2007 Grand Final Match Summary

GEELONG

BACKS: Tom Harley   Matthew Scarlett   Josh Hunt
HALF-BACKS: Andrew Mackie   Darren Milburn   David Wojcinski
CENTERS: Joel Corey   Jimmy Bartel  Corey Enright
HALF FORWARDS: Steve Johnson   Cameron Mooney   Joel Selwood
FORWARDS: Paul Chapman   Nathan Ablett   Matthew Stokes
RUCK: Brad Ottens
ROVERS: Cameron Ling   Gary Ablett
INTERCHANGE: Steven King   Shannon Byrnes   James Kelly Max Rooke
EMERGENCY: Travis Varcoe   Martin Blake   Brent Prismall
IN: King
OUT: Blake

PORT ADELAIDE

BACKS: Michael Pettigrew   Toby Thurstans   Jacob Surjan
HALF-BACKS: Dominic Cassisi   Troy Chaplin   Peter Burgoyne
CENTERS: Steven Salopek   Kane Cornes   David Rodan
HALF-FORWARDS: Daniel Motlop   Warren Tredrea   Danyle Pearce
FORWARDS: Brendon Lade   Justin Westhoff   Brett Ebert
RUCK: Dean Brogan   
ROVER: Shaun Burgoyne   Chad Cornes
INTERCHANGE: Travis Boak   Brad Symes   Tom Logan   Darryl Wakelin
EMERGENCY: Alipate Carlile   Greg Bentley   Nathan Lonie
IN: Symes
OUT: Wilson (Achilles)

Brad Symes, 22, was selected to replace the injured Michael Wilson for the Grand Final. Symes, who has not played a senior game since Round 12 because of Port's strong list and lack of injury, won out over Nathan Lonie, Nick Lower and Robert Gray to fill the vacancy. Coach Mark Williams said Symes had earned his place in the Grand Final side because of his hard work in the SANFL. Symes played just six senior games this year but has averaged 20 possessions a game with Central District. He has played 19 senior games since his 2004 debut.

GEEL  5.7   11.13   18.17   24.19 (163)
PA    2.2    4.3     5.5     6.8   (44)

GOALS: GEEL - Mooney 5, Chapman 4, S. Johnson 4, N. Ablett 3, Bartel 2, Ottens, Byrnes, G, Ablett, Rooke, Ling, Mackie; PA - Tredrea 2, S. Burgoyne 2, C. Cornes, Logan

BEST: GEEL - S. Johnson, Chapman, Scarlett, King, Mooney, Corey, Enright; PA - C. Cornes, P. Burgoyne, K. Cornes

NORM SMITH MEDAL: S Johnson (Geelong)

UMPIRES: McBurney, McLaren, McInerney

CROWD: 97,302 at the MCG

It was the most lopsided Grand Final of all time and Geelong's winning margin bettered Hawthorn's 96 point win over Melbourne in 1988. The Cats played with purpose, kicked long, played on at all costs, ran through the corridor (center of the ground) and trusted each other. Both teams were intent on bottling each other up in the early stages and there were at least a half dozen ball ups in the first 10 minutes or so of play. It took several minutes for the first score to be registered, a point to the Cats. Port replied in kind at the other end before a rushed point gave the Cats a one point lead. Ten minutes into the game, Stokes flew for the ball over a Port player and came down heavily and awkwardly. He clutched his knee in pain and had to be helped from the ground as play continued. Chapman won the ball and kicked long for what looked to be a certain goal. However, Mooney saw it coming in, backtracked with the flight of the ball and took a great grab just in front of the goal line. First goal to the Cats. From the bounce, Mooney won the ball and kicked to Johnson who goaled from 40 meters (43 yards). Then it was Scarlett's turn to get involved as he ran out of defense and accepted a pass from Chapman. Like most defenders, he is not noted for kicking goals and missed. Meanwhile, Stokes emerged from the rooms and walked along the boundary with his knee strapped and wrapped. Port finally broke clear of Geelong's hard running and Tredrea marked (caught the ball) for Port's first goal. Two minutes later, Johnson tried on the run and missed. From the kick-in, Cassisi was the target, but Gary Ablett ran across his path, punched the ball clear, followed it, scooped it up and ran in to goal from close range. A minute later, Shaun Burgoyne registered Port's second goal of the game. Hunt was then in position to force a turnover and Chapman wins possession and kicks to Johnson for another Geelong goal. By this time, Stokes was back on the ground. Harley then spoiled Port's next chance to set up another Geelong attack, but Selwood missed a chance to extend Geelong's lead even further. It didn't matter as Ottens and King set up another forward foray. First, Ottens won a free kick in the center, then King smothered a Port kick which Gary Ablett cleared and his kick went to Bartel. Goal. Kelly marked just before the siren but his kick after the siren was only a point and the Cats were leading by 23 points at 1/4 time.

