AFL SYDNEY GRAND FINAL 2012
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
A marathon season had finally reached its climax, as Saturday dawned bright and sunny for Grand Final Day at Blacktown International Sportspark.
The competing teams were UNSW-Eastern Suburbs and Balmain. UNSW-ES had made it to the Grand Final by finishing top of the ladder and then winning the Second Semi-Final. In distinction, it had been a tough road to football’s big day for the Dockers, coming up from fourth place through three sudden death finals.
Balmain won the toss, electing to kick to the railway end in the first quarter.
At the opening bounce, the Dockers raced the ball out of the centre, and Gerard Wilkie found himself with a set shot from within range; but sprayed it out on the full. The Dockers were denied the dream opening, and it would be the other end where the opening goal would be scored, with Adam Gulden forcing a turnover before delivering the ball to Josh Parmenter, who played on to score.
The Dockers had a near-instant reply, with Aaron Cottrell leading out to mark just inside the 50 metre arc, going back to take a magnificent set shot that curled nicely in the breeze. There were danger signs for the Dockers, as Chris Bolt twice conceded 50 metre penalties. At the 11 minute mark, Ben Way from the 50 metre line took the unselfish option of going short to where Richard Troon was left unattended.
For much of the remainder of the quarter, the ball was stalemated in the centre of the ground; as both sides tackled hard and refused their opposition any easy possessions. A surprisingly short quarter ended with the Bulldogs leading by eight points.
Bulldog mentor Rhys McAllister had plenty to say to his charges at quarter time, keeping them in their huddle for the maximum possible time, long after the Docker players had already taken their positions for the second term. However, it was the Dockers who controlled proceedings in the early stages of the second quarter.
Balmain key forward Ben Taggart had been influential in the Dockers qualifying to play in the Grand Final; and he would make his presence felt as the second term got under way. After the Dockers got the centre break, Taggart dribbled the ball through the goals. And just a minute later, he would play on to score his second; and the Dockers had the lead.
The Bulldogs were their own worst enemy in those early stages of the second term, and three times would spray shots at goal out on the full. Adam Gulden finally sharked a boundary throw-in to restore the UNSW-ES lead.
At the 15 minute mark, Aaron Cottrell flew high for a spectacular mark in the pocket and went back to kick his second; and the Dockers were back in front. They had the potential to add to that lead, but Troy Luff had a mark not paid 30 metres from home.
The Bulldogs were also having scoring challenges; as a push-out behind play saw a Max Collett goal disallowed, and then a long bomb by Alex Henderson just being touched on the line. Stephen Benjamin had better luck during time-on, juggling a mark and going back to goal and giving the Bulldogs a three-point lead at half time.
The premiership quarter would be an arm-wrestle, two sides vying for supremacy and the momentum of the game would swing like a pendulum. Phelan Medallist Dane Rampe would take advantage of a free kick to go back and score for the Bulldogs; but the Dockers were getting more of the ball around the ground.
Docker co-coach Craig White was getting more into the game during the third term, and a short pass found Cottrell 15 metres from home. The Balmain number 26 kicked truly, with goal number three. Two minutes later, Tom Mabon got the ball inside the 50. Bulldog ruckman Sam Tagliabue took the mark, but infringed on Brad Plug to take the ball. Plug took the free kick, and the Dockers had the lead.
The Dockers were high on spirit and determination, and the run of play was going their way. Taggart was unlucky not to get a free for holding the ball within scoring range after a brilliant tackle. Selby Lee-Steere across the half-back line was repelling Bulldog attacks with regularity; then running 50 metres to the centre circle to spoil Tim Garrett, who was expecting an uncontested mark. At the other end, Leigh Lavery ran into an open goal but somehow missed.
But deep in time-on, the luck returned to the Bulldogs, with a lucky bounce seeing Ian Carroll gather the ball and find Tom Williamson running into goal; and the Bulldogs were back in front.
Just four points separated the teams at the last change, and a thrilling contest was anticipated. In the UNSW-ES huddle, Rhys McAllister delivered a rousing speech that produced a roar from the players and supporters standing around him. It had been a close and tightly-contested match for three quarters. But the last quarter would prove pivotal.
Balmain had fought hard through three sudden death finals, and had matched it with the Bulldogs for three quarters. Quickly though, it became apparent it had drained everything from the Dockers’ tank; and when it came to the crunch, they had nothing more to give.
Leigh Lavery had been well held for three quarters, the competition’s leading goal-kicker struggling to exert any influence. From the centre break to start the final quarter, Lavery marked at the edge of the square and kicked truly. Another mark just 15 metres from home a minute later delivered another.
Like Darren Jarman’s famous final term for Adelaide in 1997, Lavery was the man of the moment. Five goals for the quarter decisively swung the game UNSW-ES’s way. Day had turned into night, and hope had turned into elation for the Bulldogs. Tom Williamson added two goals, and along with Lavery’s bag of five, it was a procession of dominance for the Bulldogs. Seven unanswered goals, each greeted with a roar from the Bulldog contingent in the crowd as the players embraced in anticipation of the final siren and the party to come.
The Dockers completed a goal after the siren, but it was the Bulldogs who had won; the final margin being 42 points. Leigh Lavery had five goals, bringing up a total of 98 for the season. Adam Gulden was awarded the Rod Podbury Medal for best on ground, while Dane Rampe and Hayden Nichols also played great games for the Bulldogs. For the Dockers, Kristian Pearson, Jerome Farrell and Selby Lee-Steere worked hard all day.
It’s a contrast of emotions after the siren sounds in a grand final. For the winners, there is jubilation, players embracing in joy. Everyone in the premiership club runs on the field to savour the moment – players from other divisions, past players, family, volunteers, supporters. They’re all there, they’re part of it. There’s hugs all round as reward for all the effort that everyone at the club puts in.
Just metres away from the atmosphere of ecstacy is the atmosphere of agony. Players from the defeated side slumped the ground, the empty feeling of having given so much all season but being unable to complete the premiership. For Balmain, their second losing Grand Final in a row hurts.
It’s been a good season for Balmain, and they did some great footy in September to get from the Elimination Final into the Grand Final; and to be within a kick at three-quarter time. But although they went close, the ultimate prize eludes them again.
But for UNSW-ES, it was a premiership thoroughly deserved. A long pre-season campaign, and then losing just three games during the home and away season before hitting their peak at the right time of the season. Many of the team were there last year when they missed the finals; but with the addition of Rhys McAllister as a captain and coach, fine-tuning their game plan and doing just a few things differently, they’ve been able to take out the premiership.
Champagne corks were popped, the Bulldogs a premiership toast. The club will party hard this week, remembering how their quality football during the good times and perseverance through the tough times had delivered them Sydney football’s greatest prize.
