brian Taylor acted like a galah after the game on Friday night but he wasn’t a winner. He publicly rebuked the Swans media department on live TV for allegedly not letting the gibbering Taylor the permission to walk around the Swans sheds and speak to the players. Firstly the rooms in Sydney are very tight and packed with family, friends, coaching staff, players and trainers. It is a logistical broadcasting nightmare for the hard working camera crews and soundboom guys who work behind the scenes to bring the pictures to the folks at home all around Australia.. The last thing they need is an out of control “talent” soapboxing and making himself part of the story. There were plenty of pictures and scenes which adequately expressed the joy and exhilaration of Sydney’s win. AND Taylor got to speak to the superstar in Buddy Franklin. We don’t get to speak to talent like that after a game. Taylor should realize he has a very privileged position and has access to things myself and many others who have far more important status, don’t get to do. The Swans media department ably run by Loretta Johns and Jordan Laing do an outstanding job and were undeserving of the criticism leveled at them by Brian Taylor. His grand final call in the final seconds of the Bulldogs win in last year’s grand final was an embarrassment. Taking a step back, it only goes to illustrate just how much of a talent hole Denis Commetti left on his retirement. If Taylor’s editorial shtick is to be “controversial” and thinks it will attract viewers via such outbursts, then he is seriously deluded. I’ve already read comparisons of Taylor to that of the much maligned NFL commentator in the USA, Joe Buck. Not a bad call, but at least Joe has Troy Aikman to bail him out. Taylor is the new King Canute.
Wheel of stupidity. Access All Areas Brain Taylor was all over the SCG during Friday nite’s broadcast. Pic: Jodie Newell
Brian Taylor given an exclusive interview with Lance Franklin after the Swans thrilling win. Pic: Jodie Newell
Despite the loss, the Worsfold coached Bombers Are Back
Had to feel for the young Essendon side. We wrote a couple of weeks ago how impressed we were with the 2017 Dons. Ably coached by John Worsfold who showed absolute class at the post-game presser. Visibly disappointed, John spoke with dignity, level headedness and maturity after such an emotional roller coaster of a game. He said he was pleased in how the club was heading. Emerging talent in Zach Merrett (who was easily Essendon’s best player), Travis Colyer, Orazio Fantasia and Conor McKenna provide a solid nucleus of youth around the experienced group of Dyson Heppell, Brendan Goddard, Tom Bellchambers and David Zaharakis. Joe Daniher is a champ. Despite THAT mark and play, there will be plenty of highlight reel moments with Joe. He’s such an exciting player. The Supplements Saga has well and truly been left behind and you get a sense of steely resolve into what Essendon is working towards. I’m sure they will be a power in the coming year of football.
All smiles at the warm up. Zach Merrett was the Dons best on Friday. Pic: Jodie Newell
AFL Hall of Fame..Kelvin Templeton needs to be inducted
Congrats to Malcolm Blight on being made an AFL legend in the AFL Hall of Fame, as to the new inductees Simon Goodwin, Brett Allen, John Halbert, Barry Hall, Anthony Stevens and Ron Todd. But one thing that really irked me throughout the presentation was that I cannot for the life of me understand how one, Kelvin Templeton is not in the AFL Hall of Fame. I spoke with former Footscray player Neil Cordy before the game and I told him of my opinion. It’s a stunning oversight the more you look at the numbers and achievements of the man from Traralgon. Kelvin Templeton won the Brownlow medal in 1980 from the full forward position, a feat rarely achieved and considering just how good Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong and Richmond were in those years makes it all the more remarkable. He won the Coleman medal twice, he booted a century of goals in a season, again a superb effort considering the Footscray Football Club in those days was abysmal. Kelvin went on to be an outstanding football administrator in Sydney by being the club’s Chief Executive and helped create a solid base and bright future for the Swans. There is a superb article written by Mic Rees on the Australian Football website, that forensically and methodologically argues a very strong case for Templeton’s inclusion. http://australianfootball.com/articles/view/A+Hall+of+Fame+oversight/2003 Hopefully this wrong will be righted and Kelvin Templeton will be inducted into the Hall of Fame ASAP.
The Footy Record for Round 14 depicted newly inducted AFL Hall of Fame Legend Malcolm Blight Pic: AFL Media