If Port wasn't in trouble at the first break, they were early in the second term when the Cats slammed through three goals in the space of a few minutes. First it was Rooke who was on the receiving end of a Ling pass. Then Chapman and Nathan Ablett goaled from free kicks. A minute later, Nathan Ablett marked and goaled again. Finally, midway through the term, Chad Cornes marked and goaled for Port. Geelong then missed several chances to stretch their lead even further and Logan gave Port some slim hope with another goal. Late in the term, the Cats added another when Ablett danced out of a pack of Port players to get the ball to Chapman. Young Boak got the ball just before half time, but his kick from almost 60 yards missed and the Cats had fans running for the record books with their 52 point lead at 1/2 time.

If the game wasn't over at half-time, it sure seemed over when Mooney and Bartel added two quick goals to start the third term. Port had no answers to counter Geelong and much of their play was summed up when Cassisi blew another opportunity when his kick on goal missed everything. Nathan Ablett took the free kick and the Cats added yet another goal through Byrnes. It was little consolation for Port when Tredrea kicked the next goal as it was Port's only goal for the term. The Cats continued the demolition with Ottens kicking two in two minutes, followed by another to Nathan Ablett from another free kick. Gary Ablett was off for a well-deserved rest and Mooney added another goal to the delight of Cat fans. Late in the term, Bartel smothered a Surjan kick, recovers the ball and finds Johnson again. He passed to Mooney who missed from close range. It didn't matter with the Cats leading by 90 points at 3/4 time.

As the final term got underway, it was only a matter of Geelong by how much. Just minutes into the term, goals to Mooney and Ling blew the margin out to over 100 points. One might have forgiven the Cats had they eased up a bit, but they didn't as the goal barrage continued with Mooney, Chapman, and Johnson adding to Port's embarrassment. Mackie added another for Geelong. To this stage, Port's total score is the lowest in a Grand Final since Collingwood’s 2.2 (14) in 1960. By this time, Geelong Coach Mark Thompson was out of the coach's box on the sidelines with his charges. Westhoff at least saved Port from that dubious statistic when his kick for goal hit the post for a point. Burgoyne added one late goal for Port which took their scoreline past Essendon's low score of 5.11 (41) against Collingwood in 1990. The ball was kicked in one last time and Scarlett had the ball when the siren sounded to end Geelong's 44 year premiership drought.  The Cats also became the first team in AFL history to win two finals in one season by more than 100 points.

The Cats had winners everywhere, starting with Scarlett's 29 possessions in defense which starved Tredrea and Westhoff. Enright, Mackie and Milburn had 73 disposals between them. Also winning plenty of the ball were Gary Ablett, Bartel and Ling. While most of the Cat players notched double digit (ball) possession tallies, it was left to Chad 18 kicks, 14 handballs, six marks) and Kane Cornes (16 kicks, 21 handballs, 10 marks) and Peter Burgoyne (21 kicks, 15 handballs, 5 marks) for Port. The three of them shared most of Port's possessions. There were few others to notch double digit tallies.

The final scoreline fell just 14 points short of Carlton's record score of 28.9 (177) over Richmond in 1972. However, the Cats did have two more goalkickers than Carlton did in that game. Geelong's potency can also be mentioned as they had 43 scoring shots to Port's 14.

For the record, it has been one amazing year for Geelong. They finished in first place, their VFL side won the VFL premiership, Bartel has a Brownlow, Gary Ablett has won a swag of awards. It is the first time since Jason Akermanis in 2001 and Simon Black in 2002 that the Brownlow Medal winner has also added a premiership medallion to his achievements. One has to go back all the way to 1993 for that double when Essendon's Gavin Wanganeen took out the honor a week before the Bombers belted Carlton in the Grand Final.

