Back to the future as Cats, Hawks get set to toe the line
THE Hawthorn v Geelong 1989 VFL Grand Final had it all: big bumps, big hits, on-field heroics and a barnstorming finish.
In that match, the ageless Hawks held off a young and plucky Cats side by one goal; the hunted seeing off the hunter.
Today, 19 years later, the roles are somewhat reversed. A young, untested Hawthorn side will face a finals-hardened, and proven, Cats outfit determined to stare down its hunter on football's grandest stage.
But what the '89 classic lacked to what today's AFL Grand Final will unleash is a slew of Indigenous personnel laden with talent.
And we're all the more richer for it.
Had he not copped a nasty 'cork' injury, Hawthorn's Cameron Stokes' possible selection today could well have broken new ground for Aboriginal football in the AFL.
The young Northern Territorian has been sidelined since Hawthorn's qualifying final win over the Western Bulldogs in which he took a heavy knock to the quad.
Had he kept his place in the Hawks line-up, Stokes would have been one of seven Indigenous players in today's AFL Grand Final, the highest number yet. As it is, though, a record-equalling six Indigenous footballers will take to the field in today's big game.
That number, with four Hawthorn and two Geelong players, will match that of the 2004 grand final when the all-conquering Brisbane Lions' fronted up against a hungry Port Adelaide outfit, and came off second best.
Mathew Stokes for the Cats returns to the big stage by the skin of his teeth, having been one of five in line to be dropped to make way for a returning team-mate. Stokes has had a relatively quiet finals series and the ball is in his court to lift. On the flipside, team-mate Travis Varcoe has been rewarded to make his grand final debut after an impressive September series.
For Hawthorn, they will be led by the man of the moment, Aboriginal football's first Coleman Medallist, Lance Franklin, who looms as equal parts wildcard and drawcard. Alongside him will stand a re-energised Mark Williams, whose five goals last week was his best return in finals yet. Up field of those two will be the line-breaker, Chance Bateman, and the exciting Cyril Rioli.
Just what is in store today is anyone's guess. What it has though are the key ingredients that could see it live up to that classic from yesteryear. The end result either way, then, would not matter.
Rioli wants to have fun
THE boy just wants to play footy, but the suffocating scrutiny of his every move this season has been like no other for a first-year player.
And why wouldn't it be with such a rich family football history and undoubted talent to match?
So it's testament to young Hawks forward Cyril Rioli, and perhaps some key words of advice from the Hawks' brains trust, that among all the hype and bluster, the 19-year-old just wants to play today and enjoy himself in the process.
Rioli will follow the footprints first set upon the hallowed turf of the MCG on Grand Final day by his uncles; former Richmond great, Maurice Rioli, 26 years ago in 1982, and former Essendon great, Michael Long in 1993 and 2000. Cousin Dean Rioli, a Essendon 100-gamer, played in the 2001 grand final.
Both uncles won Norm Smith medals as best-on-ground; Michael in 1993, and Maurice in 1982 in a losing side, football's first.
Where he finds himself today is certainly not what young Rioli expected in his first year.
"Coming in, in your first year, you don’t expect much … I left home when I was 14 so I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. Now it’s all paying off," Rioli said at yesterday's grand final parade.
The runner-up in this year's Rising Star competition is seemingly taking everything in his stride as the hours tick down towards bouncedown.
"I'll probably be a bit nervous but I'm loving every bit of it and just want to enjoy it," he said in his characteristic understated way.
A chat to uncle Michael this week may have helped him.
"I was with my uncle Michael on Wednesday and he just gave me a bit of advice, just talking to me about what's going to happen and the pressure and just to enjoy myself really," Rioli said.
" 'Just enjoy yourself and have a lot of fun' -- that's all he said to me."
Another Matera in a Grand Final at the MCG
LIKE Cyril Rioli, Brandon Matera's uncle once 'owned' the MCG on Grand Final day and the teenager will have the chance to emulate his uncle, Peter.
Brandon, son of former West Coast and Fitzroy rover, Wally, will be playing for WA against Vic Metro in Division 1 of the NAB AFL Under-16 Grand Final, one of two curtain-raisers to the Geelong-Hawthorn match.
The youngster knows a thing or two about kicking goals.
Also featuring today is Curtly Hampton, from Alice Springs, Steven Motlop, Steven May and Shannon Rioli, all from Darwin, who will play for Northern Territory against Tasmania in the Division 2 grand final.
AFL youth and high performance co-ordinator Jason McCartney said:
"Curtly Hampton is one of their key players -- quite remarkably as a 14-year-old. He's also in our AIS-AFL academy squad this year. He has had an ankle injury and hasn't played for about four weeks in Alice Springs. He would be a big loss if he didn't come up.
"Steven Motlop -- Daniel's younger brother -- plays as an average player and although he's quite lightly built, he is a super talent. He's had some shoulder problems this year through the under-16s and -18s, but if he's fit and firing, he's extremely dangerous, especially as a small forward.
"They've also got big Steven May, who is a very likely type. In an around that, they've got some real honest goers. Shannon Rioli is another who might play. He is Dean Rioli's brother and the cousin of Cyril."
* NAB AFL Under-16 Division 2 Grand Final: Northern Territory v Tasmania at 9am; NAB AFL Under-16 Division 1 Grand Final: Vic Metro v Western Australia at 10.55am.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Last Modified on 27/09/2008 04:29