Seven of today's WAFL Grand Final combatants hot football property
SHOCK 1970s rocker Alice Cooper once sang about the Department of Youth. That song became an anthem the world over for the first emos.
The heavy mascara-wearing and alleged live chicken-eating Cooper wouldn't care for us applying the title of his 1975 hit to today's WAFL Grand Final when Subiaco and Swan Districts battle it out from 2.15pm (WST).
Seven of today's combatants from both sides are among the hottest properties in football, and all are set to join AFL clubs in November's AFL draft.
Of interest here is the Swans' Chris Yarran, whose four goals last week helped his side overcome West Perth and who has won praise from club great Keith Narkle, and also the creative Jeff Garlett, who is banking on a late call-up to be in the final 22.
Yarran and Garlett were here on the big day last year as Colts players in the grand final-winning Swans team over Claremont by 64 points.
For the Lions, Michael Cockie's son, Adam, last year's Colts' fairest and best, is a key player and his run from the midfield will be vital to his side's chances of becoming the first Subiaco team to win three flags on the trot.
Narkle, who was in the Swans' premiership 'three-peat' from 1982 to 1984 and who now lives in Bunbury, south of Perth, has seen the Black Ducks three times this year and he was impressed with what he saw.
The Swans' coach, Brian Dawson, is a former team-mate of Narkle's.
One of those games Narkle was at was the Swans' thrilling one-point win over Subiaco, the Lions' only defeat this season.
"The thing that impressed me about the Swans is that they never give up, they just keep having a go," Narkle said.
"Even I wrote them off against West Perth last week but they came back.
"And I can see why talent scouts are chasing (the kids); Yarran has unlimited ability, it's like he can do anything."
Of course, while younger legs are likely to get you there, older heads are needed at the crunch, which is where Swans veteran Garth Taylor's experience is vital. The stand-in captain is an on-field general and he has a chance to atone for when he played in South Fremantle's losing grand final in 1999.
But one of Taylor's opponents today will be Subiaco's Allistair Pickett, who holds several aces; three grand finals (a fourth today) since 2004, chief among them.
But as much as that impressive record counts towards big-game experience, Pickett revealed even he is a little apprehensive about Swan Districts.
"It's sort of a whole new ball game, playing against them," Pickett said.
"We've played Claremont twice in grand finals and South Fremantle before but not Swans; we haven't played them in finals before.
"Swans have been thereabouts in the last couple of years, but having said all that, we certainly don't fear them.
"I'm excited about this game; not nervous, just excited."
Subiaco v Swan Districts: Head to Head
Played: 217
Subiaco: 118
Swan Districts: 98
Draws: 1
At Subiaco Oval:
Played: 98
Subiaco: 60
Swan Districts: 38
Last Meeting:
Round 21, 2008 at Steel Blue Oval (Bassendean Oval)
Subiaco 17.21 (123) d Swan Districts 9.19 (73)
This will be the first ever grand final meeting between the two sides.
Swans will play in their first grand final in 18 years but they have not lost a grand final since 1980 having won their last four straight. The Black and Whites won grand finals in 1982, '83, '84 and 1990 and are aiming for their eighth premiership.
Subiaco has won its last three grand finals (2004, 2006 and 2007) and will be chasing it 11th premiership and three in a row for the first time in club history.
It will be just the ninth time that these sides have met in a final and their first finals clash since the 1994 Elimination Final at the WACA when Subiaco 13.11 defeated Swans 11.7 by 16 points.
The Lions lead five wins to three in finals clashes. (Source: WAFL)
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Last Modified on 21/09/2008 01:56