Source: Melbourne Age, Herald Sun, afl.com.au, AFL Record Season Guide 2007, & ed. notes

One final item before signing off for the season. Usually, the milestones are posted in the newsletter report, but most this week covered Grand Final marks:

MILESTONES
50 games: Danyle Pearce (PA)

Longest Premiership Drought: This was Geelong's first premiership since 1963, making it the sixth-longest wait by any club in the history of the game. The longest waits are Sydney/South Melbourne (72 years, 1933-2005), St Kilda (69 years, 1897-1966), Western Bulldogs / Footscray (53 years, 1954-current), Fitzroy (51 years, 1945-96) and North Melbourne (50 years, 1925-75).

Longest Premiership span, player then coach: Mark Thompson (GEEL). It's been 23 years since Thompson was part of a premiership team, playing in Essendon's 1984 flag side. It is the seventh-longest span in the history of the game, behind only Leigh Matthews (32 years, 1971-2002), Kevin Sheedy (31 years, 1969-2000), Frank Hughes (28 years, 1920-48), Jock McHale (26 years, 1910-36), Norm Smith (25 years, 1939-64) and David Parkin (24 years, 1971-95).

Captain and Coach of a Premiership: Mark Thompson is the seventh person in the history of the game to captain and then coach a premiership team, having captained Essendon's premiership team in 1993. He joins Percy Bentley (captain Richmond, coach Carlton), Reg Hickey (captain and then coach of Geelong), Ron Barassi (captain Melbourne and then coach Carlton and North Melbourne), David Parkin (captain Hawthorn and then coach Hawthorn and Carlton), Leigh Matthews (captain Hawthorn and then coach Collingwood and Brisbane Lions) and John Worsfold (captain and then coach of West Coast).

Longest Grand Final span, player then coach: Mark Williams (PA). This was Williams' first involvement in a Grand Final since he played in Collingwood's Grand Final team in 1981 (a loss to Carlton). This is the sixth-longest span in the history of the game, behind only David Parkin (36 years, 1963-99), Jock McHale (34 years, 1903-39), Leigh Matthews (33 years, 1971-2004), Kevin Sheedy (32 years, 1969-2001) and Frank Hughes (29 years, 1919-48).

Brothers in Premiership Teams: Gary & Nathan Ablett are the 19th set of brothers in the history of the game to play together in a premiership team, joining Jim and Mick Grace (Fitzroy), Arthur and Fred Leach (Collingwood), Ted and George Lockwood (Collingwood), Robert and George Weatherill (Richmond), Syd and Gordon Coventry (Collingwood), Frank and Len Murphy (Collingwood), Albert and Harry Collier (Collingwood), Les and Peter Hardiman (Geelong), Gordon and Doug Strang (Richmond), Dick and Tom Reynolds (Essendon), Harold and Chris Lambert (Essendon), Lou and Ron Richards (Collingwood), Sted and Phil Hay (Hawthorn), Alistair and Stewart Lord (Geelong), Leigh and Kelvin Matthews (Hawthorn), Chris and Brad Scott (Brisbane Lions), Peter and Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide) and Chad and Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide).

Brothers in Premiership Teams, twice: Chad & Kane Cornes & Peter & Shaun Burgoyne (PA). Had Port prevailed, Chad and Kane Cornes and Peter and Shaun Burgoyne would have been the ninth and tenth set of brothers in the history of the game to play in a premiership together on two separate occasions, having all played in the successful 2004 side. From the list above, the would join the Grace brothers (1898-99), Lockwood brothers (1902-03), Coventry brothers (1927-30), Murphy brothers (1928-30), Collier brothers (1927-30 and 1935-36), Hardiman brothers (1931 and 1937), Lambert brothers (1946 and 1950) and Scott brothers (2001-02).

Premierships with Different Clubs: Cameron Mooney (GEEL) is the 26th player in the history of the game to have played in premiership with two clubs, having been a member of the successful Kangaroos' side in 1999.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release; 2007 AFL Record Season Guide