Rob's Thoughts

Thoughts on the Prelim Finals

OK, warning:  if you don't know the results and don't want to, stop reading now...

Repeat x3 or Revenge.  That's the setup for the rematch in the coming Grand Final.  Collingwood reduced the Power to the wrong kind of historical trivia question.  Consider that Port have been minor premiers two straight years and won 42 of the their last 66 home and away matches.  And they still have yet to play in the Grand Final.  

Sydney's run this year is nothing short of amazing.  They are, by anyone's measure one to two years ahead of what was expected.  I knew Paul Roos could coach.  I saw that during his tour of the US several seasons ago.  The way he handled players and dealt with what passes for the officialdom of footy in the US made it obvious he knew what he was doing.  He had a shot at the Richmond job and decided he wasn't quite ready and the situation wasn't quite right.  Sydney was the right job for him and he's arrived now.  The Swans probably over-achieved this year and they are the club to be watched in the next couple of seasons.

On the other hand, no matter what happens in the last game of this season, the run of Brisbane is likely to end after this season.  It's hard to imagine that age and injuries will allow them to be back again in 2004.  Modern sport is cruel.  The age of the multi-year dynasty is not what it once was.   Salary caps, lack of loyalty by clubs and players, etc.  No doubt however that the Lions have made the right kind of history.  Merely making the Grand Final three consecutive years is remarkable and if they win another premiership they will deservedly be ranked among the great clubs of the last several decades.  Up there with West Coast in 91-94 and just short of Hawthorn in the 70's.

For Collingwood, history seems to be on their side.  In almost every case where there has been a Grand Final rematch, the loser the first time is the winner the second time.  Revenge and failure, whether coaches will acknowledge it, are powerful motivators.  And if Leigh Matthews has an equal in the current game it's Mick Malthouse.  Both men know they may not be back here again in their careers.   I'll be cheering the Lions on, but I know that it's Collingwood that might just be the hungrier side.  

Whatever happens, it's been a great season.  Full of the things that make this sport such an exciting one and worth following from 14 time zones away.  

-Rob (who is looking forward to seeing footy live the one time a year it's on TV)